Katmai National Park

Wild landscapes and exceptional bear viewing

Katmai (pronounce “cat-my”) National Park is located on the Alaska Peninsula, southwest of the Kenai Peninsula and across Shelikof Straight from Kodiak Island. The Aleutian Mountain range, with a chain of fifteen volcanic mountains, forms the southeast coast of this stunning and rugged national park. The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is another well-known feature and was named by explorer Robert Grigg after he viewed the valley erupting with thousands of steam vents a few years after the massive eruption of the Novarupta Volcano in 1912.

Katmai National Park and the Brooks Falls and River area are well-known for its Alaskan brown bears and contains the world’s largest protected brown bear population. Both fisherpeople and the bears are drawn to the abundant sockeye salmon run. Many travelers to the area visit the Brooks Falls viewing platform, just 30 yards away from the Brooks River, where you can watch massive brown bears hooking salmon. Peak viewing season is in July when the salmon are spawning for once-in-a-lifetime photography opportunities. Other animals that call Katmai home are snowshoe hare, moose, timber wolf, coyote, beaver, lynx and many others.

If you would like to extend your Alaska vacation with us to include a visit to Katmai National Park, check out the Bear Viewing at Brooks Falls Trip Add-On for details.

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