So you’ve decided you want to visit Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, but you are at a loss trying to gather information on how to get there, where to stay, costs. Well, don’t worry I have lived in King Salmon, Alaska since 2017, and I will give you all the details to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.
So first you’ll need to get yourself to King Salmon, Alaska, the gateway to Katmai National Park. King Salmon is located down the Alaskan peninsula in the world-famous Bristol Bay region. The towns of King Salmon and Naknek sit on the Naknek river just west of Katmai.
To get to King Salmon you will need to travel from your home state or country into Anchorage international airport, then take a connecting flight into King Salmon. Alaska Airlines flies direct from Anchorage to King Salmon daily through the year. You can not drive to or take a ferry to King Salmon. I do recommend you spend the night in some local accommodations in King Salmon before heading on to Brooks Falls depending on your arrival time.
FLYING TO BROOKS CAMP
After you are rested up you can take a floatplane out to Brooks falls for your trip.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT BROOKS CAMP
The best time to visit Brooks camp for bear viewing is in July and September. This is when the bears are most active feeding on the migrating salmon, Although you could encounter bears at any time during your visit! Here is a table from the NPS showing BONUS: There is no fee for day use of Katmai National park!
BEAR VIEWING AT BROOKS FALLS
Bear Viewing at Brooks Falls is probably why most of you click on this in the first place! So at Brooks Camp, brown bears feed on sockeye salmon in the Brooks River the park service has four wildlife viewing platforms along the river that offer safe and amazing bear viewing opportunities while minimizing our potential impact on the bears. For more information about bear watching at Brooks Camp, you can download the National Parks PDF here.
LIVE BEAR CAM FROM BROOKS CAMP ➔
CAMPING AT BROOKS CAMP
Well, camping at Brooks camp as you can imagine is very competitive, lots of people want to stay there. There can only be 60 people staying in the campground per night. So I recommend you attempt to make your reservation as soon as you know your travel dates through this link! If there are no available spots you will have to camp outside of the Brooks Camp developed area. Which could still make for an exciting and adventurous trip! Click here for more information for the NPS about Brooks falls!
If camping isn’t what you are looking for there is also lodging available at Brooks Lodge which is within the Brooks Camp developed area.
OTHER THINGS TO DO BESIDES BEAR VIEWING
Well, I am a fishing guide so I would say fish! The Brooks river provides an amazing opportunity to catch salmon and trout throughout the summer months. You could also hike, canoe/kayak, or visit the valley of 10,000 smokes!
There you have it, A complete guide to visiting Brooks Falls and campground from someone who has firsthand knowledge visiting multiple times every year! If you have any questions about visiting Brooks Falls, staying at our campground in King Salmon, or booking a fishing trip please feel free to contact me.
Thank you & Tight Lines
Steven Benjamin
https://www.katmaifishingguides.com/katmaiblog/guide-to-visit-brooks-falls