Ketchikan Wildlife Viewing
Brown Mountain Road

photo of Brown Mountain Road area wildlife The Brown Mountain Road is a well-maintained 4½-mile gravel road that gradually ascends from sea level to just below alpine. Look for blue grouse along the road and from the roadside pullouts. Look for Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears in the spring and early summer. The Brown Mountain Road ends at the Dude Mountain Trail. This steep one-mile trail ascends 1,200 feet to the 2,848-foot peak of Dude Mountain, and provides additional viewing chances and good views along the way. Look and listen for willow ptarmigan, Alaska’s state bird, as the trail ascends into alpine.

Habitat

Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears come to the alpine in spring and summer to feed on emerging plants, which are one of their few sources of food before the bounty of summer.

Species

  • Black Bear
  • Grouse
  • Ptarmigan
  • Sitka black-tailed deer

Hints

Bring binoculars or other optics to improve your viewing experience, and stop in pullouts to scan the rideglines for the best chance of spotting wildlife.

Facilities

  • Hiking Trails

Notes

Drive carefully and pay close attention to road conditions on the Brown Mountain Road. Watching wildlife instead of the road can be dangerous for you and other drivers.

Plan to spend at least: 2 hours - half day

Best Months

█ Best Month

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • Best Month May
  • Best Month June
  • Best Month July
  • Best Month August
  • Best Month September
  • October
  • November
  • December

Directions

The turnoff for the Brown Mountain Road on Revilla Road, five miles from the Revilla Road junction at mile 4.3 of the North Tongass Highway.

Contact

Ketchikan Visitor's Bureau - (800) 770-3300 or http://www.visit-ketchikan.com

Additional Information

Living with Bears