Katmai National Park & Preserve, established in 1918 to protect the region around Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, is one of the United States’ most famous national parks for viewing brown bears. It’s also home to 9,000 years of human history and acts as a major habitat for salmon.
Due to its remoteness, Katmai National Park is not an easy visit, and reservations are required for its most popular site, the Brooks Camp. So if you’re planning on booking a trip to watch the bears or just check out the stunning Alaskan wilderness this upcoming summer, set your calendars for January 7th at 12:00pm ET, because that’s when permits for the Brooks Camp campground open.
The Brooks Camp campground provides access to Naknek Lake, stunning mountain views, and unparalleled wildlife experiences. Despite it being a rather built up campground, visitors should be prepared for backcountry experience in Alaska. Most visitors arrive via float plane, and all visitors are required to attend a bear safety talk to begin their stay.
Over four million acres of Katmai National Park are open for backcountry camping as well, and that does not require a permit. But those hoping to backcountry camp in the park need to understand the risks and difficulties associated. Backcountry camping is not for beginners.
If you’re looking to book a permit for the Brooks Camp campground, you can do so on recreation.gov. Remember, permits open on January 7, 2025, at 12:00pm ET.