We’ve got plenty of gear reviews coming up, but ahead of that, I wanted to throw out this shameless plug for Brooks Lodge, in Katmai National Park, Alaska. We just returned from a stay at their campgrounds (they have rustic cabin-style options as well), as part of our Alaskan vacation. Rather than settle for merely camping, we chose a location with lots of activities, plus great photo opportunities.
Known for bears as well as great fishing and beautiful views, this is an ideal destination for someone like myself, a portrait photographer who’s taken up wildlife photography. At Katmai, the bears have the run of the place. While they mostly stick to the river and along the beach, it’s not uncommon for them to walk through the grounds around Brooks Lodge. Just give them a wide berth, and they don’t bother you. We saw a mama bear and her cubs on more than one occasion, passing within less than 50 feet at one point. The rangers do a great job of keeping an eye on them, and diverting the human traffic around them. It was made clear that this is not only for our safety, but for the bears’ as well. Overall, the rangers were a wealth of information not just on bear safety, but also the habits and general nature of our huge furry friends.
Bears along the beach at Brooks Lodge, Katmai National ParkOur campgrounds had an electric fence around them to deter the bears, but with a river full of salmon, I can’t see any reason why they would want to bother with the humans in the first place. Staying there, rather than the cabins, meant we got to meet people from all over, and even make some new friends. For my family, it was a trip with many “firsts”. First ride in a float plane for all of us. First time catching a salmon for my son. First time seeing bears up close, in the wild. And the first time we all camped together, as my son lives out of state. As a family, we brought back several thousand images to help preserve what we saw and experienced, which included a tour of the Valley of 10,000 Smokes.
If you’re looking for a unique camping experience, and the chance to see wildlife (particularly bears) up close and personal, Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park will not disappoint.
– Brian