Katmai National Park & Preserve

Katmai is famous for volcanoes, brown bears, fish, and rugged wilderness and is also the site of the Brooks River National Historic Landmark with North America's highest concentration of prehistoric human dwellings (about 900).

Katmai National Monument was created to preserve the famed Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a spectacular forty square mile, 100 to 700 foot deep, pyroclastic ash flow deposited by Novarupta Volcano.

There are at least fourteen volcanoes in Katmai considered "active", none of which are currently erupting.

Brown bear and salmon are very active in Katmai. The number of brown bears has grown to more than 2,000. During the peak of the world's largest sockeye salmon run each July, and during return of the "spawned out" salmon in September, forty to sixty bears congregate in Brooks Camp along the Brooks River and the Naknek Lake and Brooks Lake shorelines. Brown bears along the 480
mile Katmai Coast also enjoy clams, crabs, and an occasional whale carcass.

A rich variety of other wildlife is found in the Park as well.

There is plenty room for great diversity of wildlife in Katmai which encompasses millions of acres of pristine wilderness, with wild rivers and streams, rugged coastlines, broad green glacial hewn valleys, active glaciers and volcanoes, and Naknek Lake.

Katmai NP&P Field HeadQuarters
P.O. Box 7, #1 King Salmon Mall
King Salmon, AK 99613
(907) 271-3751 - Headquarters
907-246-3305 - Visitor Information

By Plane
Katmai National Park Preserve is located on the Alaska Peninsula, across from Kodiak Island. Park Headquarters is in King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Several commercial airlines provide daily flights into King Salmon as there is no road access. Brooks Camp, along the Brooks River approximately 30 air miles from King Salmon, is a common destination for visitors to the Park. Brooks Camp can only be reached via small float plane or boat.

Getting Around
Viewing brown bears in their natural habitat and fishing are very popular activities in Katmai. Safety and preparation for varying conditions are the most important considerations when visiting a wilderness area like Katmai National Park & Preserve.

Although a bear may be encountered anywhere in Katmai from late May into December, the best times for bear viewing at Brooks Camp are late-June through July and September. There are few, if any, bears around Brooks in June and August, though they are seen occasionally during these
times.

July and September are crowded with both bears and people.
Delays in getting to and from the bear viewing platforms are common and can occur at any time, although such delays offer opportunities for viewing other wildlife and the spectacular scenery all-around Brooks Camp.

Katmai is bear habitat, and they always have the right-of-way. Weather and bears are always a factor at Katmai, so plan extra time to work around delays. There are occasions, especially in July, when visitors are unable to get to the Falls Platform due to time constraints and flight schedules.

Extenuating circumstances may necessitate closure of any portion of Brooks Camp, including trails and bear viewing platforms for safety reasons without advance notice.

Summers in Katmai are cool with frequent high winds and rain. Insects can be intense and headnets are recommended.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Boating
• Camping
• Climbing
• Educational Programs
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Wilderness Area
• Wildlife Viewing
• Snow Skiing
• Backpacking
• Bird Watching
• Mountaineering
• Nature Walks
• Kayaking
• Whitewater Rafting

Recommended Activities
The focus of visitor use is at the Brooks River, where brown bear congregate to feed on sockeye salmon, although increasing visitor use is occurring along the outer coast and elsewhere in the park interior. Three bear viewing platforms are located along the Brooks River. The park also offers world-class sportfishing. The Katmai coast also attracts visitors for sportfishing as well as coastal tours and bear viewing. Access to the coast is available by boat tours and charter air taxis from Kodiak, Homer, and Anchorage, or from many of Katmai's commercial operators and lodges.