Katmai National Park

Katmai Fast Facts

How big is Katmai National Park?

Katmai covers a total area of 4,725,188 acres or 7,383 square miles.

How many people visit Katmai National Park?

24,764 people visited Katmai in 2021. A table showing all years can be found at Katmai Visitation Stats.

When was Katmai National Park created?

Katmai was made a national park on December 2, 1980.

What are the highest and lowest elevations in Katmai National Park?

Katmai’s lowest point is 0 feet at the Pacific Ocean. The highest point in Katmai is 7,606 feet on Mount Dennison.

What time zone is Katmai National Park located in?

Katmai is in the Alaska Time Zone.

How much does it cost to enter Katmai National Park?

There is no entrance fee for Katmai National Park.

Five Random Facts About Katmai

one The Katmai area is home to about 2,000 grizzly, or brown bears, the largest concentration known. People come from all over the world for the sole purpose of viewing them.

two World famous Brooks Falls is the most popular place to view the bears. The Falls Platform has a limited capacity of 40 people. During the busy summer season, visitors are limited to one hour at a time on the Falls Platform.

three On September 24, 1918, the Katmai area was designated a national monument in response to the 1912 eruption of Novarupta, which formed the Valley of 10,000 Smokes. On December 2, 1980, the monument was changed to a national park, along with all other Alaskan national parks, by the Alaska Native Interests Land Conservation Act.

four The National Park Service holds an annual “Fat Bear Week” while the brown bears are gorging themselves on salmon in preparation for the long winter.

five There are 14 active volcanoes within Katmai National Park, making it one of the most active volcanic regions in the world.

Where is Katmai National Park?

Katmai National Park is located in a remote area of southern Alaska and is accessed by air taxi or boat only. The village of King Salmon is the closest town of any size. Most people begin their visit to Katmai from Anchorage. Further directions and maps can be found at Getting to Katmai.