By the time June rolls around in Texas, it often seems like we’re already halfway through summer. Outside of the contiguous United States in Katmai, Alaska, however, things are just getting started. Salmon are in the process of their long journey home to rivers and streams to lay eggs. Bears have come out of hibernation, and they are anxiously awaiting the aquatic arrival.
There is no better place to watch this circle of life happen than at Katmai National Park and Preserve where thousands of brown bears call home. For those who can’t make the trip, the park has web stream of the most populated point in the river. But if you want to get as close as possible – safely, of course – put this national park on your bucket list.
Getting There
Anyone who has been to the Grand Canyon can attest that some national parks get crowded enough to feel like theme parks. That is not the case in Katmai. In 2017, it had 37,818 visitors. That same year, Yellowstone National Park saw more than 4 million visitors. This, in part, is due to the public exposure the park gets. Be honest, had you heard about it before reading this? However, accessibility is likely the main thing keeping this national preserve relatively secluded.
If flights in small planes aren’t your cup of tea, this isn’t a trip for you. Most destinations in Katmai National Park are directly accessed via air taxi flights from Anchorage, Homer, King Salmon, Kodiak and other nearby Alaska towns and villages. Boats can also access Katmai’s Pacific coastline, but the trip would take substantially longer. Katmai Air, an air taxi service, offers round-trip flights from Anchorage to Katmai. Destination aside, the flight itself is scenic and well worth it.
Fat Bear Week
Remember how we said June is the start of the salmon run? Well, it’s also the start of Brooks Camp’s brown bears’ months-long feasting in Katmai. Fresh out of hibernation, they may look a little trim now, but by October, you’ll hardly recognize them. In honor of this rapid weight gain, the park has formed “Fat Bear Week,” a bracket-based system in which park-goers or fans from afar can vote on the bears they think gained the most weight. Participants win nothing more than the joy of viewing enormous bears. A quick visit to the park’s official Facebook page will show you what all the hype is about.
These bruins get huge! Head to the official Katmai National Park and Preserve website to get a glimpse via webcam, but be advised: They’re still skinny this time of year. Of course, the bears are not suffering from gluttony. They are wisely packing on the pounds for a long winter. Visitors of the park are able to view the bears from a nearby observation deck that overlooks a gorgeous set of waterfalls. It’s idyllic, but it’s also strategic for the bears, which are often able to catch salmon attempting to jump upstream. The deck gives you a safe, front-row view of nature in all of its glory, and what is better than that?
Notable Attractions
While the bears at Brooks Camp certainly get the most attention, there are plenty of other reasons to put Katmai National Park on your bucket list. Scientists have documented 42 species of mammals throughout the preserve. Katmai has a mix of tundra, coastal and volcanic areas, so the variety of ecosystems is truly diverse.
With everything from moose to caribou, red foxes, wolves, minks and so much more, the lake regions will keep any animal lover busy. Along the coast, a keen eye may spot sea lions, sea otters, harbor seals and porpoise. The occasional Beluga whale is not unheard of either. So hop in a tiny plane and get your adventure started.