Fortress of the Bear - Sitka, Alaska

Josh E.

It is good that somebody out there is helping these animals out. The place isnt very big, and there are not a lot of bears, but seeing the bears this close is indescribably interesting. The history behind the building and each bear was also very interesting.

Tracey S.

We went on a rainy day and it was a lot of fun watching the bears. The guides would call them over and give them treats so we could get good pictures. We also saw beautiful bald eagles. They have both black and brown bears and they do an excellent job taking care of them.

Garrett M.

We really appreciated this unique opportunity to get this close to bears. We got the chance to see one of the bears reach up for food and even use sign language to ask for more.

Since orphaned bears have to be put down, this center provides a great alternative for these bears to be ambassadors and help us humans learn and appreciate them.

Alan D.

I just loved my visit to the Fortress of the Bear! The staff was very friendly and helpful. They were also very knowledgeable of the bears they take care of and that are often seen roaming in Sitka. The bears were active and staff members come out to feed them and actually communicate with the bears. They are well taken care of creatures and the facility itself looks brand new. Stop in - buy some merch to support - and view formerly wild bears up close and personal. Thank you FOTB for being there.

Sasha W.

This place is fantastic! Reclaimed historic structure purchased to house orphan bear cubs. The animals are happy and healthy. The nonprofit also gleans food from local venues to feed the animals, leaving more resources to tend to animal needs. The only way this could be better is if it was larger to save more cubs! Note on logistics: don’t waste money on overpriced tours. Take the free shuttle from the pier to downtown. Walk half a block to the visitors center for a map. They’ll instruct you to take the blue line city bus ($5/adults) to Fortress of the Bear. GO HERE FIRST. It takes 40 minutes to visit, 60 minutes round trip travel. From there, walk to the ($15-20) Raptor Sanctuary (Ask about clever Onyx!), and Totem Park along the waterfront. Even if it’s raining, it’s not mudddy. There are tons of historic places on the way. We paid hundreds for other excursions, but this was the best part of our trip. 🛳️

Danna K.

My son and I went here and it was an interesting place to see bears up close and learn more about these creatures. The staff was knowledgeable and passionate about their work. While the bears are not totally free, they do have very large enclosures - much better than a zoo. Would definitely recommend a visit.

KL W.

Usually we don’t visit animals that are caged, but knowing these are bear cubs who had lost their mothers and were taken to the sanctuary and given the opportunity to live made it a great place to support. Seeing the bears up close was VERY VERY COOL!

David M.

My first thought when entering the viewing area was “this is it?” While I had expected more of a zoo-like complex with different locations and a wide variety of bears to see, I was instead greeted with two large areas with 5 brown bears total and one smaller (albeit still very large) fenced in area with 3 black bears. I was initially disappointed with the “fortress,” but I quickly found that the bears themselves more than made up for the lackluster facility. They were active and fascinating to watch.

I can excuse a steep entrance fee in support of a noble cause such as this one. However, I noticed that although I stayed for over an hour, most people left after about half an hour. I can’t promise that this stop will be worth it for everyone, but if you like animals and want to observe some of the less common and more dangerous ones in close proximity, I would suggest giving Fortress of the Bear some consideration.