Brooks Falls — Attraction in Alaska

See my review for Katmai National Park and Preserve: “We took a float plane to Brooks Camp at Katmai National Park and Preserve and had a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We saw a mama bear with 3 cubs before we even left the building that you watch the educational video and get some training from rangers. Once we got to the viewing platforms, it was amazing and an unforgettable experience. It’s not cheap to get there, but this is you stereotypical Alaskan “bears catching salmon” scene that’s everyone sees. We were lucky to go at the right time since the bears aren’t always as plentiful, but what a neat experience getting to get that close to these majestic creatures and not fearing for your life. These bears are used to humans and focused on fish, but the rangers do an excellent job ensuring everyone’s safety. Highly recommended!”

Again, can’t stress enough how cool this trip was! We went at the right time to catch the bears and salmon out and about! There are live cams online if you want to get a sneak preview. Wait time for the viewing platforms wasn’t bad at all and worked like a restaurant. They give you a pager/buzzer and you can go out to the lower platform. Once they page you, your group gets to go to the upper platform...

If you love nature and brown bears in their natural habitat then this is the place for you to visit. It is truly magical and the bears capture your heart from the cubs with their mama to the extraordinary huge bears, swimming to taking a nap on the beach with their butts in the water or in the forest sleeping like us with their enormous paws over their shoulder. I did not want to leave this magical place where for once in our life there is this special place, called Katmai where there is abundant food, shelter and habitat for them to live the finest life on our planet. Thank you for protecting this amazing species and sharing with the young and old. This experience will live with you in your memory...

If there was a way to put more stars than 5, i would have done that too. If you are a wildlife/nature lover, this place is a must must visit. Its the perfect setting to observe Alaskan wildlife so upclose. Its almost as if you become part of it, as the rangers at Katmai rightly say. I used to think how long can you spend watching bears catch salmon at the falls, before i actually got to the falls. I must have easily seen spent a good 5-6 hours for 2 straight days looking at them at the falls and living with them at close quarters at the campsite. It's a place like no other on this planet, and if given a chance you must go live the experience of living with wild yet...