State Parks and National Parks

Katmai was created to preserve the remains of the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. Novarupta volcano exploded in June of 1912 and filled an entire valley with ash that remained hot enough to boil water for decades after the eruption.

The escaping steam formed a geothermal wonderland aptly named, the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, the smokes have cooled, but the area still has five active volcanoes. Katmai remains geologically active and in September of 2006, Fourpeaked Mountain became Fourpeaked Volcano after a dormancy period that spanned the past 10,000 years.

Today, Katmai has become more famous for viewing bears than for the volcanic wonders, as visitors come from all around the world to view brown bears. The Katmai coast and Brooks River are two of the best places to view bears. Bears gather along the coastal sedge meadows in June to graze until salmon begin arriving from the ocean.

In July and again in September, brown bears gather at Brooks River to feast upon sockeye salmon. More than 70 individual adult visited Brooks River in July 2006.

Brooks Camp, operated from June 1 to September 17, provides a number of services for visitors including lodging, camping, bear viewing platforms and other services. Visitors must attend the mandatory Bear Etiquette Orientation Talk at the Brooks Camp Visitor Center immediately upon arrival to the Brooks River. This is short, 15-minute program is designed to ensure that all visitors learn how to safely enjoy the unique bear-viewing experience.

Viewing platforms are provided to allow unmatched bear viewing along the river. The Brooks Falls platform is limited to a maximum of 40 visitors at a time and when the capacity is reached, each visitor will be allowed one hour of viewing time before they are asked to sign up on the waiting list to return to the falls. Keep in mind that the Brooks Falls area is closed nightly from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to allow bears a chance to use the area when no humans are present. There are no viewing limits on the Riffles or Lower River platforms.

The Brooks Camp Campground operates from June 1 to September 17 and has an electric fence, potable water, vault toilets, cooking shelters, food and gear storage lockers and one of the best campground views around.

The campground can hold a maximum of 60 campers and costs $8 per person per night.

July is the busiest month at Brooks, make reservations early at www.recreation.gov or by calling.

Access is by air from Anchorage to King Salmon on the park's west boundary, then to the Brooks River area.

Hunting is allowed in the preserve in the northern region of the region.