Katmai National Park

ExploreKatmai National Park

Katmai National Park, AK

First established to preserve an active volcano site and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Katmai National Park covers just over 4 million acres. Perhaps this area is most notable as a preserve for Alaskan brown bears and salmon. In fact, the park is home to the world’s largest brown/grizzly bear population at just over 2200 total. People come to Katmai to explore Mount Katmai, Mount Martin and Trident Volcano among others. Hiking, biking, mountaineering and kayaking are all incredibly popular ways to check out the park. The abundance of wildlife, beyond the bears and salmon, make this a truly one-of-a-kind trip.

2,200Bear Population
Sockeye SalmonMost Common Fish
40,000Annual Visitors

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Things to See in Katmai National Park

  • Brooks Camp

    Located at the mouth of the Brooks River, Brooks Camp represents the center of bear watching when it comes to Katmai. It is not uncommon to stand on the viewing deck and see multiple bears hunting or even just playing in the water. This is also a great area to fish.
  • The Bear Cam

    The park has cameras positioned in locations optimal to catch the best bear activities. Watch them fish for salmon or check out the mother bears and their new cubs exploring the land.
  • Boating

    With hundreds of miles of lakes, rivers and streams throughout, the park is an especially terrific place for boating. Visitors come to kayak, canoe and raft. Throughout the park you can find both tranquil and serene rides as well as whitewater rapids.

When to Visit Katmai National Park

  • Winter

    The park is open year-round, but you'll want to avoid winter. The guide services close down for the season and the days are short.
  • Spring

    Late spring (June) can be a good time to visit the park while avoiding the crowds. If visiting in June, you're most likely to see bears in Hallo Bay or Swikshak Lagoon.
  • Summer

    July and August is the busy season. Compared to other Alaska parks, Katmai doesn't get a crazy amount of visitors so timing your trip around the busy season can be the best decision.
  • Fall

    Early fall is a good time to visit, but the services shut down sometime in October.

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What Our Guests Are Saying

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Based on 1,411 Reviews

Saskia

Saskia

26 days ago

What an amazing tour. We saw whales, dolphins and porpoises. The crew was very friendly and enthusiastic. We could really tell they are very respectful towards the animals, we were able to see two humpbacks for nearly half an hour, everybody was silent, the engine was off and the crew was also in awe. Only when the whales left, the engine was back on and we also started moving again. We really felt like we had all the time in the world and we didn't disturb the animals.

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