Katmai National Park and Preserve

Not a whole lot of activity at Brooks Falls when I was there so had to go explore and look for bears myself and it didn’t disappoint. Hang out near the bridge and you’ll be very happy. I had a close encounter with a grizzly down by the river (20 feet away) and it was epic! I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that lol but I’ll have a video and story to share for life. There are a few hiking trails there as well, I hiked Dumpling Mountain and the views up top were stunning. I honestly liked my trip to Lake Clark better, but Katmai was awesome as well.

Outstanding National Park. Wildlife in wilderness settings much as they have been for thousands of years. It can be challenging to go further than Brooks Falls and the area around that spot, but it is worth it if you can. The remote lakes have much natural beauty unique to each one. There are two old trapper cabins that can be visited. The further you go into the mountains and the areas of the volcanoes, the more challenging the rivers and streams become. Do not go into the back country ill prepared. Rescue can be difficult because of weather conditions, and may come too late.

Katmai is a breathtaking place. The bears are truly every where and the lakes and rivers make for gorgeous views. There aren't a ton of established trails but the ones they have are very enjoyable. I really recommend hiking to the summit of Dumpling Mountain if it's a clear day. The trail is long and steep in some places but the view is worth it. Brooks camp turned out to be a great place to camp and the near by lodges were nice if you wanted a small break from outdoor life. At the lodge they had showers, flushing toilets, a small store and daily buffets all available to buy. The actual campground offered a gear/ food cache, pit toilets and cold potable water. It's steps from the beach and has semi-private spots. I'd honestly love to go again and check out more of Backcountry. We went the first week of August and the weather was perfect everyday. The salmon run was technically over but there were still plenty of bears and plenty of salmon in the river but a lot less people.

One of the best NP i have ever visited, i saw more than 15 bears at the waterfalls and saw 6 bears cought salmon in 2 days visit,, beautiful wildlife on the Bridge, watching Merganser with their chicks is so relaxing and beautiful , make sure to look in the river and find salmon,

Definitely worth the visit. We went in early august after the “peak” and it was great. Still saw lots of bears feeding at the falls and walking on the beach.

Beautiful national park, did not disappoint. It was absolutely amazing to see so many bears at once. There was a bit of a wait to be able to watch the bears from the upper Brooks viewing point, around 45 minutes in late july, but definitely worth it. We were able to see around 13 bears at once in the river which was incredible. A couple bears were even fighting in the river. We did see a couple bears doing the iconic "waiting in the river with mouths open for the fish to fly into them" which was highly enjoyable and hilarious. There were bears everywhere, not only in the river but also rolling around on land, we even saw one climbing a tree! There were also multiple cub bears following their mothers which were so adorable. We took a float plane from King Salmon to Katmai which was scenic and beautiful as well.

If you only do one thing in Alaska, this is what you should do. Did a month long Alaskan trip with a group of eight. Every single person on the trip agreed this was the definitive best part. You are walking out in the wild with the bears. They are sharing the trails with you (be sure to step aside and let them pass) and catching salmon in the river tens of feet away. It is a mesmerizing experience that I cannot adequately put into words, but this needs to be on your itinerary. The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is also a very cool site to go trek around on if you have time while you are here, but the wild bears will steal the show.

There is absolutely no way anyone could not have a good time here. If you are a nature and animal lover this is the place for you. Bears are abundant as well as other wildlife. Staff is super friendly . Awesome place. I hope to return again someday.