Katmai National Park

Katmai protects four million acres (16,000 km²) of Southwest Alaska and one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth: brown bears lined up at Brooks Falls, snatching salmon out of mid-leap. More than 1,500 bears range across a landscape of volcanoes, salmon rivers and coastline, including the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, scoured by the largest eruption of the twentieth century. There are no roads in; you arrive by air, and the wild takes over from there.

Fast facts

• Established: 1918 (as a national monument; national park and preserve in 1980)
• Size: over 4 million acres (16,000 km²), one of the largest U.S. national parks
• Bears: more than 1,500 brown bears
• Signature site: Brooks Falls, and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
• Location: the Alaska Peninsula, Southwest Alaska
• Managed by: National Park Service

The landscape

Katmai is vast, rugged and volcanic. Its centerpiece is the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a moonscape of ash and pumice left by the 1912 Novarupta eruption. Beyond it lie mountains, rivers, lakes and a dramatic Pacific coastline, all stitched together by salmon runs. Brooks Falls, where sockeye leap upstream to spawn, is the stage for the park’s famous summer gathering of bears.

Best time to go

July is the marquee month: salmon are running hard at Brooks Falls and bears are most numerous and active. Visiting in the shoulder of summer trades some of that peak action for fewer people. Whenever you come, expect cool, wet, changeable weather typical of coastal Alaska.

Getting there and around

Reaching Katmai takes at least two flights: a commercial hop from Anchorage to King Salmon, then a floatplane or boat to Brooks Camp. No roads lead into the park, so once you arrive you get around on foot or by boat, and the terrain beyond the developed area is remote and undeveloped.

Things to do

Bear-and-salmon watching from the Brooks Falls platforms is the reason most people come, but Katmai offers far more: hiking and guided bus tours into the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, world-class fishing, sea kayaking along the coast, and backcountry travel through untouched wilderness. It is also an exceptional destination for wildlife photography.

Staying safe

Bear safety is non-negotiable here. Never run from a bear; in a close encounter, speak calmly and back away slowly, and if a brown bear attacks, protect your head and neck and play dead until it loses interest. Keep your pack on. Store all food and scented items in the provided bear-proof storage, keep required distances at the falls, and complete the mandatory orientation. Come prepared for cold, wet weather and understand there is no cell or internet service in the park.

Know before you go

Katmai is remote and self-service. Book air taxis and Brooks Camp lodging or camping well in advance, as they fill quickly. Pack for unpredictable Alaska weather, expect to be off the grid, and be ready for basic camping conditions if you are not staying at the lodge. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; confirm current conditions, reservations and bear-viewing rules with the National Park Service before your trip.

Coordinates

58.5048, -154.8895

Magnetic declination

12.1° E (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

Best seasons

Summer (July for peak bear viewing)

Difficulty

Easy to strenuous

Access / trailheads

No roads reach the park. Fly from Anchorage to King Salmon, then a floatplane or boat to Brooks Camp. Inside, travel is on foot or by boat.

Water

Abundant rivers and lakes; filter or treat all water.

Cell / satellite coverage

No cell service or internet in the park. Carry a satellite messenger and leave a trip plan.

Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency

Contact rangers at Brooks Camp or King Salmon; life-threatening emergencies: 911.

Permits & regulations

No entrance fee; Brooks Camp requires a camping reservation or day-use planning, and mandatory bear-safety orientation. Backcountry travel needs self-registration.

Leave No Trace

Store all food and scented items in bear-proof storage, keep 50 yards (46 m) from bears (more at the falls), pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.