Fortress of the Bear

Reviews

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.

David Joos

This is an interesting place. It's not a bad place and the bears are interesting. I'm not sure that the habitat is up to the highest standards for animals this size, and in that way it's a little outdated. It does seem well-kept and clean. The animals seem healthy. It was quite busy when we were there and it took some time standing behind people to get a good view.

Garrett Myler

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.

Danna Kittell

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.

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. 🛳️

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Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot
• Wheelchair accessible restroom

Amenities

• Gender-neutral restroom

Crowd

• LGBTQ+ friendly
• Transgender safespace

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