Plan Your Trip
We’re here to help you plan your trip to Katmai Wilderness Lodge. From booking your stay to arriving by floatplane, this step-by-step guide gives an overview of what you’ll experience on your unforgettable journey into one of Alaska’s most remote and awe-inspiring places.
Choose Your Travel Dates
Bear viewing at Katmai Wilderness Lodge varies throughout the season, offering something unique each month. Early June brings fewer crowds and the chance to see bears as they first return to the coast. July and August are the busiest months for bear activity, with excellent viewing opportunities as they feed along the shoreline. By early September, the landscape begins to shift into fall colors, and bears continue to forage before winter.
Because July and August are especially popular, we recommend booking 6–12 months in advance if those are your preferred travel dates.
Book Your Stay
Once you’ve picked your dates, reserve your spot directly through us. Our all-inclusive packages cover lodging, meals, guided bear-viewing, and more. After booking, we’ll provide a detailed confirmation with travel tips, suggested flights, and a personalized packing checklist.
- A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 per person is required to secure
your reservation. - Deposits must be received within 30 days of booking to hold your spot.
- Trip insurance is strongly encouraged due to weather-related travel delays in Alaska
Plan Your Route
Your journey to Katmai Wilderness Lodge starts in Anchorage, where you’ll fly with Alaska Airlines to Kodiak, Alaska. We recommend arriving in Kodiak at least one day before your scheduled floatplane flight to the lodge to allow time for any travel delays.
Once in Kodiak, you’ll arrange your own transportation to the Island Air floatplane base. We provide helpful information on local hotels, taxis, and activities, as well as detailed directions to the floatplane basin to help you navigate independently.
From Kodiak, prepare to enjoy a scenic 45-minute flight over Kukak Bay en route to our lodge.
Prepare for Adventure
Our lodge is remote, wild, and truly off the grid—so it’s important to come prepared. Weather in this part of Alaska can change quickly, with rain, wind, and cool temperatures being the norm. Dressing in layers is key, and comfort and function matter more than fashion.
While we provide essential outdoor gear like waders and rain protection for your time in the field, you’ll still need to bring appropriate personal items for your stay.
Check out our What to Bring page for a detailed packing list, including clothing recommendations.
Enjoy the Experience
Once you arrive, our team will welcome you to your home away from home. You’ll enjoy:
- Expert-led bear viewing in small groups (max 6 guests per guide)
- Daily excursions tailored to wildlife activity and weather
- Beautiful meals prepared by a nationally recognized chef
- Comfortable, rustic cabins with amenities designed for relaxation
- A peaceful, off-the-grid environment powered by solar and wind energy
When to Visit Katmai Wilderness Lodge
There’s no single “best” time to visit. Every part of the season offers something wild and wonderful. From early summer mating rituals to peak salmon runs and playful bear cubs, the rhythms of the Alaskan wilderness change week by week, revealing different aspects of this untamed land. Here’s what you can expect:
Early June
This is prime mating season for coastal brown bears, and one of the rare times you’ll witness high levels of adult bear interaction, sparring, courting, and competing for dominance. Moose are active, and you may even spot wolves on the move.
Mid to Late June
Weather tends to be excellent. While bear mating activity is tapering off, you can still catch the tail end of it. It’s also the time when first- and second-year cubs begin emerging with their mothers, always curious, cautious, and utterly captivating.
Early to Mid July
The landscape bursts into full summer with lush foliage and vibrant wildflowers blanketing the terrain. Sow and cub activity increases, and if you’re lucky, you may spot spring cubs taking their first trips down to the coast.
Late July & August
The salmon begin their run, bringing bears to the rivers in growing numbers. This is the season of fishing bears, powerful, focused, and hungry. It’s a dramatic, unforgettable display of instinct and survival.
Late August to Early September
By now, the fish are definitely running, and the bears are fattening up for winter. Wildlife viewing is still exceptional, though the weather begins to shift. Guests should be prepared for occasional short delays in floatplane travel as Alaska’s summer starts to wind down.
Every week holds something extraordinary. Whether it’s the raw energy of mating season, the quiet magic of cubs emerging, or the iconic image of a bear catching salmon mid-leap, your time at Katmai Wilderness Lodge will be unforgettable, no matter when you visit!
Book your stay
Explore Wild Alaska
It's time to check Alaska bear viewing off your bucket list. Start planning your stay at Katmai Wilderness Lodge.