Camping in Katmai National Park: Bears and Brooks Falls

Alaskan Ambassador Jenn just checked off a big adventure milestone: camping in Katmai National Park! In early summer, Jenn spent time getting permits, packing and preparing for Alaska's wilderness.

Recently, she and her husband, Brandon, embarked on their trip to Katmai. They got the chance to explore Brooks Falls, see many brown bears and so much more. We were stoked to follow along and catch up with them after their adventure.

Here's the scoop on the first days from their epic trip!

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Camping in Katmai Day One: King Salmon

We landed in King Salmon and hopped into an SUV bound for Bear Trail Cabins, where the unexpected turned into delightful surprises. We found ourselves upgraded to a deluxe cabin, complete with running water, a TV, and even a kitchenette. No soggy tents for us tonight!

After settling in, we dined at the Sockeye Saloon, sharing an absolutely delicious cheeseburger (with bacon, of course). We wrapped up our meal with a sweet treat from the general store—a perfect cap to our first evening in this stunning landscape.

Camping in Katmai Day Two: Brooks Falls

The next morning, we enjoyed coffee made in our cabin. It was an amazing concoction of instant coffee and hot cocoa to fuel our excitement for the day ahead. We woke early, ready to explore Brooks Falls, which is a destination we had been dreaming about for years.

It's an incredible location for spotting bears in their natural habitat. The peak of salmon migration is in July, but you can spot bears fishing at Brooks Falls throughout the early fall. The falls creates an obstacle to migrating salmon, which means bears can fish with very little effort in this location. 

 

Katmai Air: Floatplane and First Sightings

We took a small floatplane over to the national park and saw some beautiful terrain from the sky. Upon landing in the water, we even had our first bear sighting! It was a brown bear swimming off in the distance.

Bear School at the Visitor Center

Our next stop was "Bear School" at the Visitor Center. The orientation further prepared us for responsible wildlife viewing and what to expect in the park. We even earned some memorable pins for completing the program.

Then, we hiked to the campground and set up our tent and camp site, adding guidelines should the wind pick up. 

Local Bears at the Falls

Then, we made our way to the viewing platform to see Brooks Falls and were greeted by the stunning sight of bears catching fish. (You can see this footage in the video around the 8-minute mark.) 

Each moment was surreal, especially when we spotted the local bear dubbed “Backpack.” His antics were a reminder of the wild beauty of nature. We even managed to capture him catch a fish (and some pretty funny footage of him, too).

From there, we made a quick stop for lunch at the lodge. There were many adventurers cozying up around the fire and enjoying a quick bite.

Oxbow Overlook Trail and Historical Dwelling

Next up, we took the Oxbow Overlook Trail. There was evidence that some bears may had just been on the trail moments before our arrival, too, so we were sure to keep an eye out as we walked the gravel path.

The trail took us to a recreation of a historical dwelling. Once inside, we learned about the Athabaskan people and their way of life within the "pit house."

The pit house structure featured an entry tunnel that was dug lower than the main living space. It would trap cold air from getting inside the home. This was one of the thoughtful structures that allowed them to live on the peninsula year-round. It was fascinating to see how they lived in harmony with this stunning landscape.

Brooks Falls Bear Camera in Real Life

Then, we a quick stop to the Visitor Center to check the bear camera and saw that "Backpack" the bear had been replaced by "Chunk," another well-known local bear.

We high-tailed it out of there and back down to the viewing platform to see if we could spot Chunk in person. (We did! You can see him catching salmon in our YouTube video around the 11:20-minute mark.) There was an abundance of wildlife that also showed up at the falls around this time-- from osprey to a young local bear named "Hedgie."  

Hiking Dumpling Mountain and Blueberries

We returned to the lodge for a quick warm-up from the rain and enjoyed some hot cocoa. The lodge provided us with cozy accommodations, plentiful food, and charging stations for our devices—definitely not your average camping experience!

On our next outing, we hiked up Dumpling Mountain, hoping to spot more bears and perhaps some blueberries. It was 3 miles roundtrip. Although it was a strenuous trek, the beauty of the landscape and the thrill of the unknown kept us motivated.

Fueling Up for the Backcountry

After our hike, we relaxed back at our campsite and enjoyed a satisfying dinner of camping fettuccine alfredo and cheesecake for dessert. 

With some fuel canisters scavenged from the leftover fuel cache, we prepped our meal with the help of a nifty device called FlipFuel. It allowed us to transfer fuel efficiently and create a full isobutane canister to cook our meals. It was a creative solution to our backcountry cooking challenges!

Camping in Katmai National Park: Reflections on the Journey

As the first days of our trip unfolded, it became clear that this experience exceeded our expectations -- from the amenities to the breathtaking views. But above all: experiencing the bears in their natural habitat! 

Brooks Falls is a must-visit destination and the memories you create here will last a lifetime.

Stay tuned for more Katmai National Park recaps and other Alaskan adventures! 

About the Ambassador: Alaskan Adventurer Jenn

FlipFuel Ambassador Jenn shares what it’s like to live in Alaska on her Wanderblest channels. You can find outdoor gear reviews and recommendations for hunting, fishing, foraging, and more. She also uploads full-length Alaskan adventures on her YouTube.

In addition, Jenn and her husband, Brandon, own Wild Frontier Crafted (https://wildfrontiercrafted.com), which is a small business making laser-engraved cutting boards, wood ornaments and other handcrafted items. The duo even created the FlipFuel® Holiday Ornament in our shop!