About Katmai National Park & Preserve
A landscape is alive underneath our feet, filled with creatures that remind us what it is to be wild. Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Located between the stormy north Pacific Ocean and the even stormier Bering Sea, the Katmai region is often a battleground between weather systems. When you visit, be prepared to encounter all types of weather. On average, wet and cool conditions predominate in spring, summer, and fall. Winters are drier and…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Alaska. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
Katmai is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Activities
Getting There
Katmai National Park & Preserve is located on the northern Alaska Peninsula, northwest of Kodiak Island and southwest of Homer, Alaska. The park’s headquarters is in King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Unlike most national parks in the United States, Katmai is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Float the Savonoski Loop
The Savonoski Loop is an 80 mile paddle through the scenic backcountry of Katmai National Park. Paddlers need intermediate canoeing…
Become A Katmai Jr. Ranger
Take your stewardship to the next level by earning your Junior Ranger Badge.
Become a Not-So-Junior Ranger at Katmai
Become a Not-So-Junior Ranger Journeys at Katmai: An Activity Book for Not-So-Junior Rangers is geared toward young adults and adults.…
Explore Katmai by Air
Katmai National Park and Preserve spans over four million acres of remote, wild, and spectacular country and there's no better…
Boating in Katmai National Park and Preserve
Katmai contains hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, many large lakes, and countless small ponds. These waterways were used…
Watch Bears at Brooks Camp
Brooks Camp is renowned for its remarkable bear viewing opportunities.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Take a Guided Tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
Join a ranger-guided tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Experience the raw power of nature and learn about the largest…
Hike to Dumpling Overlook
Dumpling Overlook offers expansive panoramic views of Naknek Lake, Brooks River, and Lake Brooks. Visitors also have the option to continue beyond…
Watch the Katmai Bearcam
Follow the brown bears of Brooks River from anywhere with an internet connection with our live bearcam.
Visitor Centers
King Salmon Visitor Center
Located next door to the King Salmon Airport, the King Salmon Visitor Center provides information on the many federal public lands of Southwest Alaska, particularly…
Brooks Camp Visitor Center
The Brooks Camp Visitor Center, open June 1 – September 29, is the point of entry for all visitors to Brooks Camp. A park ranger…
Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center
The Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center overlooks the famous Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and is the starting point of the Ukak Falls Trail. The…
Campgrounds
Brooks Camp Campground
Brooks Camp Campground is the only developed campground in Katmai National Park and Preserve. It is located on the shore of Naknek Lake, about .3…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
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