February should be a great time... if you can deal with cold. The sun starts coming up on January 23rd, and by February 15th there is light (including twilight) from 9AM until 6:30PM. But there is no way to predict the weather, and that is usually the coldest time of the year. It would be typical to expect -30F, though it might be anything from -20F to -45F.

Cold won't stop the tour guides though. But that's a soap opera anyway! There is no point in trying to get reservations, as it just depends on who is in town, has a working vehicle, and isn't tied up with something else. I like Nathaniel Rexford with Arriga Tours, Mike Shults, and Mike Toovak. They are all great people who know what they are doing. The best way to do it is try calling them a couple days in advance, then get off the plane and immediately start checking to see what is going to work. You can ask at the hotels, and Mrs Kim at Sam & Lee's restaurant will also help track down a tour guide (she knows everybody).

Frankly, your chances of seeing a bear are none. Unless you do! Sometimes there are bears everywhere, other times they just aren't here. On the average, tourists don't see them. But if you don't go look it isn't possible, and if you do see one it's fantastic!-