Katmai National Park & Preserve Things to Do

The Treehouse is connected to both the Brooks Falls Platform and the Riffles Platform. It is a staging area when the Brooks Falls Platform is at capacity.

Brooks Lodge is the only lodge within the Brooks Camp area. It is run by Katmailand and offers a variety of services and amenities.

Many of Alaska’s prehistoric people, from the subarctic to Southeast, relied on the return of the salmon each years. Brooks River Archaeological District is one of the associated landmarks.

Stop and look around. This land served as a grocery store, pharmacy and hardware store for those who rely on the land.

Many depressions in the ground are former sites of homes or perhaps larger communal gathering areas where artifacts have been found that help piece together stories of the past.

Before entering the Cultural Site Building, stop and take in a view of the of the river at this wayside exhibit.

This former National Marine Research Station now serves as employee housing at Lake Brooks.

The North and South Platforms provide excellent bear viewing opportunities along the lower section of Brooks River.

The Riffles Platform is one of several elevated platforms in the Brooks Camp area for bear viewing. It is located just downstream from Brooks Falls.

The south coast people living from the Aleutians to Prince William Sound, were skilled kayakers and sea hunters. Amalik Bay Archeological District is one of the areas associated with South Coast Sea Hunters.

Brooks Camp is the most developed and most visited area of Katmai National Park.

Visitors can attend nightly ranger programs in the auditorium. This building was originally a bunkhouse for contractors working on a utility project that has since been repurposed.

Katmai’s landscape has been home to people for thousands of years. The Brooks River area is both a National Historic Landmark and a National Register of Historic Places Archeological District. This walk follows an easy 1/4 mile trail from the visitor center to a reconstructed traditional Alutiiq/Sugpiaq home and explores the human history hidden along the river and in the forest.

This trailhead marks the start of a 1/4 mile one-way trail to the Brooks Camp Cultural Site.

Boathouse 1962-1990 which was repurposed to serve as the present day Ranger Station at Brooks Camp

The present-day Brooks Camp Visitor Center was once the park's first hard-side ranger station.

The Brooks Falls Platform is a prime location for bear viewing. Brooks Falls creates an obstacle for salmon swimming up stream, resulting in a prime fishing location for bears.

This trail leads to the Brooks Falls and Riffles Platform along Brooks River.

Take your stewardship to the next level by earning your Junior Ranger Badge.

Become a Not-So-Junior Ranger Journeys at Katmai: An Activity Book for Not-So-Junior Rangers is geared toward young adults and adults. This book delves deeper into Katmai's history and resources on an exploratory journey fit for any National Park fan.

Katmai National Park and Preserve spans over four million acres of remote, wild, and spectacular country and there's no better way to see it than from the window of a small airplane.

Katmai contains hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, many large lakes, and countless small ponds. These waterways were used by Native Alaskans long before contact with Russian and European explorers. Today, they remain beautiful and attractive travel corridors allowing contemporary explorers relatively easy access to Katmai’s wilderness. Explore Katmai's pristine water features by boat.

Brooks Camp is renowned for its remarkable bear viewing opportunities.

Join a ranger-guided tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Experience the raw power of nature and learn about the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.

Dumpling Overlook offers expansive panoramic views of Naknek Lake, Brooks River, and Lake Brooks. Visitors also have the option to continue beyond the maintained trail to the summit.

Follow the brown bears of Brooks River from anywhere with an internet connection with our live bearcam.