There is limited overnight accommodation at Brooks Camp. If there is no availability at either the Brooks Camp Campground or Brooks Lodge, occasionally visitors chose to backcountry camp outside the Brooks Camp Developed Area (BCDA).
Camping beyond the BCDA on Dumpling Mountain:
To get outside the BCDA, you must hike approximately 2.5 miles up the Dumpling Mountain trail and gain roughly 1,000 feet of elevation. This trail is considered moderately strenuous. There is a sign posted that indicates once you have crossed the BCDA boundary. As the elevation increases, Dumpling Mountain offers open tundra and expansive views worthy of any backpacking trip. However, upon immediately reaching the point where backcountry camping is permitted, alder thickets may necessitate hiking further to reach a good area to camp. Note that there is little access to water. People camping outside the BCDA usually get water in Brooks Camp.
Camping beyond the BCDA along the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road:
Some visitors prefer to hike southeast from the BCDA along the road to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes to set up camp, especially those who prioritize time in Brooks Camp itself, as it is an easier route to travel compared to Dumpling Mountain. It's a 1.5-mile hike along the road with approximately 150ft of elevation gain to reach the point where backcountry camping is permitted.
There are no cleared sites for backcountry camping along the Valley Road. The terrain is spruce forest with many standing and fallen dead trees. Take care choosing a spot among the spruce trees as winds in Katmai can be fierce. In addition, it may be difficult to find an area big enough for a tent and electric fence in the dense forest. Finding an adequate camp spot often requires exploring beyond the 1.5-mile point. The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road is a one-lane road that has some pullouts; these are not good places to camp because vehicles use them to turn around and let other vehicles pass.
Know what to expect:
- There are no designated camping sites and no bathrooms or other facilities.
- You are camping in bear country. We recommend using an electric fence for camping outside the BCDA. As a reminder, electric fences are bear deterrents; they are not bear proof.
- There are two main areas where people chose to camp, partially up Dumpling Mountain and along the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road.
- While visitors can leave extra food and gear in the designated caches at Brooks Camp, know that these caches were not intended to accommodate people camping beyond the BCDA and space may be at a premium.
Know the regulations:
- The BCDA is defined as a 1.5-mile radius from the Brooks Falls Platform. Signs are posted along the Dumpling Mountain trail and along the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road indicating when you have reached this point.
- Food storage- the use of bear-resistant food containers (BRFCs) is mandatory in all backcountry areas. A limited supply of BRFCs are available to borrow free of charge at the visitor centers in King Salmon and Brooks Camp.
- All other backcountry camping regulations still apply.
Hallo Bay sits on the Pacific Coast of Katmai in the shadow of Kukak Volcano. A rich sedge meadow nestled between the mountains of Katmai and the Cook Inlet, Hallo Bay provides abundant food sources for all types of wildlife. Most commonly in June, bears roam about feasting on the young, nutrient dense sedges. Other wildlife in Halo Bay include wolves, foxes, and migratory birds.
Hallo Bay is tidally influenced and checking tide tables and times is imperative for a safe camping set up in the area. The core meadow areas of Hallo Bay Meadows are closed to camping from April 1st through October 31st to prevent conflicts with bears and visitors at prime feeding sites that attract bears and bear viewers. Check the Map for closure areas as well before you depart to ensure you are camping in designated areas. Follow all food and gear safety regulations on the
Bear Safety page
Amalik bay is on the Pacific Coast of Katmai and provides sheltered entry into Geographic Harbor. Unlike Hallo Bay, this area was formed by glaciers, creating a fjord. The topography here is very different from the coastal meadow areas along Katmai’s Pacific coast. There is minimal flat areas for a camp-set up. Be sure to look at tide tables and any designated areas that are closed to camping before setting up.
Amalik Bay is a shared use area, meaning some visitors only visit for the day, while others may have extended stays either via camping or boating in the fjord.
The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, or VTTS, is rife with camping and backpacking opportunities, but it comes with a unique set of safety considerations.
Getting to the Valley often means taking a float plane from King Salmon to Brooks Camp, then taking a commercial services bus from Brooks Camp to the Three Forks Visitor Center. From Three Forks, there are a few routes to get down onto the Valley floor.
The Ukak Falls Trail is a maintained trail taking visitors down to Ukak Falls and the confluence of the River Lethe, Knife Creek, and Windy Creek. This offers limited access to areas further out in the Valley like Novarupta and other volcanoes. Another popular route into the Valley is via the Windy Creek social trail. This trail is not maintained but is used by many visitors and staff each year. When driving the Vally Road, ask your bus driver to drop you at the trailhead, or when you arrive at Three Forks, it is about a mile walk from the Visitor Center to the trailhead. This social trail takes you across Windy Creek, through an ashen landscape, up to an alder-covered hillside, before opening to the vast Valley floor. Around five to six miles out from the trailhead, the social trail ends. You can still explore the Valley via map and compass orienteering.
Be sure to find a place to camp that is sheltered from any high winds that often rip through the valley and turn up tons of ash. Water sources can be scarce. The rivers that flow through the valley have ash sediment that is difficult to filter. Some springs and snow-melt are available on the slopes of various hills and ridges throughout the Valley. Filtering or purifying this water is impartive to minimizing the risk of water-borne diseases and infections like giardia.
Be aware of wildlife while exploring the Valley. Though this landscape looks almost inhospitable to wildlife, bears, caribou, wolves, and lynx are often seen or heard throughout the Valley.
In Katmai National Preserve, these two creeks drain from alpine lakes that lay to the east. In mid to late summer, the arrival of salmon attract an abundance of bears and create spectacular sport fishing opportunities.
Between July 1st and August 31st camping is not permitted within one half of a mile upstream and downstream from the confluence of Moraine Creek and Funnel Creek, in order to prevent conflicts between bears and visitors.
Getting to this area requires a chartered flight or guide service. All backcountry regulations apply.
