Park Hours (Today)
All Day
King Salmon Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 6:00PM
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About the Park
A landscape is alive underneath our feet, filled with creatures that remind us what it is to be wild. Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.
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What to See & Do
Float the Savonoski Loop
The Savonoski Loop is an 80 mile paddle through the scenic backcountry of Katmai National Park. Paddlers need intermediate canoeing or kayaking skills, and experience traveling in wilderness and in bear country. Depending on the route, experience, and weather, allow a minimum of 4-10 days for the trip.
Become A Katmai Jr. Ranger
Take your stewardship to the next level by earning your Junior Ranger Badge.
Become a Not-So-Junior Ranger at Katmai
Become a Not-So-Junior Ranger Journeys at Katmai: An Activity Book for Not-So-Junior Rangers is geared toward young adults and adults. This book delves deeper into Katmai's history and resources on an exploratory journey fit for any National Park fan.
Explore Katmai by Air
Katmai National Park and Preserve spans over four million acres of remote, wild, and spectacular country and there's no better way to see it than from the window of a small airplane.
Boating in Katmai National Park and Preserve
Katmai contains hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, many large lakes, and countless small ponds. These waterways were used by Native Alaskans long before contact with Russian and European explorers. Today, they remain beautiful and attractive travel corridors allowing contemporary explorers relatively easy access to Katmai’s wilderness. Explore Katmai's pristine water features by boat.
Watch Bears at Brooks Camp
Brooks Camp is renowned for its remarkable bear viewing opportunities.
Self-Guided Tours
Historic Structures of Brooks Camp
Here at Brooks Camp, we have been repurposing our buildings for years. It is easy to recognize the older structures in camp, many have been here since the early 60s and feature the same rustic design. Often, they have been renovated several times, allowing us to reuse resources instead of discarding them in a place where supplies are difficult to find and expensive to transport.
Walk to Brooks Falls - Self-guided
Brooks Falls is perhaps the most well-known destination in all of Katmai National Park. Enjoy this self-guided walk from the Brooks Camp Visitor Center to the Falls. Be sure to give yourself ample time for bear viewing along the way and know that bear jams may occur at any point in Brooks Camp. The distance from the visitor center to the Brooks Falls Platform is 1.2 miles one way.
Cultural Walk - Self-guided
Explore the human side of Brooks River. Katmai’s landscape has been home to people for thousands of years. The Brooks River area is both a National Historic Landmark and a National Register of Historic Places Archeological District. With over 900 house depressions near the river, this is one of the most densely concentrated archeological areas in North America. This walk follows an easy 1/4 mile trail to a reconstructed traditional Alutiiq/Sugpiaq home and explores the human history of Brooks.
Visitor Centers
King Salmon Visitor Center
Located next door to the King Salmon Airport, the King Salmon Visitor Center provides information on the many federal public lands of Southwest Alaska, particularly those in the Bristol Bay area. A large collection of films is available for viewing and an Alaska Geographic bookstore sells maps, charts, videos, posters, clothing and more.
Brooks Camp Visitor Center
The Brooks Camp Visitor Center, open June 1 – September 29, is the point of entry for all visitors to Brooks Camp. A park ranger is on duty to provide information, campground check-in, mandatory bear etiquette and safety talks, and backcountry planning. An Alaska Geographic Association (AGA) bookstore offers books, maps, and other Katmai-related items.
Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center
The Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center overlooks the famous Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and is the starting point of the Ukak Falls Trail. The posted hours are estimated because the visitor center is only open during ranger-led Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes tours.
Where to Stay
Brooks Camp Campground
Brooks Camp Campground is the only developed campground in Katmai National Park and Preserve. It is located on the shore of Naknek Lake, about .3 miles (.5 km) from the Brooks Camp Visitor Center. The campground is also surrounded by an electric fence. Special regulations apply at Brooks Camp and in the campground. Note: Capacity limits in the Brooks Camp Campground is 60 people total. Capacity is not based on number of campsites
Parking & Access
Getting Here
Katmai National Park & Preserve is located on the northern Alaska Peninsula, northwest of Kodiak Island and southwest of Homer, Alaska. The park’s headquarters is in King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Unlike most national parks in the United States, Katmai is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.
Official NPS directionsParking Lots
Lake Camp Boat Access
A public access boat ramp is available as well as parking for vehicles and trailers (for up to 14 days), PFDs for public use, two vault toilets and a picnicking area.
Open in MapsGetting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
Katmai National Park & Preserve is located on the northern Alaska Peninsula, northwest of Kodiak Island and southwest of Homer, Alaska. The park’s headquarters is in King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Unlike most national parks in the United States, Katmai is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Katmai National Park & Preserve — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Operating Hours
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Katmai is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Riffles BearCam
From late June until mid July, bears may actively chase schools of migrating salmon through the river at this spot. They may also practice more patient fishing techniques like sitting in the river and waiting for the fish to swim to them. In July, some female bears with cubs prefer to fish here instead of Brooks Falls. Note: The Riffles cam has not been live since summer 2013, so the current footage is a replay.
Brooks Falls Low
A view of Brooks Falls in Katmai from below the platform. This is a great area for seeing bears from closer to ground level.
Dumpling Mountain Cam
Check out the year-round views from Dumpling Mountain in Katmai National Park. Keep in mind that winter daylight hours are rather short, while summer daylight is nearly 24-7!
Naknek River Cam
In the spring, this camera provides intimate views of waterfowl like ducks, geese, and swans as well as the exciting spectacle of beluga whales swimming upriver to feed. Watch the mudflats and shallow areas adjacent to the riverbanks for dabbling waterfowl like pintails, mallards, American widgeon, green-winged teal, greater-white fronted geese, and tundra swans. Diving ducks like scaup, goldeneyes, and mergansers use the deeper stretches of the river. Beluga whales usually swim upriver chasing schools of smelt on incoming tides. 1-2 hours before the highest, high tide of the day is usually best for watching beluga whales.
Brooks Falls Bearcam
Check out a view of Brooks Falls, an iconic bear-viewing area in Katmai National Park. This camera is available thanks to a partnership with Explore.org.
River Watch Cam
This camera provides a bear’s eye view of Brooks Falls and a trout’s eye view at the mouth of the Brooks River.
Photos
Bear standing at the edge of a waterfall while a salmon is leaping towards it.
Three bears walk near a sleeping bear
lake inside of an ash and glacier covered volcano
meadow in foreground and snow capped volcanoes on the horizon
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
2-4 days
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Planning Katmai & Preserve
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.