Katmai National Park & Preserve — Visitor Info
Katmai National Park & Preserve is a 4.2-million-acre Alaska wilderness famous for Brooks Falls, where dozens of brown bears gather to fish for salmon each summer. There are no roads into the park — nearly everyone arrives by small plane or boat.
Page content last verified: July 2026
Getting There
Katmai has no roads connecting it to the outside world. Most visitors fly commercially from Anchorage to King Salmon (the park's headquarters town), then take a small float plane or water taxi into the park — commonly to Brooks Camp. Direct flights to Katmai are also available from Anchorage, Kenai, Kodiak, and Homer. Fixed-wing aircraft can land on suitable lakes, rivers, beaches, and gravel bars throughout the park unless an area is closed. Give your trip extra days on either end — Alaska weather regularly delays small-plane flights.
Brooks Camp
Brooks Camp, at the mouth of the Brooks River on Naknek Lake, is the park's hub for bear viewing, fishing, and access to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. From June 1 to September 17, the NPS operates a visitor center, ranger station, campground, and daily ranger programs here; Brooks Lodge offers meals and rooms through September 17 (very limited services continue through September 30). Every visitor must attend a short bear safety talk at the start of their stay, and trails can be closed temporarily during "bear jams" when bears are near the bridge or boardwalks.
Entrance Fees
Katmai does not charge an entrance fee or require an entrance pass. Costs come from getting there (flights, water taxis, guide services) and from any lodging, camping, or Brooks River Corridor permit fees.
Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass
Katmai doesn't charge an entrance fee, so an Every Kid Outdoors pass isn't needed here — but it's honored at other fee-charging national parks. Learn more at everykidoutdoors.gov.
Permits & Reservations
Brooks River Corridor Permit
From June 15 through October 31 (salmon spawning season), a permit is required for any activity within the Brooks River Corridor — the river itself plus 50 yards on either bank, from the Lake Brooks inlet down to the elevated bridge and boardwalk (roads, trails, boardwalks, and viewing platforms are excluded from this requirement). Each permit is valid 7 days for a group of up to 6 people and costs a $6 booking fee through Recreation.gov.
Backcountry Camping
Wilderness camping outside the Brooks Camp Developed Area (a 1.5-mile radius around Brooks Falls) doesn't require a permit, but bear-resistant food containers are mandatory in all backcountry areas (free to borrow at the King Salmon and Brooks Camp visitor centers). Some areas have seasonal camping closures to reduce bear-human conflict — including Hallo Bay Meadows (closed April 1–October 31) and parts of Moraine/Funnel Creek (closed July 1–August 31). Check the park's maps page for current closures before you go.
Campgrounds & RV Options
There is no road access and no RV camping anywhere in Katmai — the only maintained campground is fly-in/boat-in only.
Wilderness camping is otherwise allowed across most of the park (outside seasonal closure zones), with a 14-consecutive-day limit per site.
Good to Know
- You're a guest in bear country — everyone attends a bear safety orientation at Brooks Camp, and backcountry campers should camp in open areas, away from bear trails and moving water.
- Bring layers and rain gear — expect wind, rain, and cold even in summer.
- Flights get delayed — build extra days into your trip on both ends in case weather grounds float planes.
- The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, site of the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, is reachable via a daily bus tour from Brooks Camp.
More National Parks
See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.
Fees and regulations change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Katmai National Park & Preserve site before you go.
Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Brooks Camp · NPS – Camping · NPS – Directions & Transportation
