See these beautiful creatures up close and personal…

When people think about the Alaskan wilderness, they often think of images like vast mountain views, caribou walking through a valley, and bears swatting at salmon. The bears are especially the main attraction for those visiting Alaska. Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park is a hub

for travelers to view these bears in action trying to catch their dinner and splash in the falls. By booking your excursion with Katmai Water Taxi, you will have access to a tour of Brooks Falls to see these beautiful creatures up close and personal.

Your Bear Viewing Adventure awaits you, and Katmai Water Taxi is the safest and most reliable transportation available to Brooks Falls.

A Hub for Bears

Brooks Falls is a hub for bears out for a hearty meal of salmon. During the salmon runs through Brooks River, a large population of fish leaps their way upstream to Brooks Lake to spawn. This occurrence brings brown bears in from all over because of the high quantity of easy to catch fish. Late spring months into early fall is when bears head out to the falls. Brooks Falls area has human remanence from over 9,000 years ago and is believed to be one of the first places that humans crossed into North America. As the land bridge to Russia was not too far from the falls, it is likely that people found the stream and made use of its valuable resources much like these bear do today. Brooks Falls a very history rich area of Alaska and remains a top bucket list destination.

Bear Safety

When travelers come to Brooks Falls, they are well protected and in a large group. In some instances, a bear may approach a traveler, and though most bears are curious and don’t tend to confront humans, it does happen on rare occasions as every bear is different. A few tips on bear safety will help you have a safe and successful bear encounter.
Bear warning graphic

  • If you see a mother and cubs, it is best to keep your distance and never put yourself between the mother and cubs.

  • Do not sneak up on a bear. Just like people they get startled and react before they look to see what made them jump. Traveling in groups or talking calmly will make you less likely to surprise a bear.

  • Travel in groups. Bears are far less likely to approach a group of humans as the large number is intimidating.

  • If a bear approaches you, make yourself as big as possible and make sure the bear knows you are human. Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. (If the bear stands up, it is more than likely trying to see or smell you better and isn’t showing aggression.)