Visiting Brooks Falls
Ultimate bucket list item – check!
After years of waiting, we finally made it to Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park on the Alaskan Peninsula. Here is some more information and FAQs on how we planned our trip.
Visiting Brooks Falls to watch the bears salmon fish after months of hibernation is an incredible and exhilarating experience and one that exceeds expectations.
When should I go to Brooks Falls?
The best time of year to visit is between July and September, when the salmon is plentiful. There aren’t as many salmon in June and August, so the bears aren’t out as much. Since it’s such a limited viewing season, reservations in advance are HIGHLY recommended. We booked in December of the previous year for a July trip and many dates were already booked.
How do you get to Brooks Falls?
Brooks Falls is only accessible via Sea Plane as there are no roads to get to that part of the peninsula. Sea Planes are available from Anchorage, Kodiak, Dillingham, King Salmon, Homer, and several other small fishing towns. From Homer, it’s a quick 1-1.5 hour flight. Booking with a tour company ensures travel to and from the peninsula.
My parents live in Homer, AK, so we were already there and it was an easy decision for that to be our departure destination.
I believe the sea plane ride from Anchorage is as much as 3 hours long.
Which tour company did you use to visit Brooks Falls?
We booked with Bald Mountain Air out of Homer, AK. They were fantastic, very experienced and professional. There are other tour operators that operate out of Anchorage (but it’s a longer flight!) as well as Homer.
What was the day like?
We arrived for our check in around 8am in downtown Homer and had a debriefing from our pilot about what to expect. We then boarded our sea plane, flew 1.5 hours to the peninsula, and landed on the beach (there was even a bear sleeping on the beach a short distance from our plane!). We deplaned and went to “Bear School” where we watched a 10 minute video and were debriefed by the rangers on safety instructions. We packed a picnic lunch, so after our safety briefing, we ate in a secure gated area, stored our food, then it was off to the viewing platform. The viewing platform is reached via a mile long walk that is a mix of trails through the woods (Yes, you could encounter bears on the trails!) and elevated gated boardwalks.
Is it really crowded?
It does get a bit crowded on the viewing platforms during the summer months, however the Rangers do a great job of crowd control using a restaurant-reservation type buzzer system. To get to the main viewing platform, we added our name to a waitlist and got a buzzer, and while we were waiting for our turn, we could go on another viewing platform where we could still see many bears, so the waiting was fun! When it’s your turn on the platform, you get 30 minutes of viewing time. However, you can put your name back on the waitlist as many times as you would like,
What should I bring to Brooks Falls?
Not much! If taking a day trip, you can pack a lunch. The sea plane is small, so I recommend being minimal with your items. When arriving at the park, there are secure lockers to store bags that you won’t need when you’re on the viewing platforms.
What should I wear to Brooks Falls?
Like anywhere in Alaska, temperatures fluctuate, so layers are key! Our day started off chilly but the sun was out by the afternoon. There is a one-mile hike to the viewing platform, so comfortable and sturdy shoes are recommended.
How do you stay safe to Brooks Falls?
The park rangers are there to keep you safe. When you arrive at Brooks Falls, you go to “Bear Camp,” where you watch a 10 minute video and get an overview from Park Rangers on the rules of the park and how to stay safe.
How much does it cost to Brooks Falls?
A trip to Brooks Falls is not cheap! For our tour that left from Homer, AK, it was $1,000 per person. Before COVID, it was $550, so this increase was tough to stomach. However, it was 100% worth it. A once in a lifetime experience.
Brooks Falls is in a pretty remote location, so if you’re unable to get there yourself, I’ve got the next best thing. Explore.org actually has live cams set up 24/7 at the falls, so you can watch the bears in real time. Keep an eye out for Otis, a crowd favorite. Otis is one of Katmai’s oldest bears and the 2021 winner of the National Park Service Fat Bear Week.
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