Sport & Outdoor
IconicKatmai National Park and Preserve
FreeFly in to Brooks Camp and watch brown bears fish for salmon at Brooks Falls from raised viewing platforms.
Photo: NPS/Michael Fitz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
SightseeingIconicOutdoor AdventureFree
Brooks Falls
Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park and Preserve · King Salmon, AK
Why you should go…
Brooks Falls is a six-foot waterfall on the Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve, where brown bears gather to catch sockeye salmon leaping upstream. Like most of Katmai, Brooks Camp is reached by plane or boat, and every visitor starts with a required bear safety talk. Four wildlife viewing platforms along the river let you watch the bears safely, and up to 25 bears have been seen at the falls at once in July. The park charges no entrance fee.
- #bear viewing
- #national park
- #waterfall
- #wildlife watching
- #salmon run
Good to know
General sightseeing guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
The forecast is part of the ticket
Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.
Golden hour sells out first
Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.
Dress a layer warmer
It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.
Timed entry is common
Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.
What's around here?
The closest stops to Brooks Falls, ordered by straight-line distance.
0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor