Beds & Bears: Stay on the Lake, Fly to the Bears
Wake up on the shores of Beluga Lake, watch floatplanes taxi past your window, then climb aboard for a once-in-a-lifetime day of bear viewing with our partners at Emerald Air Service. Come back to your cozy cabin, gather around the fire pit, and swap stories with pilots and guides under the evening sky.
What is the Beds & Bears Experience?
Beds & Bears is an immersive bear viewing and lodging experience you won’t find anywhere else in Homer. Stay in a lakeside cabin just steps from Emerald Air’s floatplanes, then head out for a guided bear viewing adventure into some of Alaska’s most breathtaking wilderness.
In the evening, you are not just going back to “a place to sleep.” You are staying on the property of a bear viewing company, surrounded by pilots, guides, and fellow travelers who live and breathe these wild places.
This experience is perfect for travelers who want more than just a place to stay.
For couples or small families with kids, it’s a chance to wake up beside the water, watch floatplanes lift off for the day’s adventures, and end your evening around the fire pit—swapping stories and making s’mores with pilots and bear guides who’ve just returned from the wild.
For small groups or photographers, it’s a front-row seat to the action—staying right on the property where Alaska’s premier bear viewing company operates, surrounded by the hum of planes, laughter, and stories from the day’s flights.
Here, your lodging isn’t just near the experience—it’s part of it.
Stay Beside the Lake: Cabin 3 + Other Options
Cabin 3: Closest to the Water
Our recommended Beds & Bears home base is Cabin 3, a modern, comfortable lakeside cabin that sits closest to the water and the floatplane dock. From here you can:
Watch planes come and go on Beluga Lake
Enjoy a front-row seat to the daily rhythm of bear viewing flights
Step outside for fresh air, mountain views, and lakeside sunsets
Inside, you’ll find all the comforts you need for an easy, relaxing stay: a well-equipped kitchen, cozy living area, comfortable beds, and thoughtful touches that make it feel like home between adventures.
Other Lodging Options
Cabin 3 is our favorite match for Beds & Bears, but this immersive experience is open to all Lakeshore properties. If Cabin 3 is booked, we are happy to recommend one of our other suites, cabins, or private homes that keep you close to the lake and the Emerald Air base.
Call or email us to explore other accommodations and find the best fit for your group.
Your Bear Viewing Day with Emerald Air Service
Your bear viewing experience is operated by Emerald Air Service, Homer’s longest-running bear viewing company. On your flight day, you’ll meet your pilot and guide right on the lake, then take off by floatplane into some of Alaska’s most spectacular bear country.
A typical day might include:
A scenic flight over glaciers, coastline, and wild river valleys
Landing on a remote beach or river to walk with your guide
Time spent safely observing wild bears in their natural habitat
A return flight back to Beluga Lake, with memories and photos you’ll talk about for years
Lakeshore provides your lodging for this experience, while Emerald Air Service operates and manages your bear viewing tour. We work closely together to help you plan a seamless stay.
