Park of China
Overview
| Designation | US National Park |
| Location | Southwestern Alaska |
| Latitude, longitude | 58.5, -155.0 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Volcanoes, brown bears |
| Wildlife | Brown bears, salmon |
| Area | 4,090,000 acres |
| Highest point | 7,606 ft |
| Nearby cities | Anchorage |
| Nearby sites | Lake Clark National Park and Preserve 240km Search nearby |
| Themes | Volcano, Wildlife, Mountain, Snow Mountain, Glacier, Ocean, Lake, Hiking & climbing, Rafting & boat trips, Night sky & aurora |
About
Katmai National Park is in southwestern Alaska. It became a US national park in 1980.
Visitor map
Travel tips
Getting there: the park has no road access. From Anchorage you fly to King Salmon, about 1.5 hours, then take a floatplane about 20 minutes to Brooks Camp. Floatplanes also fly directly from places such as Kodiak and Homer.
Main sight: most visitors go to Brooks Camp, where Brooks Falls is the place to watch brown bears fishing for salmon at the top of the falls.
Bear viewing: July and September are the main bear-viewing seasons. There are viewing platforms at the falls; you attend a ranger safety talk before going out, and may queue for the platform when it is crowded.
Bear safety: brown bears appear in the camp and on trails. Keep the required distance, do not approach them, and keep food within designated areas.
Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes: the 1912 eruption of Novarupta created the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, reached by a bus from Brooks Camp on a half-day to full-day trip.
Other activities: apart from bear viewing, the lakes are used for fishing and kayaking, and some coastal tours watch bears digging clams.
Season: the main season is June to September, and the park is almost empty in winter. Lodging and plane seats fill very early in summer.
Where to stay: Brooks Camp has a campground and a lodge, both to be booked well ahead; backcountry camping needs a plan agreed with rangers.
Map
