Katmai National Park & Preserve
A landscape is alive underneath our feet, filled with creatures that remind us what it is to be wild. 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. — nps.gov
Katmai National Park & Preserve at a glance
- State
- Alaska
- Established
- December 2, 1980
- Size
- 3,674,529 acres
- 2025 visits
- 34,479
- Busiest-park rank
- #59 of 63
- Entrance
- Free entry
Best time to visit
When is Katmai quiet?
Katmai is busiest in July and quietest in February. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, June is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 34,479 recreation visits, the #59 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: FebruaryBusiest: July
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Katmai
Katmai National Park & Preserve charges no entrance fee.
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.
Reservations · 2026
No park-wide reservation
The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Katmai National Park & Preserve. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
Things to do
Things to do in Katmai
- Become A Katmai Jr. Ranger30-90 Minutes · All year
Take your stewardship to the next level by earning your Junior Ranger Badge.
- Take a Guided Tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes7 Hours · Summer, Fall
Join a ranger-guided tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Experience the raw power of nature and learn about the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.
Reservation/permitFee - Float the Savonoski Loop4-10 Days
The Savonoski Loop is an 80 mile paddle through the scenic backcountry of Katmai National Park. Paddlers need intermediate canoeing or kayaking skills, and experience traveling in wilderness and in bear country.
Reservation/permit Become a Not-So-Junior Ranger Journeys at Katmai: An Activity Book for Not-So-Junior Rangers is geared toward young adults and adults. This book delves deeper into Katmai's history and resources on an exploratory…
Katmai contains hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, many large lakes, and countless small ponds. These waterways were used by Native Alaskans long before contact with Russian and European explorers. Today, they…
Reservation/permitFeePets OK- Explore Katmai by AirAll year
Katmai National Park and Preserve spans over four million acres of remote, wild, and spectacular country and there's no better way to see it than from the window of a small airplane.
Reservation/permitFee - Hike to Dumpling OverlookSpring, Summer, Fall
Dumpling Overlook offers expansive panoramic views of Naknek Lake, Brooks River, and Lake Brooks. Visitors also have the option to continue beyond the maintained trail to the summit.
- Watch Bears at Brooks CampSpring, Summer, Fall
Brooks Camp is renowned for its remarkable bear viewing opportunities.
Show all 9 things to doShow fewer
- Watch the Katmai BearcamSummer, FallPets OK
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Backcountry Camping51
- Backcountry Hiking43
- Boating27
- Camping60
- Canoe or Kayak Camping20
- Dining20
- Fishing41
- Fly Fishing15
- Flying10
- Food46
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs25
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Hunting9
- Hunting and Gathering11
- Paddling32
- Picnicking34
- Wildlife Watching53
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Katmai
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.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Katmai
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. Unlike most national parks in the United States, Katmai is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.
No road in: Unlike most national parks in the United States, Katmai is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.
1000 Silver Street, King Salmon, AK, 99613 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Katmai
- Lake Clark National Park & Preserve144 miKatmai is not reachable by road
- Kenai Fjords National Park192 miKatmai is not reachable by road
- Denali National Park & Preserve349 miKatmai is not reachable by road
- Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve469 miKatmai is not reachable by road
- Kobuk Valley National Park617 miKatmai is not reachable by road
- Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve634 miKatmai is not reachable by road
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Katmai is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Katmai National Park & Preserve
FAQ
Katmai, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Katmai National Park & Preserve?
- If you want fewer people, go in June, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and February the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Katmai National Park & Preserve?
- Katmai National Park & Preserve has no entrance fee, according to the National Park Service. Some tours, campgrounds or permits may still cost money.
- Do you need a reservation for Katmai National Park & Preserve in 2026?
- The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Katmai National Park & Preserve. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
- What are some things to do in Katmai National Park & Preserve?
- The National Park Service lists 9 things to do in Katmai National Park & Preserve, including Become A Katmai Jr. Ranger, Take a Guided Tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Float the Savonoski Loop, Become a Not-So-Junior Ranger at Katmai, Boating in Katmai National Park and Preserve. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Katmai National Park & Preserve become a national park?
- Katmai National Park & Preserve was established as a national park on December 2, 1980.
- What is the closest national park to Katmai?
- Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, about 144 miles away in a straight line.
Sources · 3
- 1.Katmai National Park & Preserve — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Katmai National Park & Preserve — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/katm.
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