Brooks Falls Bear Tours
Witness the Raw Beauty of Brooks Falls Bear Viewing
Witness the raw beauty of Alaskan bears in their natural salmon-fishing habitat with our Popular Brooks Falls Bear Viewing Tours.
Everyone Can Experience Bear Viewing Tours in Brooks Falls
Alaska bear viewing in Katmai National Park provides some of the highest densities of foraging brown bear populations for public viewing on the planet. Brooks Camp provides excellent and accessible viewing opportunities, with the popular Brooks Falls bear viewing platforms and wheelchair-friendly trails.
Best Time for Bear Viewing in Brooks Falls
We offer a seat fare rate for bear viewing in Brooks Falls during the most active part of the season during most of July. Seat fares are round-trip and include 4 hours on the ground at camp viewing bears!
Brooks Falls Bear Viewing Photos
Capture the Moment with Alaskan Brown Bears
Are you the traveler looking for the iconic shot of a bear standing in the waterfall catching a salmon with its paws? Then this is the trip for you!
During peak activity (generally the 1st through 3rd weeks of July), you are pretty much guaranteed this photo. However, along with lots of busy bears come lots of people to watch them. The downside of visiting during the peak activity weeks is that there may be a time limit on the upper bear viewing platform.
We try to offset the “bottleneck” effect at the Visitor’s Center and upper platform by leaving mid-day (if weather & our schedule permits) to minimize wait times. But don’t worry – you will see bears ALL over camp, including from the lower river platform which isn’t time-limited.
Lodging at the Historic Brooks Camp
Expect a one mile walk each way to and from the furthest viewing platform at Upper Brooks Falls. Brooks Camp has nearly flat gravel pathways and raised wooden platforms which are accessed by ramps. You still should expect some walking and be prepared to be out in the elements while on the platforms.
Amenities
Brooks Camp has basic amenities including:
- shelter
- a picnic area
- food storage cache
- vault toilet restroom facilities
- a small gift shop, food for purchase
- and a visitor center.
Don’t forget your National Park Passport for a stamp here before you leave!
Our Inside Pictures
Take a look at some pretty pictures captured in and around our premises.
Adventure Details &
What To Expect!
Incredible memories beyond compare!
We optimize your experience on the ground by leaving mid-day.
What's Included
- Confirmation includes packing list- what to bring & wear
- Flight in our De Havilland Beaver floatplane- take off & land on water
- Flight safety briefing by the Pilot
- Flight time of 1.5-2 hours each way
- Guests will have a headset
- Great views from every seat in the plane
- Bear safety presentation provided by NPS Rangers
- Unguided: you can see Brooks Falls and camp at your pace in your own group
- Only waterfall location
- 4 hours on the ground viewing bears-
Timeframe & Booking Dates
July & August (exact dates vary season-to-season).
Tour Duration
approx. 4 hours on the ground, 4 hours in flight to and from.
We optimize the experience by leaving mid-day.
If you are planning to stay overnight or need flights multiple days apart, please inquire for chartering a flight—they are different than our tour flights.
Age Requirement
No minimum—however 4 years old and up is recommended.
For groups with young children of any age, inquire about our private charter options.
We are a family operated company, we love seeing families go on adventures together!
Weight Restrictions
We have a weight limitation of 250 lbs. per person.
We want everyone to enjoy bear viewing, so we do require that you wear a PFD and be able to safely enter/exit the aircraft.
Difficulty Level/ Walking Distance
Easy, 2 miles total: to Upper Falls and back on flat gravel pathways and boardwalks.
Guests Per Tour
7 seats available per tour.
Departure/Return
11am/7pm
Safety is our number one priority.
We take immense pride in upholding rigorous standards and embrace the distinction of being the most cautious company on the lake.
This commitment to safety may result in delays or trip cancellations if our pilot feels uncomfortable with the conditions.
There is nothing we want more than to see you fulfill your dream of seeing the bears – that objective is only surpassed by our dedication to ensuring your safety above all else.
Our Cancellation Policy:
We offer full refunds on all payments up to 30 days before your tour date. Within 30 days of your scheduled trip, deposits are non-refundable, and cancellations by the guest for any reason will not be eligible for a refund.
However, should a mechanical issue, weather cancellation, or any service disruption occur on our end, deposits will be refunded in full. We will do our best to rebook your group on an alternative day if availability allows.
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover any unforeseen events that may prevent you from taking your trip within 30 days of departure.
Have A Brooks Fall
Camping Permit?
For those guests with camping or lodge permits that are looking for a charter
ride to and from Brooks Camp multiple days apart, please use this link below to
reserve a charter flight.
ride to and from Brooks Camp multiple days apart, please use this link below to
reserve a charter flight.
This is a different flight than our daily bear viewing tours to Brooks Falls.
Getting to Brooks Falls
Fly in our iconic Beaver floatplane!
The flight to Brooks Falls is mainly over Cook Inlet.
During flight, in our iconic De Havilland Beaver floatplane, each guest will be fitted with a headset! As you near the Katmai Coast you will see volcanoes, glaciers, and braided rivers.
There’s always the potential to see wildlife from the air. Brooks Falls only accessible by float planes like ours since it is located on an inland glacial-fed lake.
By air you will get a better understanding of how vast this beautiful country is in Katmai National Park!
Landing at Brooks Falls
Our landing location will be determined by current weather conditions.
Most flights will land on Naknek Lake and pull up to the beach near the Visitor Center. D
epending on wind conditions, sometimes we land and park at Lake Brooks.
Guests will make their way to the Visitor Center for a 10-minute safety briefing before exploring the area.
What Brooks Camp Provides
It is approximately 1 mile each way from the Visitor Center to the Falls Platform via the Brooks Falls Trail.
There are great viewing opportunities at the Falls Platform (timed), the Riffles Platform and Lower River Platform.
There is a national park gift store at the Visitor Center, as well as food and a fireplace to warm up at the Brooks Lodge area.
The food cache is located across from the Visitor Center building along with the picnic eating area.
Restrooms are attached to the food cache building, and also located along the road just before you head out on the Brooks Falls Trail about midway to the falls.