Katmai National Park and Preserve is a United States National Park in southern Alaska, notable for the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and for its brown bears. Most of the park is a designated wilderness area, named after Mount Katmai, its centerpiece stratovolcano.
Kukak and Kinak Bay are located on Katmai’s eastern coast, which extends from the mouth of the Kamishak River in Kamishak Bay to Cape Kubugakli in Shelikof Strait. During early summer, bears spend much time foraging on the coastal sedge flats at Kukak Bay, as well as Swikshak, Chiniak and Hallo Bay. Once the salmon begin running on the coast, many bears will move to streams and rivers to catch the abundant fish. Bears are also known to clam along the tidal flats found along the coast.
Coastal bear-viewing and sport-fishing opportunities are plentiful through commercial operators based in the towns of Homer, Kodiak, and King Salmon.
Cruise Season – May - September
Currency - United States Dollar (USD)
Language – English
Land Area – 19,122 km² (Katmai National Park and Preserve)
Electricity – 110 vlt 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT minus nine hours
International Country Telephone Code – 1
Port Location – Anchorage is available at Brooks Camp.
Transport Links - Park Headquarters is in King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Several commercial airlines provide daily flights into King Salmon as there is no road access. Brooks Camp, along the Brooks River approximately 30 air miles from King Salmon, is a common destination for visitors to the Park. Brooks Camp can only be reached via small float plane or boat.
It is possible to access the Katmai coast by plane or boat from Homer, Kodiak and King Salmon.