Katmai
National Park
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Katmai National Park Land of Ice and Fire
What you will find
Visitor information
Bear viewing tours in
the park
Wilderness lodges ALASKA NATIONAL PARK'S TOUR Tour 1550CTA - 15 Day/ 14 Night Our Alaska National Park tour takes you into the heart of 5 of Alaska's most fascinating National parks, all of which provide unique experiences to some of the most remote and wild lands left on earth! BROOKS FALLS / KATMAI NATIONAL PARK Tours 17, 118 & 119 - The annual salmon migration through Brooks River attracts brown bears in large numbers. Special platforms built at the falls afford unobstructed, safe viewing of the animals. LIVE AMONG THE BEARS AT KATMAI WILDERNESS LODGE Tour 113 - One of the most unique bear viewing experiences ever! Think of actually being able to live safely in close proximity to grizzly bears and spending entire days viewing the magnificent animals. HALLO BAY CAMP ON THE KATMAI COAST Tour 112 - Hallo Bay, a private camp located on the Pacific Coast of Katmai National Park, specializes in guided bear viewing and photography trips. Please contact us if you have any questions about Katmai National Park or the services we offer. |
At 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage, Katmai
National Park is one of Alaska’s most remote
National Parks. It holds something for everyone
during their Alaska vacation. The park was originally formed to
protect the volcanic area known as The Valley of
10,000 Smokes, which was forever changed by the
eruption of the Novarupta Volcano in 1912. The
eruption left a forty square mile ash deposit that
is up to 700 feet deep in some areas. Today, the
area is better known for its large population of
Brown Bears. The latest survey estimates there are
2000 bears in Katmai National Park. During July and
September, brown bears often gather at Brooks Falls
to feed on salmon swimming up river to their
spawning grounds. Visitors from all over the world
come to the Falls in hopes of viewing the bears in a
classic Alaskan scene. The area has much to
offer. Along with bear viewing and volcano tours,
sport fishing for Salmon and Trout is also very
popular. The coastal regions are very popular
destinations as well. Bears can be viewed combing
the beach for clams or digging grasses and roots.
Katmai National Park is only accessed by air,
normally from Anchorage. The
summer season begins in early June and ends
mid-September. The main Ranger Station
is located at Brooks Camp, the most popular
destination in Katmai National Park. There is a
lodge and campground at Brooks Camp for overnight
guests. Bears at Brooks Camp are viewed from the
safety of platforms overlooking the waterfall and
mouth of the river. Bus tours to the Valley of 10,000
smokes departs daily from Brooks Camp. Visits to the
Katmai National Park coast are also very popular,
with
overnight accommodations available at several remote
lodges. 
There are numerous bear viewing tours
offered
in the park. The most popular departs from Brooks Camp.
Trails lead from the Ranger Station to the Brooks
Falls platforms. It is an easy, 1 mile walk on the
trail to the Falls' viewing platform. Bear viewing at Brooks
Camp is not guided, but rangers are in the area to
give bear safety updates. Another Bear Viewing
option is Hallo Bay. Hallo Bay is located on the
Katmai coast, and Hallo Bay Camp offers guided bear
viewing tours by foot. Access to Hallo Bay is by air
directly from Homer, AK. The bear viewing hike is
relatively strenuous, and guests should be prepared
to walk up to 9 hours. Bears in the area eat fish,
berries, clams, and sweet grasses. Katmai Wilderness
Lodge offers a variety of bear viewing tours for
guests staying at the lodge. 
There are three overnight accommodation options
at Katmai National Park. The most known is Brooks
Lodge, located at Brooks Camp. The
Lodge offers cabins with 2 sets of bunk beds, sink,
shower, and toilet. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
is served buffet style at the Main Lodge. Because of
Brooks Lodge's popularity, it can book up more than
1 year in advance. Alternative accommodations
in King Salmon, approximately a 20 minute flight
from Brooks, is an option.
There are two overnight options on the Katmai
National Park coast, Katmai Wilderness Lodge and
Hallo Bay Bear Camp. Katmai Wilderness lodge is
reached by air from Anchorage via Kodiak Island.
Viewing platforms at the lodge provide unique and
safe bear observation. Katmai Wilderness Lodge has 6
deluxe cabins, each with private bath. Meals at the
lodge and daily guided activities are included. Hallo Bay
Bear Camp, accessible by
air from Home, is a wilderness camp where guests
overnight in weatherproof tents. Each tent has
wooden floors, solid doors, screen windows, cots,
and bedding. This option is a bit rustic, but
perfect for guests looking to experience an Alaska
bear camp.
