Bears of Katmai National Park

Photo by Jon Wilson

A 1,000 pound brown bear stands at the top of the falls with his massive mouth wide open, waiting for fish to jump into his jaws. Another bear takes a more relaxed approach and sits himself in the pooling waters at the base of the falls and lazily waits for fish to swim into him before smacking them with his giant paw. Some bears will dine and dash while others employ their best snorkeling techniques, looking for their high calorie meal under the swirling water. No matter their fishing style, each of these bears is after the same prize of sockeye salmon, and all of these unique tactics can be seen at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, Alaska.

Home to the largest concentration of brown bears in the world, Katmai National Park, located in southeast Alaska, was established in 1918 to protect the region surrounding Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. A haven to bears, wolves, moose and other wildlife, Katmai also boosts thousands of years of human history as well. When you walk in Katmai, you will be walking in the footsteps of people who crossed the land bridge from northeast Asia and seasonally followed the migration pattern of wildlife as they hunted, fished, built shelter and established communities. From Russian fur trappers to Native Alaskan Alutiq to European explorers, they all have made their mark on the wilderness of Katmai.

Photo by Jon Wilson

One of the main attractions to Katmai today are the bears, as people fly in from all over the world for a chance to see these exceptional animals. From June 1st through September 18th, the National Forest Service operates a visitor center, ranger station, campground and auditorium with daily ranger-led programs and hikes. Brooks Camp, located at Brooks River and the shore of Naknek Lake, has 60 camp slots nestled among the forest of mature balsam poplar and birch trees. Reservations can be made through www.recreation.gov beginning January 5th.

Photo by Jon Wilson

Unlike most national parks, Katmai can only be accessed by air or boat. The park is over six million square miles, extremely remote, and can only be accessed by boat or plane. There are three different bear viewing platforms in the park. All are very close to each other and within 1.2 miles from Brooks Camp Visitor Center. Brooks Falls Wildlife Viewing Platform is one of the most popular places and according to the National Forest Service website, “In July and September, bears are everywhere at Brooks Camp. They can be found walking trails, fishing in the river, and even napping on the beach,” says an officer with the National Forest Service. Day trips to this area can be booked with multiple tour operators out of Anchorage, Kodiak, and Homer.

In addition to Brooks Falls, there are other, more remote places in Katmai to view

bears. For an incredible day trip out of Homer, visitors should fly with one of the experienced bear viewing guides. Tour operators conduct day and overnight trips into Katmai, which will offer guests an unparalleled bear viewing adventure.

Photo by Jon Wilson

Tom Soderholm, chief pilot for Smokey Bay, said the difference between seeing bears at Brooks Falls and the other places in Katmai, is the personalized experience. “Brooks Falls can be very crowded during the salmon-spawning season, with sometimes up to 200 people vying for a spot on the wooden overlook. We instead have small groups of 4-5 people per pilot/guide who escort guests to the bears that roam in a completely unpopulated area,” said Soderholm.

Depending on the weather, visitors can take an hour's flight from Homer to either Katmai or Lake Clark National Park. The flight itself is breath-taking as magnificent glaciers and towering active volcanos come into view. Upon landing on the beach, the group spends three hours in the area, crossing streams and traversing the area, while bears graze just a few feet away. All pilots/guides are armed for travelers protection, but truth be told, the bears just aren’t interested in people.

“We are watching bears eat in the most concentrated food source in the area,” said Soderholm. “It really is just a massive seafood buffet for the bears.”

For the adventurous soul, several operators organize overnight trips to the grassland coast of Katmai. Imagine being in a tent, surrounded by an electric fence with bears roaming within feet from where you are staying. Bears, cubs, wolves and other wildlife can all be found on the coast as this area offers a variety of nutrient dense food. The guides with these types of overnight tour operators are highly trained and experienced and will make your time in Katmai a memorable one.

There are many different ways to see bears in Katmai. Whether you choose to fly into a populated area for a day trip or decide to spend the night on a remote Alaskan coast, the personalized experience you have with guides will make your Katmai trip come alive with stories and tales to pass on through the generations.

There are many bear viewing companies that operate out of Homer, Kodiak, Anchorage and Soldotna. Breath of the Bear recommends the following companies:

Andrew Airways: www.andrewairways.com, Phone: (907) 487-2566, email: info@andrewairways.com

Alaska Air Taxi: www.alaskaairtaxi.com, Phone: (907) 243-3944, email: info@alaskaairtaxi.com

Regal Air: www.regal-air.com, Phone: (907) 243-8535, email: info@regal-air.com

Sasquatch Alaska Adventures: www. sasquatchalaska.com, Phone: (907) 299-7272

Smokey Bay Air: www.smokeybayair.com, Phone: 888-482-1511

Talon Air Service: www.talonair.com, Phone: (907) 262-8899