Katmai National Park

Year Established: 1918
Annual Visitors: 24,800
Size: 4.09 Million Acres
State: Alaska

Best Time to Visit Katmai National Park

June to September

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Katmai National Park

• See the brown bears at Brooks Falls
• Backpack Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes

A Brief History

Katmai National Park and Preserve is in the southern part of Alaska. It is on a peninsula. It has tundra, forests, lakes, and mountains, all of which are wild places. People go to the park to see the many brown bears that come to Brooks Falls to eat the salmon. Nearby Brooks Camp has platforms where you can see the bears up close. A huge volcanic eruption made lava flows and ash in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

Katmai RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Katmai National Park or in Alaska, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in Alaska
• Best RV Resorts in Alaska
• How to Conserve Water in Your RV
• How To Plan An RV Trip
• Dependable RV Water Fill Stations

Visitor Information

Fees

No fees or registration are needed to get into the park.

Contacting Gates of the Katmai National Park

Phone Number

(907) 246-4250

Visitor Centers

King Salmon Visitor Center

King Salmon Visitor Center is right next to the King Salmon Airport. It tells people about the many federal public lands in Southwest Alaska, especially in the Bristol Bay area. There are a lot of movies to watch, and an Alaska Geographic bookstore that you can find park maps, charts, videos, posters, clothing, and other cool things from.

Brooks Camp Visitor Center

The Brooks Camp Visitor Center is where everyone starts when they go to Brooks Camp. It is open from June 1 to the end of September. A park ranger will be on duty to give information, check people into campgrounds, give mandatory talks on bear safety and behavior, and help people plan trips into the backcountry. The Alaska Geographic Association (AGA) has a bookstore with books, maps, and other items about Katmai.

Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center

The Ukak Falls Trail starts at the Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center, which has a great view of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The posted hours are estimates because the visitor center is only open when rangers lead tours of Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.