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camera_enhanceTrip Overview
Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime as you journey deep into the untamed wilderness of Katmai National Park in Alaska, where you'll have a rare chance to experience the awe-inspiring power of the coastal brown bears up close and personal. Covering an astonishing 4 million acres, Katmai is one of the largest and most magnificent national parks in the United States and is internationally recognized as one of the best places on Earth to capture striking images of bears. Katmai is home to the highest density of brown bears on the planet.
Nestled on the rugged Alaskan Peninsula, Katmai is a remote and pristine wilderness accessible only by float plane or boat, further adding to the excitement and allure of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Over five unforgettable days, we will completely immerse you in the world of brown bear photography, with countless opportunities to photograph bears fishing, playing, and much more!
At the majestic Brooks Falls, the jewel in the crown of our adventure, you'll be spellbound by the sight of over a dozen bears at a time fishing for salmon, a spectacle that has been captured in countless awe-inspiring photographs. We'll spend three nights at our base camp right at Brooks Falls, ensuring that we'll have ample time and the perfect lighting conditions to capture stunning shots of these majestic creatures in all their glory. You'll have the opportunity to capture unforgettable, full-frame images of brown bears and other wildlife, including moose, fox, wolf, and Bald Eagles.
Our Brown Bears camping trips that visit Brooks Falls, and stay at Brooks Campground, are not 100% confirmed until we are able to secure camping permits from the National Park Service. Permits are secured at the beginning of March of each year.
Before purchasing non-refundable advance airline tickets please contact us in March, after the permits have been secured and your trip dates have been confirmed.
All listed meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop
All transportation during the workshop
Camping gear (tent, air mattress, pillow, bear resistant food containers, and safety equipment) *You need to bring your own sleeping bag
All permits and park fees
Professional photography guiding and instruction
Gratuity for pilots and service staff
Transportation to and from King Salmon, Alaska
Sleeping bag
Meals not listed as included on the itinerary
Lodging outside workshop dates
Alcoholic beverages
Souvenirs and personal items
Gratuity for photography guide(s). Please refer to our FAQ section for more details about gratuities
Trip Insurance & Medical Evacuation Insurance - see plans here.
- Final Balance Due 120 days prior to Trip Start
- Standard terms & conditions apply. Please see our Cancellation / Transfer policy on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Trip Insurance Required.
Important Trip Information
Orientation Meeting Time: 6 pm
Trip Conclusion Time: 1 pm
This trip begins & ends in King Salmon, Alaska:
Antler’s Inn
King Salmon, AK 99613
(907) 246-8525
Please note:
Exact hotel is subject to change - equivalent hotel may be substituted. If you are planning on arriving early or staying late please contact us.
When you land in King Salmon just call the Antler’s Inn (907) 246-8525 and they will pick you up free of charge (it’s across the street by the Wells Fargo bank). The following morning, we will be picked up at the Antler’s Inn and taken to our awaiting float plane!
Our Brown Bears camping trips that visit Brooks Falls, and stay at Brooks Campground, are not 100% confirmed until we are able to secure camping permits from the National Park Service. Permits are secured at the beginning of March of each year.
Before purchasing non-refundable advance airline tickets please contact us in March, after the permits have been secured and your trip dates have been confirmed.
Important Note: The National Park Service has strongly advised against wading in the Brooks Falls corridor. We are in full agreement that it is not safe or feasible to wade in the Brooks River. The wading situation with the bears has become untenable, and we do not put our guests—or the bears—in harm’s way. Because of this, we do not wade during our Brooks Falls trips.
DISCLAIMER: Always check the online trip packet for the most up-to-date information, especially before booking your flights.
directions_runFitness Level
This is a Level 2 Trip.
Accessing the Brooks Falls viewing platform requires walking along well-established paths, approximately 1.5 miles one way. Expect to make this walk a few times a day.
Please note:
Whether you choose the lodge-based trip or the tent camping trip, please know that you are not able to bring food or strongly scented items. For the safety of both guests and wildlife, these items are strictly prohibited in tents or cabins.
Dining during your visit will be provided at the Brooks Lodge, offering buffet-style meals in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. While the buffet offers a variety of options, accommodating specific dietary preferences may be challenging due to the remote location. If you have specific dietary needs, please contact us in advance to discuss whether we can accommodate your requests.
Click here to see BCJ Fitness Levels
cloudWeather
The weather is generally fairly stable on the Alaskan Peninsula but can change on a moment’s notice. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 50s to 60s and evening lows will be in the 30s to 40s. Make sure you are prepared for rain! Remember some of the best photographs are made before, during and immediately after a storm cycle. There is no such thing as bad weather just poor layering and gear choices – please plan accordingly!
For more info on what to bring please email or call us. Make sure you are prepared for rain!
General Link to weather conditions: National Weather Service Forecast for King Salmon, Alaska
We recommend checking this weather link prior to your trip departure to plan your gear and clothing packing accordingly.
**Bush Flights & Weather Delays
Weather delays are always possible when traveling in the Alaskan backcountry. It’s normal to have a few hours delay here & there when dealing with bush-flights in Alaska. Safety is paramount & at BCJ we simply don't fly in bad weather. If we have to wait a bit, it’s just part of the experience. If we’re delayed due to weather it means we get to spend more time with the bears!
As such we highly recommend travel insurance to cover any additional expenses incurred by weather related travel delays. We also recommend not booking tight connections on your outbound flights home. Often it is better to just stay another night & enjoy “town” life after being in the wilderness for a few days & fly out the next morning. If you do have to fly out on the last night of the trip it’s best to catch the last possible flight of the day so as you to give yourself plenty of wiggle room in-case of weather delays!
Daily Itinerary
Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 1 (Travel Day) (D)
Arrive in King Salmon, Alaska by 5:00 pm for orientation and welcome dinner.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
Hiking mileage: 3-6 miles on a flat road/trail
Today we will board a small float plane or boat for Brooks Falls. After a safety briefing and setting up our base-camp we will begin photographing Grizzly Bears! We’ll spend the entire rest of the day photographing the bears as they run, swim, fight & fish the stream for Salmon.
Days 3 - 4 (B,L,D)
Hiking mileage: 3-6 miles on a flat road/trail
Full Days of hiking & photography as we witness the spectacle of the great bears at Brooks Falls!
Day 5 (B)
Hiking Mileage: 3-6 miles on a flat road/trail
We’ll have a morning session of photography during magic hour lighting and then break down our base camp before we board the float plane for King Salmon.
Important Note: Weather delays are possible, and we highly recommend travel insurance. In addition, the National Park Service has strongly advised against wading in the Brooks Falls corridor. We are in full agreement that it is not safe or feasible to wade in the Brooks River. The wading situation with the bears has become untenable, and we do not put our guests—or the bears—in harm’s way. Because of this, we do not wade during our Brooks Falls trips.
Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures, and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and landscape photography, we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions.
Worry Free Travel Guarantee!
HERE’S THE DEAL
We offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry - our worry free travel, peace of mind guarantee to you!We’re so confident that the Photography Trips we offer will not only meet but exceed the lofty expectations set forth on our website – if your trip experience does not 100% match the promises laid forth on our website we will gladly give you a credit toward a future trip.
Natural events such as wildlife & weather are certainly out of our control but every aspect of the trip including logistics, accommodations, vehicles, itinerary & your expert trip leaders will match the lofty promises we’ve made on the site – we guarantee it!
Recommended Gear List
Need some camera gear? Try renting, we do it all the time.
We recommend using LensRentals. Use the code 'BCJ15' for 15% off.
Please note: New NPS regulations do not allow the use of tripods on the Upper Brooks falls Platform in summer. However, you may use your tripod as a monopod on that Platform. There are no restrictions on tripod use anywhere else at Brook’s Falls or at any of the other platforms.
PHOTO GEAR AND TECH:
RECOMMENDED:
Mirrorless or DSLR Camera with Manual Controls
Backup Camera Body
Super-telephoto Lens (180-600mm, 600 prime or similar)
Telephoto Lens (100-400mm, 70-200mm or similar)
Teleconverter (1.4x and/or 2x)
Wide-Angle Lens (16-35mm or similar)
Standard or Mid-Range Lens (24-70mm, 24-105mm or similar)
A Rain Cover for camera and lenses
A Laptop for Uploading and Editing Images
External Hard Drives
A Headlamp (with extra batteries)
Camera Pack with a Rain Cover
A Sturdy Tripod (Gimbal head recommended, ball head is fine)
Sufficient Memory Cards
Sufficient Batteries and Chargers
Circular Polarizer
Lens and Camera Cleaning Kit (with extra lens cloths)
A Multi-Tool (with Allen keys and screwdrivers)
OPTIONAL:
Sensor Cleaning Supplies
Neutral Density Filter
Remote Shutter Trigger
NOT RECOMMENDED:
We don’t recommend bringing a drone on this trip (they aren’t allowed in national parks)
CLOTHING AND FIELD GEAR:
RECOMMENDED:
Warm and breathable Base Layers (Synthetic or wool recommended, avoid cotton)
Hiking Pants
Insulated Jacket (Synthetic recommended, down is fine if you can keep it dry)
Waterproof Rain Jacket (Gore-Tex is great)
Waterproof Rain Pants
Warm Hat
Warm Gloves
Casual Wear (For when we’re not in the field)
Brimmed Sun Hat (Can be great for rain as well)
Sunglasses
Good Walking / Hiking Shoes
A Reusable Water bottle
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
OPTIONAL:
Binoculars
Hand Warmers
Motion Sickness Medication (we will be on small planes on this trip)
NOT RECOMMENDED:
We Don’t Recommend Wearing Anything Cotton in the Field
WHAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO BRING:
We will be outfitting you with top-of-the-line gear for your basecamp photography tour. This includes tent and sleeping pad. All food will be provided as well. Bear resistant food containers, bear spray, first aid kit and a satellite phone for emergencies are provided.
Please note: You must bring your own sleeping bag! We will provide pads, tents and just about all other camping-related equipment. (Please refer to the Gear List for specifics.)
Important note: The luggage limit for the Float plane is 60 lbs per person. This includes all of your camera equipment as well as your personal gear.
Pro-Tip: Roller luggage is very heavy with nothing in it (typical roller luggage weighs 8-12 lbs. per suitcase!), if you think you may be overweight please purchase a lighter-weight appropriate hiking/camera bag, you will need this for the hikes anyway (typical backpack weighs 2.5-5 lbs per pack), and/or duffel (typical weight 1-3 lbs per duffel) for the trip. Waterproof gear is ideal in Alaska!
Need some additional gear that you don’t already own? Try renting, we do it all the time. We strongly recommend using LensRentals. They provide high quality service, and their products are always in great shape. Use code ‘BCJ15’ for 15% off your order.
This is a general list. Please call with any specific questions you may have!
Please pack your extra clothing, toiletries, extra camera gear, and other travel items into a suitcase, duffel, or travel bag. You will not be bringing all of your gear with you on every outing.
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