Katmai National Park

Roughly the size of Wales, this vast national park of four million acres is famous for its bears and ethereal volcanic landscapes. One of the biggest attractions in Katmai National Park is the population of more than 2,000 Alaskan brown bears, one of the world’s largest carnivores, but more docile than grizzlies. Many congregate on Brooks River Falls to gorge on summer salmon runs, making this one of the best spots in Alaska to watch brown bears from the viewing decks.

Hallo Bay is another excellent place to see bears feeding on the shoreline from May to July. The park is also home to wolves, lynx, caribou and a wide variety of birds.

Katmai also has a fascinating volcanic heritage, best explored in the Valley of 10,000 Smokes. This harsh, spectacular landscape was created when a huge eruption of Novarupta Volcano blanketed the valley in ash in 1912. Beyond this ethereal valley, the park is lush and verdant in summer, ideal for backcountry hiking, while kayaking, boating and fishing are popular on the lakes and rivers of the Savonoski Loop.