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Home » Alaska » Katmai National Park & Preserve

Katmai National Park & Preserve

With its unmatched bear-watching, stunning volcanic landscapes and endless opportunities for outdoor adventures, Katmai National Park & Preserve is a must-visit destination for wilderness adventurers and anyone looking to experience the raw beauty of Alaska.

Katmai is well known for being home to one of the largest protected brown bear populations, with an estimated 2,200 bears living in the area.

Basic Information

Entrance Fee: No Entrance Fee Required
Size: 6,395.43 square miles (4,093,077 acres)
Operating Schedule: The park and preserve are open year-round. Most visitors arrive between June and October, when transportation and guiding services are readily available.

Posted inWildlife

After four runner-up finishes, 32 Chunk finally takes home Fat Bear Week champion

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson October 1, 2025October 1, 2025

Fat Bear Week has once again come to a close at Katmai National Park and Preserve, and 32 Chunk finally has his time in the spotlight. Chunk is a male bear described as “very large” and weighing around 1,200 pounds. The grizzled brown bear is easily identifiable by distinctive scar on his face, and this […]

Posted inWildlife

Chunky brown bears take the stage as Fat Bear Week 2025 begins

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson September 22, 2025September 22, 2025
One of the first bears of the season captured on the Katmai Bear Cams.
Posted inWildlife

Katmai Bear Cams are up and running, first bears already spotted

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson June 18, 2025June 18, 2025
Brooks Camp is a popular destination for people and bears.
Posted inWildlife

First grizzly of the season seen at Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson May 6, 2025May 6, 2025
Posted inHistory

Remembering Jimmy Carter, the president who doubled the size of the National Park System

Avatar photo by Will De Man December 30, 2024December 30, 2024
128 Grazer dominated at the river and in the polls this year.
Posted inWildlife

Fan favorite triumphs in Fat Bear Week 2024

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson October 16, 2024October 16, 2024
32 Chunk is an estimated 1,200-pound-plus bear.
Posted inWildlife

Fat Bear Week Returns: Katmai’s bears prep for winter hibernation

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson October 3, 2024October 3, 2024
Bear 402 with her litter in 2015.
Posted inWildlife

Fat Bear Week sees delays after fatal bear clash on Brooks River

Heather Bergeson by Heather Bergeson October 1, 2024

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It's that time of year once again! The Department of the Interior wants to hear about your experiences at the parks this summer. A pair of hikers in Glacier National Park were attacked by a brown-colored bear trailed by two cubs last Thursday. For the first time in more than four decades, visitors to Great Basin National Park can explore rarely seen sections of the park’s iconic Lehman Caves on a new ranger-led adventure. When the Dragon Bravo Fire began on July 4, the NPS decided to manage it as a controlled burn in a defined perimeter. Over the weekend, three visitors at Glacier National Park fell into Avalanche Creek while posing for a photo. One managed to grab a branch; two were swept downstream.
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