About this city
Katmai National Park and Preserve is a wild, roadless sanctuary located on the Alaska Peninsula, directly across from Kodiak Island. Originally established in 1918 to protect the valley fractured by the cataclysmic Novarupta volcanic eruption, it encompasses the dramatic Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai is globally renowned as an intact subarctic ecosystem that supports the world's largest protected population of Pacific brown bears, driven by the massive annual runs of sockeye salmon.
Location & Administrative
County
Lake and Peninsula Borough
Time Zone
AKST
State Code
AK
Transportation & Accessibility
Nearest Airports
AKN
Getting Around
Walkable
Weather & Timing
Best Months
JunJulAugSep
Average Temperature
Peak Season
Wildlife Viewing Season
Off Season
Seasonal Closure
Economics & Local Vibe
Sales Tax
0%
Key Industries
Bear Viewing and Adventure TourismWildlife Biological Research
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 2–3 days
Watch giant brown bears catch leaping salmon from the elevated viewing platforms at Brooks Falls, and take a guided backcountry tour to explore the ash-filled Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
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Must-See
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