Discover: Katmai National Park

I’m sure you’ve heard of Denali, the 2nd largest National Park in the country, but Katmai National Park - located just a short float plane ride away from Leader Creek Fisheries - should definitely be on your list of places to visit if it isn’t already. Katmai is home to over 2,000 grizzly bears and they all come out to feast during the summer sockeye salmon run. Unsurprisingly this is the same run where all of our fish come from.

Leader Creek employees who finish their contracts are given the opportunity to spend their last day at Katmai before returning home at the end of the season. We even fly two lucky employees out at the end of the season for FREE! Many of the employees we hire are not only here for the big paychecks, but also for the adventure and Katmai does not disappoint.

The park is only accessible by plane or boat and most guests choose to take one of the float planes out from our neighboring town King Salmon over to the park. Upon arrival, each guest has to attend “Bear School” where they learn how to interact (or not for that matter!) with the bears they will see during their visit. Once they’re set up with all of the safety tips they need, guests to the park are allowed to spend the day how they please, whether that means spending all day on the bear observation decks, renting a canoe for the day, or spending the day munching on treats at Brooks Lodge.

There are countless ways to spend the day at Katmai and below are a few testimonials shared by current and past Leader Creek employees about their visits to the park. 

“Katmai was unlike any other National Park that I have been to before! While I have driven to several states to visit parks such as Yosemite, Grand Teton, Zion, and Great Smoky Mountains this is the first time that I have had to *fly into* a National Park. The whole experience was incredible. I have been fortunate enough to visit the park two times. Once in 2013 and again in 2017. In other parks it was exciting enough to see a bear through a set of binoculars but at Katmai you are right there next to the bears! I saw more bears that day than I have ever seen in my life before that. Both visits were great ways to end the season that year. Not only was I able to visit a remote National Park, but I was able to do it with co-workers that turned into friends throughout a few short weeks of working in rural Alaska. I can’t recommend this experience enough!” -Carol P

“Going to Katmai was so much fun. We were able to kayak across a glass-like lake and watch bears play in the water. I never thought I’d see so many bears in one place. We are lucky to be located so close to the national park – many people make a super long journey to get up there, and we basically just drive down the street! There’s nothing quite like seeing a bear rip apart a fresh salmon! Nature is crazy.” -Sarah O

“If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, you’re going to be returning home with several lifetimes worth of stories to tell. Brooks Lodge, nestled comfortably in the cleavage of Katmai National Park, is truly the type of venture that will reaffirm your belief in something better. A candidly spiritual experience from start to finish, you will be seeing the entire world through rose (or salmon) tinted glasses. From the beginning, stepping off the dock and onto a cigar tube with wings that is lovingly referred to as an “airplane,” until the end, the entirety of your mind, body and soul will be riding a wave of absolute rapture.” -Cain H

“Going to Katmai was a reward to a hard-working first season at LCF. Totally recommend it. Riding on a seaplane and being able to ride as a co-pilot was the best experience and not to mention the close encounter with the bears and seeing them in their natural habitat! I was able to climb a hill at the park that reminded me of how much was accomplished after the season was over and that anything is possible!” - Jaynie T

“Katmai was such a fun end to my first season at Leader Creek. There is nowhere else in the world where you can see so many bears up close in the wild. It made all the hard work of the season worth it.” Meghan R

Do you want to visit Katmai this year? Tell us why in the comments!