The world's most iconic bear-viewing region, combining two legendary Alaskan parks. Katmai's Brooks Falls, home to 2,000+ brown bears, is where dozens of bears line up in July to catch sockeye salmon leaping upstream — the image every wildlife photographer knows, with elevated viewing platforms for safety. Lake Clark's coastal flats (Chinitna Bay, Silver Salmon Creek) offer unrivalled ground-level bear viewing on foot, often within just a few metres, as grizzlies graze sedges, dig for clams, and fish for salmon. September brings a second peak as bears feed on weakening salmon, and the annual Fat Bear Week contest in October is an internet phenomenon. Floatplane access from King Salmon, Homer or Anchorage.
Ursus arctos
Discover where and when to observe Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) in the wild. 6 observation spots worldwide: Alaska Peninsula — Katmai & Lake Clark (USA), Finland / Eastern Taiga (Kuhmo), Kamchatka / Kurile Lake (Russia), Great Bear Rainforest (BC, Canada), Admiralty Island (Alaska, USA). Interactive migration map and travel tips.
