There’s nothing more symbolic of Katmai National Park than the brown bears. There’s no better place where you can get an up-close view of them in nature. For the best experience, visit Brooks Camp. Here you’ll find the visitor center, a campground and guided hikes. The area also has four viewing platforms where you can see the bears in the Brooks River. Here you can see the bears plucking out sockeye salmon during the salmon run. The best times to visit are July and September. During these times, you may experience crowds. Park rangers may also limit your viewing time and limit the number of people permitted on the platforms.

Created only about 100 years ago, the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is the result of a volcanic eruption in 1912. A volcano named Novarupta sent ash miles into the sky. Over the decades, the dust settled and the area cooled down. What was left was a valley where you can still see and appreciate the power of the century-old volcanic eruption. In places, the ash can be up to 700 feet deep. The 40 square mile area is best visited with a guided tour. There are ranger-led tours as well as tours from Brooks Lodge.

Not far from Brooks Lodge is Dumpling Mountain. A 3 mile out and back trail will lead you to the top where you’ll have a 360 degree view of the area and of Brooks Camp. On a clear day, you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Brooks Range and hundreds of miles beyond. You’ll only have to ascend about 700 feet to the top. As always, be wary of bears and take appropriate precautions.