Katmai National Park

Summary

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Entrance fee

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1 live

Camera

Historic Crowd Data

Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service

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Light Moderate Busy Very Busy

Peak season is July, when around 40% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for October–May.

Plan Your Visit

⚠️Bear SafetyHighest bear density▾

🐻 NPS: Katmai "protects some of the highest densities of bears in the world." A strict 50-yard (46m) minimum distance applies at all times. Outside of buildings or designated picnic areas, visitors may not possess "any food (even gum and candy) or beverages other than plain water" — food must be secured in designated caches. All visitors to Brooks Camp must attend a mandatory bear safety orientation before their first outing. NPS bear safety info ↗

Quick Stats

Established1980 (monument since 1918)

Falls Platform Capacity40 people

Time Limit at Falls1 hour

Gateway TownKing Salmon

🛩️Access & EntryNo entrance fee▾

✈️ NPS: "Unlike most parks in the United States, there are no roads connecting the park to the rest of the state — you cannot drive to Katmai." Access is via small floatplane or air taxi, typically from King Salmon (itself reached by commercial flight from Anchorage), or by boat along the Pacific coast. Brooks Camp specifically requires a floatplane landing on Naknek Lake. NPS FAQ ↗

Entry Fees

Entrance PassNot required

Brooks River Corridor Permit$6 booking fee (Jun 15–Oct 31)

Permit booked via Recreation.gov, valid 7 days, max group of 6

🥾Things to Do7 categories▾

Hiking Trails4 trails▾

Brooks Falls TrailEasy

Wheelchair-accessible boardwalk to two raised platforms overlooking bears fishing in Brooks River

1.2 mi RT

Cultural Site TrailEasy

Self-guided walk past prehistoric camps, including a reconstructed semi-subterranean native dwelling

0.1 mi RT

Lake Brooks RoadEasy

Walk to a glacially carved lake with a salmon-viewing area (Aug–Sep) and picnic site

1 mi RT

Dumpling Mountain TrailMod.–Strenuous

Climbs through alpine tundra to views of Naknek Lake, Brooks River & Lake Brooks; continues on to the summit

1.5 mi to overlook (800 ft), +4 mi to summit

Fishing (Brooks River)4 key rules▾

Alaska Fishing LicenseRequired

Required for all anglers park-wide; a state license, separate from any NPS permit

Brooks River Access PermitJun 15–Oct 31

Booked via Recreation.gov; free permit plus $6 booking fee, valid 7 days, max group of 6

Fly-Fishing-Only WaterCatch & release (most of river)

Only unbaited, single-hook artificial flies allowed in Brooks River; fishing from the bridge is prohibited

Bear-Related ClosuresJun 15–Aug 15

Area within 50 yd of the river and 100 yd of Brooks Falls closes to entry; marked detours required

Flightseeing & Air Taxi2 options▾

Flightseeing ToursAuthorized operators only

Small-plane views of tundra, lakes, the Pacific coast & Aleutian Range volcanoes; pilots often spot bears, salmon runs & seabird rookeries

Air Taxi to Brooks CampNo roads to park

Most park destinations, including Brooks Camp, are reached only by floatplane or air taxi from King Salmon, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak or Soldotna

Ranger-Led Programs3 programs▾

Cultural WalkDaily 2 PM, Jun 7–Sep 17

Ranger-led walk from the Brooks Camp Visitor Center covering the area's human history

Evening ProgramDaily 8 PM, Jun 7–Sep 17

Ranger talk at the Brooks Camp Auditorium; no reservation needed

Bear Cam Live ChatsSeasonal

Rangers answer questions live on the bear cams; schedule on the park's events calendar, replays on explore.org's YouTube channel

Boating & Backcountry Travel2 ways▾

BoatingNumerous waterways

Katmai's lakes, rivers & streams are open to boat, canoe, kayak & raft travel

Backcountry CampingPermit-free

No permit required anywhere in the park's backcountry; fewer than 5 miles of maintained trails exist outside Brooks Camp

Hunting & Trapping (Preserve)3 notes▾

Sport Hunting & TrappingPreserve only

Guided & unguided sport hunting/trapping permitted under State of Alaska regulations, preserve lands only (not park lands)

Subsistence HuntingLocal residents only

Limited to local rural residents with a customary-and-traditional-use determination for the species and area

Bear BaitingProhibited (2024)

Prohibited in Alaska national preserves under an NPS rule effective August 2, 2024

Bird WatchingTop 5 species▾

Bald Eagle

Fishes alongside the bears at Brooks Falls

Common Raven

Year-round Alaska resident

Willow Ptarmigan

Common on the tundra terrain

Horned Puffin

Nests along the coastal cliffs

Common Loon

Nests on backcountry lakes

📷Brooks Falls Bear CamSeasonal · late June–Sept▾

🎥 This live stream is hosted by explore.org in partnership with NPS. The camera is solar powered and does not run year-round — bears are typically present mid-spring through mid-fall, with the heaviest concentrations in July. Outside that window, this embed shows archived highlight footage instead of a live feed. Watch on explore.org ↗

🌋Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes1912 eruption▾

🌋 NPS: formed in 1912 by the Novarupta eruption, "the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century" — the reason Katmai was originally protected as a national monument in 1918. A daily bus tour is provided by the park concessioner, Katmailand (not NPS-operated), 23 miles from Brooks Camp, 7–8 hours round trip, with an optional ranger-led 3-mile hike to the valley floor. NPS Valley info ↗

🏕CampingReservation required▾

Brooks Camp CampgroundRecreation.gov▾

SeasonMay 1 – October 31

Fees$18/person/night (Jun 1–Sep 17), $10/person/night (shoulder season)

Bear FenceElectric fence — "bear-resistant, but not bear-proof" per NPS

Stay Limit7 nights in July, 14 nights/year max, group cap of 6

Book on Recreation.gov ↗

📍Landmarks4 stops▾

Key Locations4 stops▾

Brooks Falls

~1.2 mi from Brooks Camp visitor center, famous bear-fishing viewing platform

Brooks Camp

Main visitor hub on Naknek Lake

Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes

1912 Novarupta eruption site, 22.3-mile historic access road

Naknek Lake

Floatplane access point for Brooks Camp

Conditions

Refreshing in 60s

Live Camera Feed

🐻 Official explore.org live bear cam. Feed may go quiet outside salmon-run season (roughly July–September) or overnight.

Park Contact Information

📞 Phone: (907) 246-4250 (King Salmon VC) · (907) 246-3305 (HQ) · Mailing Address: 1000 Silver Street, Building 603, PO Box 7, King Salmon, AK 99613 · Official NPS contact page ↗