Home • Bear Glaceir Sea Kayaking Rentals


A Bear Glacier trip is great do-it-yourself Alaska sea kayaking adventure destination for experience kayakers.

Click here for information: Water taxi and helicopter transportation to Bear Glacier.  You will have the option to make these reservations when you make the online gear rental reservation.

Kayaks, stand up paddleboards, and dry suits are rented from our Bear Glacier Glamping Camp location. If you are arriving by water taxi when you arrive at Bear Glacier you will need to walk up the river bank, beach about 3/4 mile where you will be met by our small john boat for a short boat ride to our camp.

Download PDF File: Bear Glacier Sea Kayaking Information, Camping and Safety Guidelines.

Rental Requirements
We do not rent kayaks to those without prior sea kayaking experience. To rent sea kayaks someone in your group must have prior sea kayaking experience and be able to perform a self-rescue. We may ask you to demonstrate a self-rescue before allowing you to rent kayaks.  This requirement is for your own safety. Take some lessons or go on a few guided trips and get some experience before kayaking in Alaska's cold water on your own.

**IMPORTANT Please Note Bear Glacier
If you take the water taxi or helicopter out to Bear Glacier and you show up with no prior sea kayaking experience or fail to meet the requirements mentioned above, our camp attendant will not allow you to take our kayaks out. No refund will be made for the transportation cost. You are responsible for this cost whether you kayak or don't kayak. If you have questions please call 907-205-5900.

If you do not have the required skills to rent kayaks a guided trip would be the option for you to select if you want to see Bear Glacier's Icebergs.

Cold Water
Due to the risk of cold water immersion and hypothermia we highly recommend paddlers wear cold water protected clothing such as a wet suit or dry suit. Dry suits are available to rent if needed. For paddleboard rentals we require you to have a dry suit or wet suit.

Be Prepared
Bear Glacier is a remote location, the weather conditions can change fast, transportation can be delayed, and boats, helicopter and planes can have mechanical problems. Pickup times can be delayed. You should be prepared - bring enough warm layers of clothing and survival gear with you to bivouac overnight if needed. Warm layers of extra clothing, a lighter, tarp, parachute cord, knife and some extra water and food will go a long ways for that emergency overnight stay or for changing weather conditions. Keep in mind this is a temperate rainforest you should be prepared for rain and bring good quality rain gear with you.

Parcel Day Rentals
We do not rent kayaks by the hour or parcel days. All rentals are by the day. If you return the gear the following morning, keep gear overnight equals 2 days rental even if you did not use the gear on the 2nd day.

Tour Dates And Rates
June 1 - September 30

On gear rental reservation you will have the option to add transportation to Bear Glacier, water taxi $220 each or helicopter $350 per flight.

Kayaks include paddles, PDF, sponge, bilge pump, paddle float.  Before returning kayaks, kayaks need to be cleaned up, wipe out sand from inside the kayaks. Kayaks returned dirty will be charge extra $10 cleaning fee. Dry suit includes neoprene river booties.

Single Plastic kayak $55 per day plus tax
Double Plastic kayak $70 per day plus tax
Stand Up Paddleboard $50 per day plus tax (dry suit or wet suit is required to rent)
Dry Suit $45 per day plus tax

Dry suit gaskets that are torn or been trimmed to loosen them, the cost for gaskets replacement will be deducted from your damage deposit. $40.00 per wrist or foot gasket, $70.00 for neck gasket. Rips under 1 inch $5 rips over 1 inch $10 per inch to full suit replace.
On payment of your deposit to Backcountry Safaris, you agree to be bound by Backcountry Safaris' tour terms and conditions. Complete Tour, Reservation and Payment Terms are located here.

Prices are subject to change without notice.

Tour Itineraries: Backcountry Safaris and other tour operators that we work with strive to give you a high quality Alaska experience. The tour itinerary shown on our web page is an example tour itinerary. The actual tour itinerary may vary some due to weather, safety, guest abilities and other conditions. Backcountry Safaris and other independent tour contractors reserve the right to change the tour itinerary and/or make substitutions at any time and without prior notice or to cancel all or part of any tour in its reasonable discretion, for the safety of its participants or due to insufficient number of participants signing up for a tour, because of weather, for the comfort and well being of our guests, for any other conditions that might affect the quality of tour, or as deemed necessary by the tour operator or trip leader.

Limitations of liability: Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, our adventure trips involve inherent risks and dangers which are beyond our control and Backcountry Safaris shall assume no responsibility for personal injuries or deaths and loss of personal property. Due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will read and sign the acknowledgment and Release of Liability before the tour begins. A copy of the text is available on request.