Katmai National Park

🐻

50-yd rule

Bear distance

💵

Entrance fee

🎥

Seasonal

Brooks Falls cam

🌋

1912

Novarupta eruption

🏕

Brooks Camp

Reservation required

🛣️

Zero

Roads to park

⚠️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

📷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 CampMain visitor hub on Naknek Lake

Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes1912 Novarupta eruption site, 22.3-mile historic access road

Naknek LakeFloatplane access point for Brooks Camp

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 ↗