Getting to Katmai National Park: An Unconventional Adventure

Exploring the untamed beauty of Alaska’s Katmai National Park takes planning. This pristine wilderness where bears roam freely has limited accommodations and is only accessible by air or water.  

Brooks Camp is the crown jewel of Katmai. It attracts visitors seeking a safe vantage point each summer to see bears indulging in salmon at Brooks Falls. 

There are no roads leading to Brooks Camp. So you can only get to this incredible place by float plane or boat!

After securing our spot in the Brooks Lodge lottery, we arranged a package for accommodations and air transportation through Bristol Adventures.

Anchorage to Katmai’s Brooks Camp

Our Brooks Camp adventure began in Anchorage at Ted Stevens International Airport at the North Terminal. 

The North Terminal is smaller than the main (south) terminal. 

Fortunately, parking at the North Terminal was fantastic! We were able to park right across the street!

Take your parking ticket with you to pay inside the terminal before you leave the airport. 

When traveling to Katmai by plane, every pound matters. Not only did we weigh our bags upon check-in. We had to weigh ourselves, too, while holding the carry-on!

At boarding time, passengers were escorted to the plane through the back of the terminal and climbed into the 14-passenger plane. Our flight was on ACE (Alaska Central Express).

There is no restroom, so plan your beverage intake accordingly.  However, even on this small plane, there is a safety briefing.

The views from this flight were nothing short of breathtaking. The hour and twenty-minute flight treated us to panoramic vistas, including a unique view of the Turnagain Arm.

After landing in King Salmon, we boarded a bus for the Katmai Air facility. Here, you can use the restroom and relax in comfortable seating.

We waited about 10 minutes before boarding the float plane.

This flight was my first time on a float plane. The views were unbeatable on the 30-minute hop to Brooks Camp.

Finally, after 18 months of anticipation, we touched down at Lake Brooks within Katmai National Park. A quick bear school session and a bus ride later, we made it to Brooks Lodge.

Staff transports the luggage and places bags on the dining room porch. It may take a bit to get your luggage, so carry with you anything you need for the first few hours. 

All too soon, it was time to board the return float plane. On departure day, the staff assigned our time and directed us to place our luggage back on the porch.

On the return floatplane, we enjoyed the last glimpses of this remarkable place on the way back to King Salmon.

It is no surprise that Katmai National Park is one of the least visited national parks. Accommodations are in high demand, and getting there can be challenging. However, it was all worth it. This journey was a trip of a lifetime.