Bears of Katmai Adventure

Bears of Katmai Adventure

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DATES

TBD July 2021

REGION

Katmai National Park

TRIP COST

TBD

calendar

DATES

TBD July 2021
region

REGION

Katmai National Park
price

TRIP COST

TBD

Join us for a week of bear viewing on Katmai National Park’s rugged Pacific Coast. We will camp, hike and tour in a small plane in Alaska’s most wildlife rich region, focusing on a three night campout while also sampling the famed Brooks Falls and a far flung walrus haul out.

TRIP DETAILS

The Katmai Coast is like no other place on earth. Katmai National Park boasts some of the highest densities of brown bears, and the largest brown bears in the world. But bear viewing is just the tip of the iceberg for this week-long adventure on the rugged coast of Katmai National Park.

The heart of the experience is a three night wilderness camping experience on the wild and stunning Pacific coast of Katmai National Park. The rich waters of the North Pacific have carved long sandy beaches on this volcanic coast. Glacier encrusted peaks loom above rich grassy meadows, active volcanoes smoke in the distance, basalt cliffs shelter rocky harbors, and wildlife is everywhere. From our camp in the flower-filled dunes, we can watch sea birds fish, observe Katmai bears feeding in the tide, hear glaciers cracking on the peaks to the north, and watch the dramatic weather move over this wild landscape.

Our days in camp will be filled with exploration. Tundra hiking is excellent on the headlands to the east of camp. Beach combing and tide pooling offer twice daily forays among the clams, chitons, anemones, and glass fishing floats. Several archeological sites are within a day’s walk from camp. A longer hike towards the active volcanoes leads to the base of a glacier. All this in addition to the stunningly powerful and majestic Katmai bears, which can generally be found either on the beach or in the lush meadows near camp.

Like all our base camp trips, there is as much or as little exertion and adventure as you choose. Your guide will be happy to lead hikes beyond the horizon, accompany you to watch and interpret bear behavior in the sedge meadows, or just provide nourishment and insight while you find your own enjoyment on the beach or in the mountains.

Camping on the Katmai Coast among the numerous bears and formidable weather may seem a little intimidating to some. But, we have found an ideal location and method for enjoying this beautiful and rich coast. We will set up a sturdy and comfortable base camp including a big “cook tent” in the vegetated dunes near the beach.  Our camp will provides adequate shelter no matter what the weather throws at us. By surrounding our camp with a portable electric fence, we take some of the worry out of having an inquisitive bear investigating our gear. With our qualified guides to teach you bear etiquette and our high quality equipment, you will be able to relax and enjoy the weather and wildlife in this stunning national park.

Last updated: April 13, 2021

Itinerary

What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.

Day 1

Meet your guide(s) in King Salmon, Alaska at the Bear Trail Lodge where we will be spending the first 2 nights of the trip.

Day 2

After a hearty breakfast at the lodge we climb into our chartered bush plane for an adventure. We will head off to a location where bears are congregating around a salmon stream and will spend the bulk of the day in awe of their power and speed. As dusk approaches we return to the lodge for a relaxing evening.

Day 3

Depart King Salmon in a small “bush-plane” and arrive on Katmai’s Pacific Coast at low tide leaving civilization far behind. Once unloaded we set-up camp and walk down the beach in search of bears.

Day 4 -5

Explore and enjoy from our basecamp. Beach walks, hikes up to the glacier, searching for Aliutiq house pits, beach combing for glass fishing floats, watching bears grazing on the sedge meadows, watching bears fishing, watching bears napping, watching bears negotiate with eachother for the best fishing spots, watching bears scour the beach at low-tide, watching bears being bears, walking the sea cliffs out by the cape, enjoying the solitude of wild Alaska and the company of bears.

Did we mention the bears?

Day 6

Weather permitting, our pilot arrives at low tide for the flight back to King Salmon. Once we are back in the modern world we return to Bear Trail Lodge to shower and enjoy a meal with tables and chairs. We may miss the sound of the waves, but a soft bed will feel good!

Day 7

The adventure is far from over! We have a final day together to explore and photograph a walrus colony on the Bering Sea coast. We will re-board the now familiar bush plane and wing south along the seemingly endless beach. The gray ocean, green tundra, and smoking volcanos will captivate you for the hour long flight. After we land on the beach it is a 1/2 mile walk to the bluffs where we usually find nearly 1,000 walrus lounging on the beach and splashing in the growling surf.

Late afternoon we arrive back in King Salmon in time to catch the evening flight to Anchorage.

We had a guide whose judgement and advice I trusted unconditionally. I am sure we had the great fortune to benefit from her many years of guiding, especially regarding the food she selected to bring. I found it incredible that the meals never tasted like they were selected for camping but also it always seemed to be very efficient, starting from the good coffee in the morning, to lunches that included gourmet cheeses, to the dinners she prepared that were better than those in many restaurants.

 

- Kirsten , LA, USA

DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

3 nights lodging at Bear Trail Lodge

Day trip to Brooks Falls (or similar)

Day trip to Cape Seniavin to view walrus

Transportation beyond King Salmon to the Katmai Coast

Food while in the wilderness

Stoves, cooking & eating utensils, water filter, base camp tent

Safety & repair gear

Select camping equipment is available through Arctic Wild and is included

Professional guide service

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Lodging except as listed above

Non-camp or lodge meals

Alcoholic beverages

Personal clothing and gear per our Equipment List

Photographic equipment

Gratuity for guide(s)

 

WEATHER & BUGS

Weather on the Katmai Coast can be blissful, sunny and warm. But it can blow and rain and storm for days too. Temperatures are mild, averaging in the 50’s but ranging from low 40’s to high 70’s. Quality raingear is a must. Bugs usually aren’t an issue on the coast but occasional biting flies warrant a small bottle of DEET, just in case. Aviation delays due to weather are fairly common.

RECOMMENDED READING

Grizzly Maze by Nick Jans

The Bears of Katmai by Matthais Breiter

More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore

Ready for your adventure?
Find out what's next.

  1. Fill out the Reservation Request form
  2. We will contact you to discuss your trip
  3. Secure your trip with a deposit
  4. We will send you a detailed packing list
  5. Book your flights and accommodations
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