Brooks Falls: Katmai National Park Bear View by Floatplane

A Day at Brooks Falls
Brooks Falls, located in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, is perhaps the most famous place on Earth to observe brown bears fishing for salmon. Each summer, thousands of Sockeye salmon (and later in the season some Coho salmon) migrate upstream through the Brooks River. At a six-foot waterfall, the salmon often attempt to leap upstream — and that bottleneck draws large numbers of bears who gather to feed. Because of this predictable salmon run, bears congregate reliably from mid- to late June through September, giving visitors one of the best chances in the world to observe wild bears in their natural habitat. The park has multiple raised viewing platforms — including one directly adjacent to Brooks Falls — that allow visitors to watch safely while minimizing disturbance to the bears.

What to Expect
After arriving by floatplane, visitors begin at the ranger station for a safety briefing, and then head to the boardwalks and viewing platforms for bear watching.

On the viewing platforms you may see bears strolling along the river or beach, fishing for salmon, or sometimes even competing for the best fishing spots.

You might observe different behaviors: dominant males guarding prime spots, sows with cubs learning how to fish, or bears waiting patiently just below the falls for escaping salmon.

The result is an incredible, immersive wildlife experience — an opportunity to witness the power of nature and the raw behavior of Alaska's coastal brown bears.