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salmon jumping at waterfall Photo: NPS/David Jacob

Katmai National Park & Preserve

National Park & Preserve · Alaska

A landscape is alive underneath our feet, filled with creatures that remind us what it is to be wild.

Plan your visit Directions
  • LocationKing Salmon, AK
  • Entrance No fee listed
  • HoursOpen 24 hours, daily
  • Weather now44°F Partly Cloudy
  • Alerts No active alerts

Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.

Topics
  • Animals
  • Archeology
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  • Coasts, Islands and Atolls
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  • Geothermal
  • Glaciers
  • Headwaters
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  • Trails
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  • Water Trails
  • Waterfalls
  • Watersheds
  • Whales
  • Wilderness
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  • Women's History
Bear standing at the edge of a waterfall while a salmon is leaping towards it.
In July, brown bears often stand on the lip of Brooks Falls to try to catch leaping salmon. — NPS/David Jacob

Things to Do

9 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.

Showing 9 of 9

All 22 activities in the park

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Camping

1 campground listed on Recreation.gov. Check availability and current conditions before you go.

  • A rustic wood cabin with a red roof surrounded by trees and grass

    Fure's Cabin

    Reservable Campground

    Fure's Cabin, a beautifully constructed one-room house, is a public use cabin in Katmai National Park and Preserve. The cabin is located on the north side of the Bay of…

    Reserve on Recreation.gov

    907-246-3305 Directions

    • Hiking
    • Fishing
    • Backpacking
    • Canoeing
    Details

    Overview

    Fure's Cabin, a beautifully constructed one-room house, is a public use cabin in Katmai National Park and Preserve. The cabin is located on the north side of the Bay of Islands in Naknek Lake and accessed by float plane or boat. Now a refuge for kayakers, canoers, and hikers, the cabin was once the home of trapper, miner, and famed Naknek local Roy Fure. The cabin was built in 1926, a labor of love. The roof, walls, and floor are made of hand-hewn spruce logs with dovetail notching reminiscent of European craftsmanship. In 1931 the land on which the cabin stands was incorporated into the expanded Katmai National Monument. Fure's cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

    Recreation

    Fure's Cabin is a key stopover for those attempting the Savonoski Loop (PDF) paddle trip, or as a beautiful destination in its own right. It is not an alternate for Brooks Camp Campground and requires a full day of paddling to reach, or the use of a boat or plane. View a list of authorized commercial partners that may provide transportation services to Fure's Cabin. Paddlers originating from Brooks Camp should allow one to three days to travel the 32 miles along shorelines from Brooks Camp to Fure's Cabin in the Bay of Islands.

    Facilities

    The cabin accommodates up to four people and is furnished with a bunk bed, table, chairs, and a wood burning stove. Limited firewood is available on site. Guests must bring all supplies including bedding, sleeping pad, water, food, toilet paper, flash light or lantern, garbage bags, cook stove and cooking supplies. Consider packing all the supplies needed when camping. A fire ring is located in front of the cabin. Dead/downed wood may be gathered for campfires. One vault toilet is available 50 yards uphill from the cabin.

    Natural Features

    Katmai National Monument was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve remains an active volcanic landscape, but it also protects 9,000 years of human history as well as important habitat for salmon and the thousands of brown bears that feed on them.

    Charges & Cancellations

    Fure's Cabin follows the standard Recreation.gov cabin cancellation policy.

Facilities & Services

Find permits, visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.

Permits & Passes

  • Brooks Camp Camping Permits

    Permit

    Katmai National Monument was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today…

    Get permit on Recreation.gov

    Details

    Overview:

    Katmai National Monument was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve remains an active volcanic landscape, but it also protects 9,000 years of human history as well as important habitat for salmon and the thousands of brown bears that feed on them.

    Reservations for both Brooks Camp and Fures Cabin become available for reservations each year on January 5.

    Brooks Camp Campground:
    With its wildlife viewing opportunities, access to Naknek Lake and stunning views of nearby mountains, the Brooks Camp Campground is considered by many to be one of the top campgrounds in North America.

    Camping at Brooks Camp is only permitted within the designated campground. Campers arriving without a reservation, especially in July when the campground is usually full, must be prepared to backcountry camp outside of the Brooks Camp Developed Area (see Backcountry/Wilderness Camping below).

    Backcountry/Wilderness Camping:
    More than 4 million acres of Katmai are open to backcountry/wilderness camping. Backcountry camping is not permitted within the Brooks Camp Developed Area (the area within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of Brooks Falls) year-round or within the core Hallo Bay meadows from April 1 through October 31. No permits are required for backcountry camping.

    Fure's Cabin:
    Fure's Cabin, a beautifully constructed one-room house, is a public use cabin. Now a refuge for kayakers, canoers and hikers, the cabin was once the home of trapper, miner and famed Naknek local Roy Fure. The cabin is located on the north side of the Bay of Islands in Naknek Lake. There is anchorage and limited beach access. Primary heat at the cabin is wood. This cabin is not a substitute for the Brooks Camp Campground. Fure's Cabin is over 20 miles by water from Brooks Camp and no public transportation is available. GPS: 58 degrees 40'10.19"N, 155 degrees 25'51.02"W

    Katmai email: http://www.nps.gov/katm/contacts.htm

  • Brooks River Corridor Group 7-Day Permits

    Permit

    Get permit on Recreation.gov

Visitor Centers

  • View of Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes from Griggs Visitor Center

    Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center

    Visitor Center

    The Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center overlooks the famous Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and is the starting point of the Ukak Falls Trail. The posted hours are estimated…

    Brooks Camp, King Salmon, AK Directions

    Details
    The Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center overlooks the famous Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and is the starting point of the Ukak Falls Trail. The posted hours are estimated because the visitor center is only open during ranger-led Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes tours.

Other Visitor Services

  • Alaska Geographic Sales Area

    Brooks Camp Visitor Center

    Facility

    The Brooks Camp Visitor Center, open June 1 – September 29, is the point of entry for all visitors to Brooks Camp. A park ranger is on duty to provide information…

    Brooks Camp, King Salmon, AK Directions

    Details
    The Brooks Camp Visitor Center, open June 1 – September 29, is the point of entry for all visitors to Brooks Camp. A park ranger is on duty to provide information, campground check-in, mandatory bear etiquette and safety talks, and backcountry planning. An Alaska Geographic Association (AGA) bookstore offers books, maps, and other Katmai-related items.
  • King Salmon Visitor Center

    King Salmon Visitor Center

    Facility

    Located next door to the King Salmon Airport, the King Salmon Visitor Center provides information on the many federal public lands of Southwest Alaska, particularly…

    King Salmon Visitor Center, King Salmon, AK (907) 246-4250 Directions

    Details
    Located next door to the King Salmon Airport, the King Salmon Visitor Center provides information on the many federal public lands of Southwest Alaska, particularly those in the Bristol Bay area. A large collection of films is available for viewing and an Alaska Geographic bookstore sells maps, charts, videos, posters, clothing and more.

Plan Your Visit

Hours

Open 24 hours, daily · Katmai National Park and Preserve

Hours details
  • Katmai National Park and PreserveOpen 24 hours, daily

    Katmai is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Entrance fees

No entrance fees listed.

Address

1000 Silver Street, Building 603
King Salmon, AK 99613

Get directions Map & directions info

Contact the park

Weather & conditions

44°F
Partly Cloudy · feels like 36°
  • Today 45° 37°
    Sunny
    5% rain
  • Tomorrow 43° 39°
    Overcast
    57% rain
  • Sunday 45° 40°
    Light drizzle
    92% rain

Updated 8 min ago

WeatherGale Warning Details

Gale Warning issued October 2 at 3:29AM AKDT until October 3 at 5:00PM AKDT by NWS Anchorage AK

Coastal Waters Forecast for the Northern Gulf of Alaska Coast
up to 100 nm out including Kodiak Island and Cook Inlet.

Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction
expected. Sea forecasts represent an average of the highest
one-third of the combined wind wave and swell height.

.TODAY...NE wind 20 kt. Seas 4 ft.
.TONIGHT...NE wind 30 kt. Seas 9 ft.
.SAT...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain.
.SAT NIGHT...NE wind 40 kt. Seas 11 ft.
.SUN...NE wind 25 kt. Seas 6 ft.
.MON...NE wind 15 kt. Seas 3 ft.
.TUE...NW wind 15 kt. Seas 4 ft.

What to expect by season

Located between the stormy north Pacific Ocean and the even stormier Bering Sea, the Katmai region is often a battleground between weather systems. When you visit, be prepared to encounter all types of weather. On average, wet and cool conditions predominate in spring, summer, and fall. Winters are drier and colder.

Photos

  • Three bears walk near a sleeping bear
    Salmon streams in Katmai attract high numbers of brown bears. — NPS/Bryanna Plog
  • lake inside of an ash and glacier covered volcano
  • meadow in foreground and snow capped volcanoes on the horizon

Getting There

1000 Silver Street, Building 603
King Salmon, AK 99613

Katmai National Park & Preserve is located on the northern Alaska Peninsula, northwest of Kodiak Island and southwest of Homer, Alaska. The park’s headquarters is in King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage.

Full directions

Unlike most national parks in the United States, Katmai is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.

Get directions NPS directions Official NPS site

Mailing address: PO Box 7, King Salmon, AK 99613

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