August is a great time to watch grizzly bears as they make the most of the last opportunities to fatten up on juicy salmon. In Katmai National Park, you can watch them from the safety of platforms, or even float down the river as they fish from either side of you. We love combining this with our Grizzly Cruiser experience, which goes to coastal Katmai and, if weather and wildlife permit, you can actually walk among the bears! A really thrilling experience for any wildlife enthusiast.
If you are travelling to Alaska for the bears, then don’t miss Denali National Park where you can see them among other wildlife, from golden eagles to caribou and wolves.
August is still a great time for seeing humpback whales, and orcas too as they try to get in on the action provided by the salmon.
In regards to weather, the end of August can be a bit unpredictable, but along with this comes fewer visitors and, quite often, lower prices. You can often expect rainstorms in August, however any Alaskan local will tell you that you can travel in June and hit horizontal rain, then in August and have blissful sunshine. The key to travelling in Alaska is knowing how to dress, and ensuring you are always prepared for all types of weather, ensuring that it does not affect your mood.