Katmai Pass became Katmai National Park and Preserve in 1918 when explorer, Robert Grigg climbed Katmai Pass and discovered all the vents located on the valley floor. This happened about six years after Novarupta Volcano silently erupted changing the landscape into valleys full of ash and steam vents. In 1980, the National Park was expanded to 4.2 million acres. Today the National Park is teeming with wildlife. It is located 260 miles Southeast of Anchorage, and is accessible by floatplane since no roads connect it!
What is all the fuss about Katmai? It's 4.2 million acres is full of rivers and lakes where trout, salmon, char, and pike run and play! All of those fish make it the perfect haven for brown bears and anglers alike! The brown bears are one of the primary draws for people to come visit Katmai. In prime bear season (between June and October) you can find up to 2,000 bears here filling their bellies preparing to hibernate.
What is there to do there besides watch bears? You can hike the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, kayak the Savonoski Loop, camp, or go to Brooks Camp Visitor's Center to find out what else there is to do there. It Opens June 1 and closes sometimes around mid-September.
Interested in bear watching? I will be glad to help you plan the perfect bear-watching adventure in Alaska!
