Best Time to See Bears in the US
June, July and May is the best time to see bears in the United States. This is a national picture built from 55,010 verified iNaturalist observations across 47 states, showing when and where bears are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
55,010 verified observations of bears in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bears are recorded in the US
Peak month
June
10,536 records (19.2% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 728 | 1.3% |
| February | 551 | 1% |
| March | 1,299 | 2.4% |
| April | 3,530 | 6.4% |
| Maypeak | 8,103 | 14.7% |
| Junepeak | 10,536 | 19.2% |
| Julypeak | 8,368 | 15.2% |
| August | 7,420 | 13.5% |
| September | 6,097 | 11.1% |
| October | 4,498 | 8.2% |
| November | 2,556 | 4.6% |
| December | 1,324 | 2.4% |
Bears you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| American Black Bear | 55,010 |
Across the country, bears sightings peak in June, when 10,536 of the 55,010 annual observations are logged, about 19.2% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through June, July and May.
The best states to see bears by recorded sightings are California (11,158), North Carolina (3,766), Tennessee (3,650), Wyoming (3,233) and Washington (2,482). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The bears you are most likely to encounter nationwide are American Black Bear, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see bears
- bears in California11,158 sightings, peak June
- bears in North Carolina3,766 sightings, peak June
- bears in Tennessee3,650 sightings, peak May
- bears in Wyoming3,233 sightings, peak June
- bears in Washington2,482 sightings, peak June
- bears in Colorado2,340 sightings, peak June
- bears in New York2,322 sightings, peak June
- bears in Vermont2,056 sightings, peak May
- bears in Oregon1,951 sightings, peak June
- bears in Virginia1,787 sightings, peak June
- bears in Alaska1,755 sightings, peak June
- bears in Arkansas1,630 sightings, peak July
- bears in Florida1,576 sightings, peak October
- bears in Pennsylvania1,515 sightings, peak June
- bears in Montana1,481 sightings, peak July
Most-recorded bears species nationwide
- American Black Bear55,010 records
Plan your bear trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bear viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bear viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a bear tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see bears in the US?+
June is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through June, July and May, based on 55,010 verified observations across 47 states.
Which states are best for seeing bears?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, North Carolina and Tennessee. California leads with 11,158 verified observations.
How many bears sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 55,010 verified bears observations are logged on iNaturalist across 47 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of bears live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are American Black Bear, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.