The best camping in Katmai National Park & Preserve, AK

Situated on the Alaska Peninsula and accessible only by plane or boat, Katmai National Park and Preserve protects over 6,000 square miles of wilderness. It's best known for two key attractions: the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, which is filled with ash flow from a 1912 volcanic eruption, and Brooks Camp, famous for the numerous Alaskan brown bears that congregate here every July to catch salmon. Brooks Camp features a small lodge and a single campground for up to 60 guests, but backcountry camping is both abundant and free—just be sure to use a bear canister.

• Reservations for the current calendar year go live on January 5th at 8 am Alaska Time and can be made on recreation.gov or over the phone.
• There are no designated campsites at Brooks Campground, but there is a 60-person capacity limit.
• Campers are limited to seven nights during July (and a total of 14 nights per calendar year).
• If the campground is full, you can head out of the Brooks Camp Developed Area (BCDA), which comprises everything within a 1.5-mile radius of Brooks Falls. Backcountry camping is free with no required permits.

The most popular time to visit the park is during the peak bear-viewing season, which runs from late June through July and again in September. July gets the largest number of guests, and the Brooks Campground frequently books up for the month within a few hours of reservations becoming available. August offers great weather with better chances of snagging a campsite (and you’ll probably still see plenty of bears).

1. Katmai National Park is not accessible by road, which means you'll need to take an air taxi or boat.
2. There is no internet or cell service in the park, so you'll need a satellite phone if you plan to call home. The nearest place to buy groceries is in King Salmon Alaska, a 45-minute water taxi ride away.
3. Hot meals and cocktails are available for purchase at Brooks Lodge, a concessionaire-run hotel located a short walk from the campground.
4. Campers are required to store food in bear-resistant containers, available to borrow from the Brooks Camp and King Salmon visitor centers.