And Adventure In Katmai National Park And Preserve

Katmai National Park and Preserve is located in a remote area of the Alaskan Peninsula, approximately 250 miles southwest of Anchorage. Katmai’s brown bears are one of the park’s most popular attractions! During the summer, the bears are drawn to Brook Falls for the salmon runs. The viewing platforms along the river are the perfect place to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, making Katmai bear tours from Anchorage a popular day trip!

How Many Brown Bears Live In Katmai?

Katmai National Park is home to approximately 2,000 grizzly bears (or brown bears), which is the largest known concentration of this type of bear in the world. People come from all over the world for Katmai bear viewing from Anchorage. The best place to see the bears in the park is at Brooks Falls, where you can watch the bears fish in the Brooks River during the annual salmon run. There are four platforms situated along the river, each of which can accommodate 40 people at a time. During the busy summer season, Katmai brown bears are so popular that visitors are limited to one hour at a time on the platforms!

The Difference Between Katmai Brown Bears And Grizzly Bears

Brown bears, known by the scientific name Ursus arctos, are the only bears to regularly inhabit Katmai National Park and Preserve. Although they are similar to grizzly bears, the two are not the same!

• All grizzly bears are brown bears, but not all brown bears are grizzly bears. Katmai brown bears are true brown bears. Grizzly bears and brown bears are the same species, but grizzly bears are currently considered to be a separate subspecies (Ursus arctos horribilis).
• Brown bears are generally considered to be those who live in coastal regions and have access to food resources like salmon. Grizzly bears live further inland and typically do not have access to an abundant supply of food from the ocean.
• Brown bears are typically larger than their grizzly counterparts. Large, male Katmai brown bears routinely weigh over 1,000 pounds. This is due in large part to their easy access to food sources that are high in protein and fat, like salmon.
• Scientists have observed differences in temperament between the bears. Grizzlies, it seems, react to humans as well as other bears at greater distances than brown bears. Their more aggressive temperament is often attributed to a less stable food supply and the necessity to defend their territory from interlopers.

When Should I Visit Katmai To See The Bears?

If you are interested in taking a Katmai bear tour from Anchorage, the best time to go is during the summer months. During the early part of the summer, visitors can watch bears enjoying the sedge meadows around Hallo Bay or feasting on grasses, berries, and roots on the outskirts of Brooks Camp. Once the summer season reaches its midpoint in July, the best place for Katmai bear viewing from Anchorage is Brooks Falls. The summer salmon runs are in full swing during July and August, and Katmai brown bears converge on the Brooks River to feast!

Follow The Fish For An Awesome Adventure

Brooks Falls is one of the best places in the world to watch brown bears. It is one of the first places in the park to see salmon during the annual spawning season. While many areas of the annual runs are not accessible to bears, Brooks Falls creates a temporary barrier that blocks the migrating salmon and allows Katmai’s brown bears to fish at their leisure.

Katmai’s population of brown bears is the reason most visitors make their way to this remote park. During the summer months, visitors can watch the bears fish from viewing platforms along the river. The Brooks Falls Platform is the most popular location in Katmai for observing bears and salmon. Visitors can often see 10 or more bears from their vantage point on this platform at any given time! The platform holds around 40 people at a time, and visitors are typically rotated through by rangers to ensure everyone gets a fair turn.

How Many Fish Can A Bear Catch And Eat?

If you are lucky enough to join a Katmai bear tour from Anchorage, you will be able to watch the brown bears of Katmai fishing in their native habitat. During the tour, you will be able to see just how many fish a bear can catch and eat in one day! On days when the salmon run is at its height, a large and dominant male bear will sometimes catch and eat more than 30 fish per day. Smaller bears that cannot compete for the best fishing spots, or bears that are less skilled at fishing, may catch and eat considerably less fish.

Let’s Take A Trip To Katmai National Park!

Many visitors on Katmai bear viewing tours from Anchorage visit the park for one day. Others, however, want a much more immersive experience. One of the most popular places to stay in Katmai National Park is Brooks Lodge. Located just a mile from the famous Brooks Falls, Brooks Lodge is the perfect place to stay if you want the opportunity to view Katmai brown bears for several days. Alternatively, for a more rustic experience, you can stay at Brooks Camp. Just be aware that both venues fill up quickly during the bear-viewing season and that you will need to make your reservations well ahead of your trip!

An Adventure Of A Lifetime

Katmai’s remote wilderness draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, each of them hoping for a glimpse of a Katmai brown bear. If you want to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, book your Katmai bear tour from Anchorage today! Don't miss the chance to witness the awe-inspiring sight of these massive bears catching salmon in the wild rivers of Katmai National Park.