Brooks Falls in Katmai

August 8-13, 2024
Katmai Brooks Falls, Alaska

THIS is the iconic spot. The place where the famous photo of a bear catching an airborne salmon in his mouth from atop a waterfall was captured by Tom Mangelson over 30 years ago (and now best known for Fat Bear Week, Otis, and Grazer). Mangelson’s image put Brooks Falls on the map, and Katmai became a dream, lifetime destination to see the congregation of bears in the summer months as the bruins fatten up before winter.

Click Here to Watch Katmai Promo Video.

Download the Brochure.

Why August?

The promo video and all of these images were shot in August, when crowds are fewer and the bears still aren’t full. In July, so many people go to Katmai that you have to wait on a list to get your 1 hour on the platform, and you might end up in the back row after all that. In September, the bears are fat and lazy…less action to capture. While we can’t guarantee the salmon runs, don’t let anyone tell you there aren’t any bears at the falls in August. Click Here to See an Image Gallery from August!

The Wild Departures Difference

So, you didn’t win the lottery for lodging at Brooks Falls Camp. No one seems to anymore. To maximize your time at the falls, Wild Departures guests fly to King Salmon where they enjoy a 3-night stay, all meals, and comfortable lodging (no quad bunk beds!), with an early morning water taxi over to Brooks Falls in order to beat some of the day-tripping crowds. This maximizes the opportunities for morning and evening light and an immersion into bear behavior and activity. For wildlife lovers and wildlife photographers, there’s simply no place like this on earth. Weather depending, we’ll enjoy four days at the falls. Our lodge in King Salmon offers alternate activities should weather cause any delays or cancelations. We’ll also include a shared hotel room upon arrival and departure in Anchorage.

Trip Level

When you think of Alaska, you think of bears. On this trip, we guarantee you’ll see them or we’ll refund your deposit or credit it toward another trip! While this trip is perfect for shutterbugs, others who enjoy wildlife viewing will get a true Alaska adventure. To join this trip, you must be able to walk at least 3 miles on level ground and ride comfortably in planes, boats, and shuttles. The activity level is rated 2 / easy to moderate. Avid photography enthusiasts (beginners to professionals) should bring (you can rent them too) a digital SLR camera, a 100-400mm lens or similar, and a tripod, and be familiar with basic manual menu settings prior to the trip.

The Trip at a Glance

• 4 days and 3 nights of safe bear viewing in the heart of bear country.
• Comfortable shared accommodations with modern amenities in King Salmon, along with hardy meals.
• Small group size: 5 tour participants
• 1-hour+, round-trip flightseeing tour to and from Anchorage to King Salmon.
• Daily, round-trip water taxi to and from King Salmon to Brooks Falls.
• Hotel stay in Anchorage on arrival and departure nights.
• Optional other activities not included: Valley of 10,000 Smokes tour, fishing and kayak rentals.
• Daily photography instruction, along with educational dialogue about bear behavior and the flora and fauna of Alaska, while shadowing Corrynn Cochran, Alaska Magazine’s former photo and digital editor.

ITINERARY

8/8: Guests arrive in Anchorage and stay at the Lakefront Hotel with exceptional views of Lake Hood, the largest float plane base in the world, and a perfect spot to warm up the cameras on colorful water take-offs and landings. We meet on the deck to soak in the views and enjoy dinner, beverages (including local brews), and desserts while discussing the plans for tomorrow.

8/9: We depart early in the morning by shuttle to catch our flight to King Salmon. If skies are clear, this flight provides excellent aerial views and image opportunities of volcanoes, glacier blue rivers and waterfalls, and even beluga whales.

We’ll check into our cabins, grab a quick lunch (or bring one with us), and head out by water taxi to Brooks Falls for our first outing with the bears.

8/9-8/12: Our routine every day will be to catch the water taxi first thing after breakfast and stay at Brooks Falls until late afternoon, returning back to King Salmon for dinner. We’ll bring lunches and water with us, and store food in the food lockers to eat whenever there’s a break in the action.

It’s possible to view and photograph bears as we ride in the water taxi and as we land along the banks of the river and on the beach. After a mandatory bear orientation on our first morning (we only do it once), our photo guide will lead the group toward the first platform, where sows with cubs are frequent visitors, and the salmon and swimming bears can be seen beneath the clear water. This is also a great place to photograph king fishers and other birds.

From the first platform, we’ll walk the level trails approximately 1.2 miles to the second platform, The Riffles, and stop to see the action there. At any time on the trails (not just at the platforms), it’s likely you’ll see bears. You’ll use what you’ve learned in bear orientation and yield the trail to them before taking images. While seeing these bears will get your adrenaline going, they are habituated to seeing humans in this area and don’t see people as a threat, source of food, or competition for food or a mate. They just want to get on their way to the salmon. Being close to them while respecting them is a privilege and the thrill of a lifetime.

There’s a trail before The Riffles that we’ll use with our special commercial use permit to access the river corridor at various times during our tour in order to get a straight-on view of the bears lined up at the falls. This provides a unique angle and also allows us to escape from other tourists if there are crowds on the platforms. If you have waders or rent them on site, you can get into the river, but beware of slippery, unsteady rocks while carrying expensive camera gear.

Likely most of our time will be spent at the Main platform, the one closest to the waterfall where the bears stand atop the lip and catch spawning fish as they leap up the falls, often ending up in a bears’ jaws. Beyond the bears who wait for their food to jump into their mouths, bears use a variety of fishing techniques which are all on display: bellyflop pounce, snorkel, snag, steal, whirlpool. Bears spar with one another, and sometimes fight, creating epic opportunities for images. We’ll also look for cubs playing and nursing and getting piggyback rides from mom when they’re tired or scared.

Other things we’ll hope to photograph: bald eagles, wolves, lynx, landscapes, leaping salmon, waterfowl.

In the evenings, we’ll share images and go through photo editing for those who want tutorials, tips, and tricks.

8/12: On the morning of 8/12, we’ll take one last water taxi out to the Falls to get a few more images. Later, we’ll return to King Salmon in time to catch our 5:20pm flight back to Anchorage, where we’ll enjoy dinner and drinks and share stories from our journey.

8/13: Guests depart.

NOTE: Airfare to and from Anchorage and your home, travel insurance, and gratuities not included. Full terms and conditions available with deposit. Airport shuttles to and from the airport and Lakefront hotel are available.

For more information or to secure a spot on the trip, please contact info@wilddepartures.com ASAP or book immediately by submitting your deposit below. Also, consider combining this trip with Lake Clark segment for package discounts. Or, call: 720-635-1380 for additional details.