Lake and Peninsula / Katmai National Park

Brooks Camp Campground

Closed — Currently closed for winter. The campground operates seasonally from May 1 through October 31, with no services November through April. During winter closure, no potable water is available and the electric fence is not maintained. Peak season runs June 1 through September 17. Reservations for the upcoming season open January 5 at 8:00 a.m. AKST via Recreation.gov.

About

Brooks Camp Campground is Katmai National Park's only developed campground, situated on the northern shore of Naknek Lake approximately 0.3 miles from the Brooks Camp Visitor Center. This unique wilderness campground accommodates up to 60 people and is protected by an electric fence to deter bears. The campground features communal facilities including a food cache, gear cache, fuel storage lockers, cooking shelters with fire rings, and vault toilets. All campers must attend a mandatory bear safety orientation upon arrival. Accessible only by floatplane from King Salmon (approximately 30 air miles) or by boat, Brooks Camp offers unparalleled brown bear viewing opportunities, particularly during salmon runs in July and September. The campground enforces strict food storage regulations to maintain human and bear safety. All food and scented items must be stored in the designated food cache when not in use, and cooking is permitted only in the communal shelters. Firewood collection is limited to dead and down wood, and fires are allowed only in designated fire rings. The campground operates on a seasonal schedule with peak season from June 1 through September 17, shoulder season in May and late September through October, and a winter period from November through April when facilities are minimal and the electric fence is not maintained. Reservations open annually on January 5 and are highly competitive, especially for July dates. The site offers coin-operated showers seasonally and provides access to the famous Brooks Falls bear viewing platforms via maintained boardwalks.

Directions

Brooks Camp is located approximately 30 air miles east of King Salmon on the northern Alaska Peninsula. The campground is only accessible by floatplane or boat. Floatplane charters are available from King Salmon, Anchorage, and other communities. Katmailand Inc. offers seat fares on scheduled flights. The campground is 0.3 miles from the Brooks Camp Visitor Center on the shore of Naknek Lake.

Nearby Campgrounds