"Katmai Calder, glacier, and Mt Griggs" by NPS , public domain
Katmai
National Park & Preserve - Alaska
Katmai National Park and Preserve is on a peninsula in southern Alaska. Its wild landscapes span tundra, forests, lakes and mountains. The park is known for the many brown bears that are drawn to the abundant salmon in Brooks Falls. Lookout platforms at adjacent Brooks Camp offer close-up views of the bears. The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is an area of lava flows and ash formed by a massive volcanic eruption.
A trip planning and information guide to Alagnak Wild River, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Map of the National Parks in Alaska. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/katm/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katmai_National_Park_and_Preserve
Katmai National Park and Preserve is on a peninsula in southern Alaska. Its wild landscapes span tundra, forests, lakes and mountains. The park is known for the many brown bears that are drawn to the abundant salmon in Brooks Falls. Lookout platforms at adjacent Brooks Camp offer close-up views of the bears. The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is an area of lava flows and ash formed by a massive volcanic eruption.
A landscape is alive underneath our feet, filled with creatures that remind us what it is to be wild. Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.
Katmai National Park & Preserve is located on the northern Alaska Peninsula, northwest of Kodiak Island and southwest of Homer, Alaska. The park’s headquarters is in King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Unlike most national parks in the United States, Katmai is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.
Brooks Camp Visitor Center
The Brooks Camp Visitor Center, open June 1 – September 29, is the point of entry for all visitors to Brooks Camp. A park ranger is on duty to provide information, campground check-in, mandatory bear etiquette and safety talks, and backcountry planning. An Alaska Geographic Association (AGA) bookstore offers books, maps, and other Katmai-related items.
Brooks Camp is located on the northern Alaska Peninsula, about 30 miles east of King Salmon and about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Unlike most national park visitor centers in the United States, Brooks Camp's visitor center is only accessible by plane or boat.
King Salmon Visitor Center
Located next door to the King Salmon Airport, the King Salmon Visitor Center provides information on the many federal public lands of Southwest Alaska, particularly those in the Bristol Bay area. A large collection of films is available for viewing and an Alaska Geographic bookstore sells maps, charts, videos, posters, clothing and more.
This visitor center is located next to the passenger terminal at the King Salmon Airport.
Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center
The Robert F. Griggs Visitor Center overlooks the famous Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and is the starting point of the Ukak Falls Trail. The posted hours are estimated because the visitor center is only open during ranger-led Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes tours.
Located 23 miles from Brooks Camp on the only road within Katmai National Park & Preserve. Visitors can participate in a Ranger-led Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Tour where this center is a lunch stop before hiking to the valley floor.
Brooks Camp Campground
Brooks Camp Campground is the only developed campground in Katmai National Park and Preserve. It is located on the shore of Naknek Lake, about .3 miles (.5 km) from the Brooks Camp Visitor Center. Facilities in the campground include a food cache, gear cache, fuel storage locker, potable water, cooking shelters, fire rings, and vault toilets. The campground is also surrounded by an electric fence. Special regulations apply at Brooks Camp and in the campground.
Brooks Camp Campground Fees: June 1 through September 17
18.00
The Brooks Camp Campground costs $18 per person per night June 1 through September 17. America the Beautiful Access and Senior pass holders can enjoy 50% discounts on camping reservations. Please note that fees for this campground are charged per person, not per group. Access and Senior pass discounts only apply to the cardholder.
Brooks Camp Campground Fees: May 1-31 and September 18-October 31
10.00
The Brooks Camp Campground costs $10 per person per night in May and September 18 through October 31. America the Beautiful Access and Senior pass holders can enjoy 50% discounts on camping reservations. Please note that fees for this campground are charged per person, not per group. Access and Senior pass discounts only apply to the cardholder.
Brooks Camp Campground Fees November 1-April 30
0.00
No fee is charged to stay in the campground from November 1 to April 30. No potable water is available at this time and the electric fence is not maintained.
Food and Gear Cache at Brooks Camp Campground
building with two doors in forest
Brooks Camp Campground has a centrally located building to store food and equipment.
cooking shelter in Brooks Camp Campground
Adirondack style shelter and fire grate
Three shelters in Brooks Camp Campground are designated for eating and cooking.
Tent in Brooks Camp Campground
Tent in Brooks Camp Campground
Brooks Camp Campground is located in a balsam poplar forest.
Brooks Camp Campground electric fence gate
electric fence with gate for entry
Brooks Camp Campground is surrounded by an electric fence to deter bears.
Trail to Brooks Camp Campground
gravel trail through spruce and birch forest
The Brooks Camp Campground is accessed by a narrow trail .3 miles (.5 km) north of the visitor center.
Salmon jumping at Brooks Falls
salmon jumping at waterfall
Each year, 200,000 to 400,000 sockeye salmon jump Brooks Falls.
Bear catching jumping salmon
Bear standing at the edge of a waterfall while a salmon is leaping towards it.
In July, brown bears often stand on the lip of Brooks Falls to try to catch leaping salmon.
Bear family walks near sleeping bear
Three bears walk near a sleeping bear
Salmon streams in Katmai attract high numbers of brown bears.
Mount Katmai caldera
lake inside of an ash and glacier covered volcano
Mount Katmai's summit collapsed during the 1912 Novarupta-Katmai eruption. Today, the caldera is filled with a deep lake.
sedge meadows and volcanoes at Hallo
meadow in foreground and snow capped volcanoes on the horizon
Glacially clad volcanoes loom over the sedge meadows of Hallo Bay
Lichen Biodiversity
Read the abstract and get the link to an article published in Mycosphere: McCune B, ... Walton J. 2018. Biodiversity and ecology of lichens of Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks and Preserves, Alaska. Mycosphere 9(4):859–930, Doi 10.5943/mycosphere/9/4/10
A box of different lichens.
Spatial Correlation of Archeaological Sites and Subsistence Resources in the Gulf of Alaska
Discover how a GIS-based analysis of nearly 2,000 coastal archaeology sites demonstrates the strong correlation between seasonally-available marine food and human settlement around the Gulf of Alaska.
map of southwest alaska
Brooks River Cutbank Project
Archeologists often try to stabilize sites to protect them from deterioration, but in many cases erosion cannot be stopped. In Katmai National Park & Preserve on the Alaska Peninsula, across from Kodiak Island, erosion exposed human remains at the Cutbank site. Archeologists and culturally affiliated Alaska Native groups worked together to develop a research design to address questions of mutual interest. They found some surprises.
Excavating at Cutbank
Southwest Alaska Network Lichen Inventory
Southwest Alaska Network Lichen Inventory
Subsistence
The study of subsistence resources in parks has been a mix of long-term work and projects instigated by issues facing the Federal Subsistence Board.
Winter hunting is an important subsistence activity in many Alaska communities and park areas.
Science in Wilderness Marine Reserves
ANILCA establishes the largest scientific laboratory...ever!
A spawning salmon struggles to get back into the water.
Bald Eagle Monitoring in Alaska
Southwest Alaska's Inventory and Monitoring Network continues to improve bald eagle nest monitoring in NPS lands along the northern Gulf of Alaska.
bald eagle flying with fish
Monitoring Mussel Populations in Southwest Alaska Parks
Mussel are an important food for many marine birds and mammals. Learn more about their populations in southwest Alaskan parks.
monitoring mussel beds
Tales from the Tides - FOR BIRD'S SAKES! (Science Stories for Kids!)
Written for a young audience, this article describes the March 2018 Winter Marine Bird Survey off the coast of Katmai National Park and Preserve. Kids will learn why the research is important, will witness an amazing wildlife encounter experienced by the research team and discover what it's like to be a marine biologist in Alaska.
Researchers on a skiff off the coast of Katmai
In Celebration of ANILCA
Former President, Jimmy Carter, offers a sentimental introduction to the 25th Anniversary Edition of Alaska Park Science and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).
Black and white photo of six white men standing in front of an old National Park Service Building.
Morale, Welfare and Recreation in WWII National Parks
Wartime NPS Director Newton Drury wrote 'In wartime, the best function of these areas is to prove a place to which members of the armed forces and civilians may retire to restore shattered nerves and to recuperate physically and mentally for the war tasks still ahead of them.' During World War II, parks across the United States supported the morale of troops and sought to become places of healing for those returning from war.
B&W; soldiers post in front of large tree
Cleaning Up Alaska's Beaches
Cleanup crews hit the beaches in 5 of Alaska's coastal national parks in 2015 to collect, assess and ultimately remove abandoned and washed up trash. The massive endeavor was part of a larger project aimed at understanding the sources of marine debris and keeping it out of the ocean and off of Alaska's beaches.
NPS staff and volunteers with bags of trash collected off beach.
A History of Science in Alaska's National Parks
National park units in Alaska precede the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916. The first park unit, Sitka National Monument, was conceived in 1908, and by the mid-1920s four national monuments along with Alaska’s first national park were part of the growing park system. Discover how the early 1900s and observations of a few helped to establish the National Park Service in Alaska.
Black and white photo of Arno Cammerer sitting at his desk looking through papers.
Old is Getting Older
In the last 25 years, persistent archaeological survey and improved scientific techniques have resulted in new data which confirms that Alaska sites are actually much earlier than we once believed.
NPS archaeologist works at Amakomanak site in Noatak National Preserve.
A Partnership to Remove Marine Debris from Alaskan Coastal Parks
Marine debris can affect marine mammals and birds through entanglement, strangulation, and digestive blockage. In summer 2015, we conducted an extensive multi-partner project to remove over 11 tons of marine debris from remote beaches in five Alaska parks.
park rangers putting trash into white plastic bags on a rocky beach
An Overview of the Changing Tides Research Project
Southwest Alaska’s coastal brown bears are the largest of their kind in the world, deriving much of their bulk from the abundant salmon resources that pulse into the rivers from the sea each summer. Bears also use intertidal resources such as clams and mussels. Along the shores of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve and Katmai National Park and Preserve, bears spend hours in the mudflats digging, chomping, slurping, and digging again.
a brown bear pawing at a clam on a beach
PARKS...IN...SPAAAACE!!!
NASA astronauts have quite literally an out-of-this-world view of national parks and take some pretty stellar pictures to share. Travel along with the space station on its journey west to east getting the extreme bird’s eye view of national parks across the country. And one more down-to-earth.
View of Denali National Park & Preserve from space
Black-Capped Chickadee
Black-capped chickadees and boreal chickadees are tiny but tough songbirds that are year-round residents in many parts of Alaska.
Mussel Abundance in the Gulf of Alaska
Read the abstract and get the link to a paer published in Oceanopgraphy. Bodkin, J. L., H. A. Coletti, B. E. Ballachey, D. H. Monson, D. Esler, and T. A. Dean. 2017. Variation in abundance of Pacific blue mussel (Mytilus trossulus) in the northern Gulf of Alaska, 2006-2015. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. DOI: 10.1016/j. dsr2.2017.04.008.
A cluster of mussels in the intetidal zone.
Intertidal Mapping Using Unmanned Aircraft
2018 Resource brief on intertidal zone mapping in southwest Alaska using a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS).
A researcher operating a UAS along the coast.
Changing Tides: April 2016 Recap
The Changing Tides project is a three-year study examining the link between the marine and terrestrial environments, specifically between coastal brown bears, clams and mussels, and people. It is a cooperative project of the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Sealife Center, and Washington State University. Preliminary data from the summer of 2015 creates more questions to study.
A researcher looking through a scope on the beach.
Tree Rings Reveal Drought Stress
Read the abstract and get the link to the article published in Ecological Applications: Csank, A. Z., A. E. Miller, R. L. Sherriff, E. E. Berg, and J. M. Welker. 2016. Tree-ring isotopes reveal drought sensitivity in trees killed by spruce beetle outbreaks in southcentral Alaska. Ecological Applications 26:2001-2020.
A researcher bores a core from a tree.
Bristol Bay Canneries
The Yup’ik, Alutiiq, and Dena’ina subsisted off the salmon runs in this area for 9,000 years. Bristol Bay had a high concentration of canneries due to this high volume of salmon. The Arctic Packing Company constructed the first saltery in Bristol Bay at Kahulik in 1883, and the competitive market created a culture than altered the region forever. Native Alaskan populations were exposed to disease, and overfishing threatened subsistence lifestyles of Dena’ina people upstream.
Black and white photo: Boats move between chunks of ice floating on the water's surface
Kukak Bay Cannery
The Kukak Bay Cannery ruins are located in a glacially carved fjord. The historical archeological district in Katmai National Park & Preserve is surrounded by three hills and a rocky shoreline. The first cannery at the site was constructed in 1922 by the Hemrich Packing Company to can razor clams. In 1980, after the passing of Alaska National Lands Interest Conservation Act (ANILCA), this area of coastline was designated wilderness, ending further use as a cannery.
View over the bow of a boat on water to a collection of buildings on the shore
Volcanic Hazards in Alaska’s National Parks
There are over 100 volcanoes in Alaska, 54 of which are considered historically active, and 14 are found in Alaska national parks, preserves, and monuments. The Alaska Volcano Observatory monitors and conducts research on volcanoes in Alaska in order to better understand volcanic processes and determine the likelihood of future volcanic hazards, with a primary goal of informing the public about volcanic hazards and impending volcanic activity. Alaska Park Science 18(1), 2019.
A snow covered volcanic peak.
Marine Bird and Mammal Surveys
2018 Resource brief about marine bird monitoring in Southwest Alaska parks.
people in boat
Aurora Borealis: A Brief Overview
A brief overview of how Northern Lights occur.
two ribbons of greenish light in a dark blue sky, over a very dark forest
Practice Safe Bear Spray Use
Proper behavior in bear country and understanding bear behavior can help to avoid dangerous situations for people and bears. Bear spray should be used as a last line of defense when dealing with bears- not immediately upon seeing one. This introduction will help cover bear behaviors as well as safe use of bear pepper spray.
A black bear stands on a wooden bench.
Small Mammals as Indicators of Climate, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Change
This is a time of rapid environmental changes in Alaska. Species that have evolved within tundra habitats over multiple glacial cycles are not only best adapted to high-latitude and high-elevation environments, but may also respond more slowly to change. Studies of small mammal communities could provide valuable insights to larger ecosystem changes.
two marmots perched atop a large boulder
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.
mountain peak
POET Newsletter March 2013
Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from March 2013. Articles include: The Japan Tsunami Marine Debris Summary; Restoring "Plastic Beach" Back to Kamilo Point; Coming to a Beach Near You; and An Unexpected Visitor.
dock on beach
Sea Star Wasting Disease in Southwest Alaska
2018 Resource brief update on sea star wasting disease in southwest Alaska parks.
diseased sea star
Sea Otter Monitoring in Southwest Alaska
2018 Resource brief on sea otter monitoring. Sea otters are known as a keystone species, and sea otters dramatically affect the structure and complexity of their environment. Sea otter populations and other nearshore components are monitored in southwest Alaskan parks.
sea otter in water
Black Oystercatcher Monitoring
2018 Resource brief with findings from black oystercatcher monitoring in southwest Alaska.
black oystercatcher
Growing Season Dynamics
2018 Resource brief of how growing season dynamics are changing in southwest Alaska.
Two bear cubs play in a coastal meadow.
Bat Projects in Parks: Alaska Region Parks
Bats in Alaska? Find out!
A scenic view of Alaska, mountains in the distance and a grizzly in front of a lake in the front.
National Park Getaway: Katmai National Park & Preserve
On the northern end of the Alaska Peninsula, there's a place with a moonscape caused by a cataclysmic volcanic eruption. There's a place where sockeye salmon decorate streams with their ruby red bodies during the spawn. There's a place where brown bears out number people. This same place has been a home to humans for 9,000 years: Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Three large brown bears hunched in tall grass
Winter Marine Bird Survey - Part II
Part 2 of "When the Birding Gets Tough," a personal account of the 2018 Winter Marine Bird Survey in Katmai National Park and Preserve. Photo USFWS/L. Whitehouse
Steller's eiders
Winter Marine Bird Survey - Part I
Part one of "When the Birding Gets Tough," a personal account of the 2018 Katmai Winter Marine Bird Survey as told by a newcomer to Alaska and the rigors of research in Alaska's capricious coastal areas.
Emperor geese on a rock
Water Quality Practitioner's Guide
Read the abstract and find the link to the article published in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment: Sergeant, C. J., E. N. Starkey, K. K. Bartz, M. H. Wilson, and F. J. Mueter. 2016. A practitioner’s guide for exploring water quality patterns using Principal Components Analysis and Procrustes. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 188(4):1-15.
Researchers collecting water quality data.
Economics of Wilderness: Contribution of Alaska Parks and Wilderness to the Alaska Economy
Looking ahead, it is clear that Alaska’s wilderness ecosystems will become increasingly valuable assets in a crowded urban world. If Alaska’s wild lands, wildlife, and ecological integrity are cared for with respect, the contribution of wilderness and conservation lands to the Alaska economy and to people everywhere will be significant, positive, increasing, and enduring.
a large cruise ship on the ocean with snowy mountains in the distance
The Great Eruption of 1912
Home of the largest volcanic eruption in the history of North America, Novarupta, The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, and the Katmai volcanoes have been an open-air laboratory since shortly after the 1912 eruption. Volcanological studies here have shaped how geologists think about explosive eruptions and continue to provide insights into a wide range of aspects about how volcanoes work.
aerial view of a crater lake in a snowy, mountainous landscape
Water Quality in Southwest Alaska
2020 Resource brief on water quality monitoring conducted by the Southwest Alaska Network. Katmai and Lake Clark national parks and preserves were created, in part, to protect high-quality habitat for salmon. Cold water is a key habitat requirement, but exactly how cold depends on the salmon species, population, and life stage.
A researcher collects water quality data.
Air Quality in Southwest Alaska
2020 Resource Brief on air quality monitoring conducted in Katmai National Park and Preserve by the Southwest Alaska Network.High-elevation lakes are sensitive to the effects of nutrient enrichment and acidification from atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur.
Weather station at Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Southwest Alaska Salt Marshes
2020 Resource brief on monitoring salt marshes in southwest Alaska. Coastal marsh habitats are heavily used by wildlife, migratory birds, and park visitors. They provide valuable ecosystem services, among them critical habitat for brown bears and migratory birds. These marshes are dynamic systems, sensitive to many influences, including warming temperatures, storms, tectonic uplift, development-related activities, and increased visitation.
Researchers collect vegetation data in a salt marsh on the Katmai coast.
Water Quantity Monitoring in Southwest Alaska
2020 Resource brief on water quantity monitoring at Katmai and Lake Clark national parks and preserves conducted by the Southwest Alaska Network. Hydrology and geology are the two principle drivers that dictate the structure and function of all aquatic systems. In the broadest sense, hydrology encompasses the distribution and movement of water and its interactions with the surrounding environment, whether in the ground, on the landscape, or in the atmosphere.
A researcher collects water quantity data.
Lake Ice Monitoring
2020 Resource brief on lake ice monitoring (seasonal processes). Lake ice cover is a key component of Alaska ecosystems because it influences the physical processes, chemical processes, and biological productivity of the region’s lakes and the wellbeing of communities that depend on them. Global climate models indicate the climate is warming more rapidly at higher latitudes than it is closer to the equator.
Ice just starting to form on a lake, surrounded by snowymountains.
Monitoring Razor Clams as an Indicator of Nearshore Ecosystem Health
Read the abstract and get the link to a recently published article on how razor clams may be used as indicators of nearshore ecosystem health: Bowen, L., K. L.Counihan, B. Ballachey, H. A. Coletti, T. Hollmen, B. Pister, and T. L. Wilson. 2020. Monitoring nearshore ecosystem health using Pacific razor clams (Siliqua patula) as an indicator species. PeerJ 8:e8761.
A bear eats a razor clam at the waters edge.
Larger Brown Bear Sows are More Successful in Rearing Cubs
Read the abstract and get the link to a new article looking at Alaska brown bear cub recruitment across four populations: Hilderbrand, G. V., D. D. Gustine, K. Joly, B. Mangipane, W. Leacock, M. D. Cameron, M. S. Sorum, L. S. Mangipane, and J. A. Erlenbach. 2019. Influence of maternal body size, condition, and age on recruitment of four brown bear populations. Ursus 29(2): 111-118.
A brown bear sow and four cubs.
Zooarcheology of a 3,500-year-old Fishery on the Katmai Coast
Zooarcheology—the study of animal remains from archeological sites—reveals more than just a list of food items, it tells us how our natural surroundings and our climate have changed over time, how past peoples sustained their resources or over-harvested them, how our technology has advanced to allow our survival, how we relate to animals and each other, and how some things have remained the same. Alaska Park Science 19(1):2020.
An archaeological site on a beautiful bay.
Salmon Monitoring in Southwest Alaska
2020 Resource brief of salmon monitoring in Katmai and Lake Clark national parks and preserves conducted by the Southwest Alaska Network. Sockeye salmon are an important cultural, economic, and ecological resource in Alaska, particularly in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska. Each year, up to 60 million sockeye salmon migrate back to Bristol Bay to spawn and 60-75% of these returning adults are harvested by commercial fisheries.
Spawning salmon in turquoise water.
Volcanic Ash Resuspension from the Katmai Region
Volcanic ash is not only a hazard during an eruptive event; in strong winds, previously deposited volcanic ash can be reincorporated into dust clouds. Resuspension and transport of fine-grained volcanic ash from Katmai National Park and Preserve has been observed and documented many times over the past several decades and has likely been occurring since the 1912 Novarupta-Katmai eruption, the largest 20th century eruption in the world. Alaska Park Science 18(1):2019.
An annotated map showing the Katmai area and volcanic features.
Collared Pika
Collared pikas are small mammals within the same order as rabbits and hares, and they resemble small rabbits with very short ears and small limbs. Adapted to thrive at high elevations in Alaska, their habitat is at risk -- climate change may drastically change the fragile environment in which they live.
tiny gray rabbit-like creature sitting on a rock
Arctic Ground Squirrel
The largest of the North American ground squirrels, arctic ground squirrels are burrowing rodents that resemble prairie dogs, with small ears, a flat tail, and a white-spotted back. They are very common throughout much of Denali and live mainly in the alpine tundra.
two ground squirrels
Drivers of Mercury in Top-predator Lake Fish from Southwest Alaska Parklands
Some resident lake fish sampled from southwest Alaska parks have elevated concentrations of mercury (mostly methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin and endocrine disrupter). Why do these fish —that inhabit some of the most remote and supposedly pristine waters in North America—have such elevated mercury levels? Answering this question requires an understanding of mercury cycling, or the processes by which mercury moves through the environment. Alaska Park Science 19(1):2020.
Lake trout in a net underwater.
Weather and Climate in Southwest Alaska
2020 Resource brief on weather and climate in southwest Alaska parks. Weather and climate are key physical drivers of ecosystem structure and function. Global climate models indicate that climate change and variability is occurring more rapidly and amplified at higher latitudes.
A weather station in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Freshwater Contaminants in Southwest Alaska Parks
2020 Resource brief on freshwater contaminant monitoring in Katmai and Lake Clark national parks and preserves conducted by the Southwest Alaska Network. Mercury is a toxic element with no known essential biological function. It occurs naturally as a solid in various minerals and as a gas in volcanic eruptions. In fish, methylmercury both bioaccumulates and biomagnifies, meaning it increases over time within an individual and it increases up the food chain across individuals.
Lake trout in a net.
Hoary Marmot
Hoary marmots are large rodents that live mainly in alpine areas. Their loud, clear warning calls are a common sound in mountainous regions.
closeup of a marmot baby
Magnetic Detection of Archaeological Hearths in Alaska
Read the abstract and link to a recent article on archaeological research using magnetic detection of hearths: Urban, Thomas M., Jeffrey T. Rasic, Claire Alix, Douglas D. Anderson, Linda Chisholm, Robert W. Jacob, Sturt W. Manning, Owen K.Mason, Andrew H. Tremayne, Dale Vinson (2019). Magnetic detection of archaeological hearths in Alaska: A tool for investigating the full span of human presence at the gateway to North America. Quaternary Science Reviews 211: 73-92.
An archaeologist searches for hearths using a magetometer
Improving Mussel Monitoring
Read the abstract and get a link to a peer-reviewed published article on using mussel gene transcription and physiological assays to monitor nearshore environmental conditions: Counihan, K., L. Bowen, B. Ballachey, H. Coletti, T. Hollmen, B. Pister, and T. L. Wilson. 2019. Physiological and gene transcription assays to assess responses of mussels to environmental changes. PeerJ 7:e7800 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7800
A researcher holds mussels from a nearshore monitoring plot.
Harmful Algal Toxins in Alaska's Seabirds and Marine Mammals
Seabirds and marine mammals along Alaska's coastline have been experiencing unusually large and consistent die-offs for the past several years, in conjunction with warming ocean temperatures. Researchers want to know if harmful algal blooms, typically associated with warmer climates, are playing a role in these deaths.
A researcher examines a dead glaucus gull on a beach.
Southwest Alaska Lichen Inventory
2020 Resource brief on the lichen inventory conducted by the Southwest Alaska Network in Katmai and Lake Clark national parks and preserves and in Kenai Fjords National Park. Over 700 previously undocumented lichen taxa are now recognized across southwestern Alaska parks, representing the largest survey of its kind in the region, as well as one of the largest and most comprehensive lichen inventories in Alaska.
Researchers examining lichens in the field.
Insect Outbreaks in Southwest Alaska
2020 Resource brief on insect outbreaks in Southwest Alaska. Over the last quarter century, the spruce beetle and a suite of other insect pests have caused extensive damage in the forests of southcentral Alaska. Long-term forest monitoring and tree-ring studies are helping us to better understand the timing, frequency, and ecological effects of these outbreaks.
Spruce aphids on spruce needles.
Visitor Use
2021 Resource Brief of visitor use at Katmai and Lake Clark national parks and preserves. Understanding visitor use patterns across the parks and over time allows park managers to assess where rangers and staff need to be stationed and where impacts to resources (such as trampling) may need to be monitored or mitigated in the future.
Visitors watching bears at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Refining the Analysis of Hair Samples
Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on how bear hair is used to determine diet and how the method of using hair to determine diet is refined to detect seasonal variation. Rogers, M. C., G. V. Hilderbrand, D. D. Gustine, K. Joly, W. B. Lealock, B. A. Mangipane, and J. M. Welker. 2020. Splitting hairs: Dietary niche breadth modelling using stable isotope analysis of a sequentially grown tissue. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies.
A close look at bear fur.
Prey Pulses in a Marine Environment
Forage fish serve an important role in our marine environment; these fish serve as prey for many fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.
whale fluke in water
Looking Back—A Heady Time for National Park Service Science in Alaska
Spurred by Alaska gaining statehood and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), the 1970s saw a spurt of scientific activity that gave experienced Alaska investigators additional access to remote field study sites and introduced investigators new to Alaska to exciting and challenging opportunities for conducting field study in remote places.
mist on forested mountains
Research Project: Brown Bear Tracking
Although remote, the Alaska Peninsula is still vulnerable to natural and human-caused disturbances. These disturbances could affect the amount of food available for brown bears. As part of a larger project looking at the nearshore environment of the peninsula, biologists will outfit 12 bears with GPS collars, to track their movements between different habitats, and conduct direct observations on these bears to collect data on their foraging behavior.
bear and cub digging in mud
Coastal Research - Spring 2016 Update
For the second consecutive summer, researchers are putting GPS collars on coastal bears in Katmai as part of the Changing Tides project. The May 2016 collaring effort was a great success, with near-perfect weather aiding in the outfitting of ten bears with GPS collars.
large brown bear carrying a salmon in its mouth
Changing Tides: August 2015 Update
Several months into the Changing Tides project, scientists are beginning to see patterns in the foraging movements of collared bears along Katmai's coast. The bears being studied gained significant weight already, even before salmon runs had reached area streams. Data like this will help scientists analyze just how important invertebrates like mussels and clams are to grizzly bear health and their success raising cubs.
woman in an orange rain jacket kneeling on a beach near a dozen clams
Brown Bear Research Project: July 2015 Update
By tracking the movements of bears and assessing body composition, biologists can examine their use of different foraging areas and the importance of different food to overall bear health and survival. This July 2015 update explores the first steps taken in the "Changing Tides" project.
map of a coastline with numerous dots near the shore
Changing Tides: Intertidal Invertebrates, Bears, and People
Clams and other intertidal invertebrates are important early season forage for coastal brown bears along the Alaska Peninsula. A 2015 study will expand on this knowledge through a variety of projects. Working with park partners, park researchers will evaluate the impacts of changing ocean conditions on intertidal communities, gaining valuable insight for long-term preservation of this dynamic nearshore connection.
bear and cub
Changing Tides: 2016 Midseason Update
Highlights from this year's study so far include taking tissue samples from bivalves (e.g., clams), assessing bear health and discovering with a camera trap that bears may be actively predating upon otters!
two people digging in a sandy beach
Changing Tides: Bear Researcher Videos
Check out videos documenting parts of the Changing Tides research project!
large brown bear and a cub digging in sand near a gull
A Decade of Bald Eagle Surveys in Southwest Alaska Parks
2020 Resource brief on ten years of monitoring data for bald eagles in southwest Alaska parks and the use of the Delphi technique to evaluate monitoring methods going forward.
A mature bald eagle perched on a log on the beach.
Conserving pinnipeds in Pacific Ocean parks in response to climate change
The evolutionary record from previous climate perturbations indicates that marine mammals are highly vulnerable but also remarkably adaptable to climatic change in coastal ecosystems. Consequently, national parks in the Pacific, from Alaska to Hawaii, are faced with potentially dramatic changes in their marine mammal fauna, especially pinnipeds (seals and sea lions).
black harbor seal
Alaska brown bears exposure to bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens
Read the abstract and get the link to a new article on pathogens found in Alaska brown bears published in the Journal of Wildlife Disease: Ramey, A. M., C. A. Cleveland, G. V. Hilderbrand, K. Joly, D. D. Gustine, B. Mangipane, W. B. Leacock, A. P. Crupi, D. E. Hill, J. P. Dubey, and M. J. Yabsley. In press. Exposure of Alaska brown bears (Ursus arctos) to bacterial, viral, and parasitic agents varies spatiotemporally and may be influenced by age.
A bear perched on a rock outcrop
The Role of the Diamond NN Cannery in Interpreting the History of the Naknek River Fishery
The NN Cannery was one of the longest-running canneries. It employed hundreds of residents and thousands of transient workers who produced more canned salmon than any cannery in Alaska. Contained in its century-old buildings are stories of the historical manifestations of capitalism, incorporation, industrialization, immigration, world wars, global pandemics, statehood, resource management, unionization, segregation, and equal rights. Alaska Park Science 19(1):2020.
An aerial view of the Diamond NN Cannery on the NakNek River.
National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate.
Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map
Alaska Aviation Safety
In Alaska, small planes are often the best way to get around but flying has its risks. Aviation safety requires more than just a pilot’s skill–it takes all of us. Learn more about aviation to increase the safety of your next park flight.
An NPS pilot in a plane cockpit flying over a turquoise lake
Lake Temperature Trends
Water temperatures are warming in southwest Alaska lakes--at the surface and even going deeper in the water column. Learn more about water temperature trends over time.
Researchers collecting water data in a mountain lake.
The 19th Amendment, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and the Ongoing Fight for Equal Rights
In Alaska, women's suffrage passed in 1913—seven years prior to the 19th Amendment—and antidiscrimination legislation passed nearly 20 years prior to the major national civil rights bills of the 1960s. In the 1940s, Elizabeth Peratrovich—a Tlingit woman who was Grand President of the Alaska Native Sisterhood—led the charge to end discrimination against Alaska Natives.
gold coin of a raven, a woman's face, and words elizabeth peratrovich anti-discrimination law
Series: Alaska Park Science - Volume 16 Issue: Science in Alaska's Arctic Parks
The National Park Service manages five parks that fall partially or entirely within the Arctic tundra biome. These five parks encompass 19.3 million acres of land and constitute approximately 25% of the land area managed by the National Park Service nationwide. These are undeveloped places, with free-flowing rivers and wilderness at a massive scale.
a group of muskox running across a field
Series: Changing Tides Articles
Browse articles related to the Changing Tides project. This is a research study in Southwest Alaska exploring the connections between coastal brown bears, invertebrates like clams and mussels, and what influence human activities have on bear ecology.
a large brown bear and cub digging in a sandy beach near a gull
Series: Alaska Park Science - Volume 13 Issue 1: Wilderness in Alaska
This issue includes: * Economics of Wilderness * Using Ethics Arguments to Preserve Naturalness * Busing Through the Wilderness: "Near-Wilderness" Experiences in Denali ... and more!
mountains reflecting into a calm lake, the words 'alaska park science'
Series: Alaska Park Science - Volume 15 Issue 1: Coastal Research Science in Alaska's National Parks
This issue focuses on studies occurring in coastal areas throughout national parks in Alaska. Articles include a variety of studies on arctic coastal lagoons, background on a large research project studying coastal brown bears, and more.
a brown bear investigating a clam on a beach
Series: The Legacy of ANILCA
The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act impacts the National Park Service in many ways. ANILCA stipulates the designation of wilderness, subsistence management, transportation in and across parklands, use of cabins, mining, archaeological sites, scientific research studies and more.
Two men drag a harvest seal from icy blue waters across frozen ice.
Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Cenozoic Era
The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths.
fossils on display at a visitor center
Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Mesozoic Era
The Mesozoic Era (251.9 to 66 million years ago) was the "Age of Reptiles." During the Mesozoic, Pangaea began separating into the modern continents, and the modern Rocky Mountains rose. Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs ruled the land and air. As climate changed and rapid plate tectonics resulted in shallow ocean basins, sea levels rose world-wide and seas expanded across the center of North America.
fossil dinosaur skull in rock face
Series: Copper River Basin Symposium - Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve
February 2020: With a theme of Tradition, Science, and Stewardship, the two-day symposium included keynote speakers, 26 short presentations, and a poster session. A panel discussion delved into opportunities in working with indigenous communities. Ahtna elders provided wisdom in daily welcomes, and there was a presentation by Copper River Stewardship Youth. Topics ranged widely from fisheries to archaeology to geology. As well as sharing knowledge, participants shared meals, stories, and ideas.
Copper River Basin Symposium logo by Lindsay and Elvie
Series: Alaska Park Science - Volume 19, Issue 1 - Below the Surface: Fish and Our Changing Underwater World
Alaska has over three million lakes, 12,000 rivers, and an estimated 6,640 miles of ocean coastline. Below the surface swim some of the world’s most abundant, healthy, all-wild fish, including salmon, halibut, and eulachon. Fish sustained Alaska Natives for millennia and continue to represent food and economic security for many people. Alaska Park Science 19(1): 2020
Red-colored salmon swim in turquoise water.
Series: Alaska Park Science, Volume 18, Issue 1, Understanding and Preparing for Alaska's Geohazards
Alaska is the most geologically active part of North America. Much of the awe-inspiring landscapes of Alaska's parks are created by geologic processes. But sometimes, these processes can be hazardous. This issue explores the state of the science to understand geohazards in Alaska national parks. Alaska Park Science 18(1): 2019.
A man jumps down a dune of volcanic ash.
Series: Canneries of Alaska
Canneries were built in response to the environment. This series is a summary of some of Alaska's canneries and the landscape features that defined where and how they developed. The overall period of significance for canneries in Alaska begins in 1878, when the first two canneries opened, and ends in 1936, when salmon production peaked. While some of these canneries no longer exist, the landscapes continue to tell of the history and importance of that period in the commercial fishing industry.
Warehouse-type buildings cluster on wooden piers along a shoreline, as seen from the water.
Series: Alaska Park Science - Volume 14 Issue 2: Birds of Alaska's National Parks
This issue includes articles exploring birds throughout national parks in Alaska. Particular emphasis is on the changing ways to study birds, and the increasing importance not just on the summer homes of birds in Alaska, but the routes between their wintering and summer breeding grounds.
a great horned own and two large owlets in a nest
Series: Alaska Park Science - Volume 11 Issue 1: Volcanoes of Katmai and the Alaska Peninsula
This issue is all about volcanoes! Learn more about the landscape of Katmai and the Alaska Peninsula and its remarkable history.
cover of the issue featuring a river that has cut through rock with mountains behind
Series: Alaska Park Science - Volume 11 Issue 2: Science in Southwest Alaska
In this issue: * Invasive Species Management * Salmon in a Volcanic Landscape * Archiving Bird Data * and more!
cover of Alaska Park Science volume featuring a close-up image of an orange flower
Cretaceous Period—145.0 to 66.0 MYA
Many now-arid western parks, including Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Mesa Verde National Park, were inundated by the Cretaceous Interior Seaway that bisected North America. Massive dinosaur and other reptile fossils are found in Cretaceous rocks of Big Bend National Park.
dinosaur footprint in stone
Jurassic Period—201.3 to 145.0 MYA
Dinosaur National Monument is home to thousands of dinosaur fossils making it a true “Jurassic Park.” A vast desert covered Southwest North America in the Jurassic, and ancient sand dunes now form tall cliffs in many parks including Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
dinosaur skull in rock face
Quaternary Period—2.58 MYA to Today
Massive ice sheets advanced and retreated across North America during much of the Quaternary, carving landscapes in many parks. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve contains geologic evidence of lower sea level during glacial periods, facilitating the prehistoric peopling of the Americas. The youngest rocks in the NPS include the lava of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the travertine at Yellowstone National Park, which can be just a few hours old.
fossil bone bed and murals of mammoths
Mesozoic Era
The Mesozoic Era (251.9 to 66 million years ago) was the "Age of Reptiles." During the Mesozoic, Pangaea began separating into the modern continents, and the modern Rocky Mountains rose. Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs ruled the land and air. As climate changed and rapid plate tectonics resulted in shallow ocean basins, sea levels rose world-wide and seas expanded across the center of North America.
fossil dinosaur skull in rock face
Cenozoic Era
The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths.
fossils on display in a visitor center
Uncrewed Aerial Systems as a Tool for Natural Resource Applications
The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) is rapidly expanding as a tool for resource management. Employing UAS to collect data can result in more accurate mapping, decreased cost, and increased personnel safety. Applications of UAS in Alaska parks are demonstrating the benefits and defining best practices for its continued and enhanced use. Alaska Park Science 20(1), 2021
A man in orange waders operates a UAS on a rocky coast.
Making Sound Decisions Using Bioacoustics in Alaska’s National Parks
Animals are continuously immersed in acoustic signals. Acoustic recording devices allow us to extend our sense of hearing to remote places, times, and even frequencies we normally cannot access. By studying the sounds animals make, and the sounds in their environment, we can better understand their conservation needs. Presented here are examples from bats, birds, frogs, and whales. Alaska Park Science 20(1), 2021
A man sets up acoustic recording equipment in the backcountry.
Series: Alaska Park Science Volume 20 Issue 1 - Parks as Proving Grounds
Parks in Alaska pose special challenges to researchers: they are large, remote, and less is known about them. This makes it all the more important that tools and techniques we use here are practical, effective, and impactful. While researchers often focus on sharing the findings from their work, here we shine a light on the devices and approaches used by researchers with attention to the innovation needed to work in Alaska. Alaska Park Science 20 (1), 2021
A scientist uses a probe on the top of a mountain.
Plan Like a Park Ranger: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Katmai
Planning a visit to Katmai National Park? Check out our top 10 tips and plan like a park ranger.
A sow and cubs resting on a trail
Bumble Bees of Alaska: A Field Guide
This field guide to bumble bees will help you identify these abundant and conspicuous pollinators, which are found across most of Alaska. They are well-adapted to cold, harsh climates and live in every habitat where there are flowers offering up pollen and nectar, including forests, shrublands, tundra, wetlands, riparian areas, beaches, and gardens.
a bumble bee perched on tiny pink flowers
Series: Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) Newsletters
From 2009 to 2015, the Pacific Ocean Education Team published a series of short newsletters about the health of the ocean at various National Park Service sites in and around the Pacific Ocean. Topics covered included the 2010 tsunami, marine debris, sea star wasting disease, ocean acidification, and more.
Ocean waves wash in from the right onto a forested and rocky shoreline.
POET Newsletter Summer 2010
Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from Winter 2009. Articles include: Stewardship Without Boundaries: Conserving Our Ocean Ecosystem from Baja to the Bering Sea; A Seamless Network of Parks, Sanctuaries, Refuges & Reserves; Life Entwined with the Sea: The Non-Coastal Park Connection; Take the Plunge into Ocean Stewardship; Nearshore Vertebrates in Four Hawaii Parks; and Ocean Stewardship: A Commitment to Collaboration.
Sea stacks rise above ocean waves washing ashore. A wooded ridge rises in the distance.
Volcanic Processes—Lahars
Lahars are volcanic mudflows and are among the most destructive of volcanic phenomena. Lahars present significant geohazards since they can travel great distances down river valleys and impact population centers away from the immediate area of a volcano.
wide river valley filled with sediment and snowy peaks in the distance
Magmatic Eruptions
Magmatic eruptions include fresh lava or tephra from a magma source. Magmatic eruptions range from quiet effusions of lava to extremely explosive eruptions that can blow apart mountains and send ash clouds around the globe.
volcanic eruption with glowing lava seen at night
Phreatic Eruptions
Phreatic eruptions are steam explosions and do not include any fresh lava. Any ash erupted is made up of shattered rock.
volcanic eruption seen from a distance
Series: Volcanic Eruption Types
The most fundamental way to characterize a volcanic eruption is whether it is magmatic, phreatic, or phreatomagmatic.
volcanic eruption seen at a distance
Plinian Eruptions
Plinian eruptions are more intense than Sub-Plinean eruptions. Eruption columns may extend into the stratosphere and spread out in an umbrella shape and produce widespread ash deposits. Pyroclastic flows and lahars also occur during these eruptions.
black and white photo May 18, 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption
Vulcanian Eruptions
Vulcanian eruptions are intermittent and characterized by explosive bursts that create dark eruption columns that rise to moderate heights.
volcanic ash eruption
Volcanic Vents
A volcanic vent is the opening where eruptions occur. Lava, tephra (volcanic ash, lapilli, or bombs), fragmented rock, and/or volcanic gases may be emitted. Vents may be located at the summit or flanks of a volcano and may exist as elongated fissures.
erupting lava
Crater Lakes
Water lakes may exist in craters and calderas (large collapse features) as these depressions can become filled by rainwater or melting snow or ice, or be places where groundwater can accumulate at the surface. Crater lakes can be long-lived or ephemeral, and may contain fresh or acidic waters.
crater lake and snowy rim
Katmai National Park and Preserve Wilderness Character Narrative
A land of unpredictable contrasts, Katmai is known for its plentiful wildlife, harsh weather, dramatic geologic processes, and remoteness. The Katmai Wilderness is a dynamic, remote, and challenging land of spectacular scenic beauty. The Katmai Wilderness contains fascinating scientific, geologic, cultural, and biological features and preserves a 9,000-year-old record of human adaptation to this changing environment and ecology that continues today.
Valley of 10,000 smokes in Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Fumaroles
Fumaroles are places where steam and volcanic gases are emitted. They are present on most active volcanoes. The occurrence of fumaroles and other geothermal features such as hot springs, geysers, and mud pots are important signs that a volcano is active.
steam vents on the crater rim
Composite Volcanoes (Stratovolcanoes)
Composite volcanoes are made up of both lava flows and pyroclastic deposits and usually experience multiple eruptions over long periods of time. Mount Rainier is a composite volcano.
photo of a snow covered volcanic peak
Volcanic Domes
Lava domes are steep-sided rounded accumulations of highly viscous silicic lava over a vent. Some domes are part of composite volcanoes, but large ones can make up their own volcanoes. Lassen Peak is a dome.
photo of a rounded hill of blocky rock
Cinder Cones
Cinder cones are typically simple volcanoes that consist of accumulations of ash and cinders around a vent. Sunset Crater Volcano and Capulin Volcano are cinder cones.
photo of a dry grassy field with a cinder cone in the distance
Series: Volcanic Features
Volcanoes vary greatly in size and shape. Volcanoes also may have a variety of other features, which in turn, have a great range in diversity of form, size, shape, and permanence. Many volcanoes have craters at their summits and/or at the location of other vents. Some craters contain water lakes. Lakes of molten or solidified lava may exist on some volcanoes. Fumaroles and other geothermal features are a product of heat from magma reservoirs and volcanic gases.
photo of a lava lake in a summit crater
How does mercury reach pristine lakes?
Read a summary and the abstract of a peer-reviewed paper on monitoring lake trout in Alaska lakes to understand mercury inputs: Lepak, R. F., J. M. Ogorek, K. K. Bartz, S. E. Janssen, M. T. Tate, Y. Runsheng, J. P. Hurley, D. B. Young, C. A. Eagles-Smith, and D. P. Krabbenhoft. 2022. Using carbon, nitrogen, and mercury isotope values to distinguish mercury sources to Alaskan lake trout. Environmental Science and Technology Letters.
Lake trout in spawning colors.
What we can learn from a bear's stomach
Read the abstract and get the link to an article that looks at the diversity of bear gut microbiomes and how they differ across Alaska. Trujillo, S. M., E. A. McKenney, G. V. Hilderbrand, L. S. Mangipane, M. C. Rogers, K. Joly, D. D. Gustine, J. A. Erlenbach, B. A. Mangipane, and D. J. R. Lafferty. 2022. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence on an omnivore's gut microbiome. PLOS ONE 17(4): e0266698.
A bear eating sedges.
Plan Like a Park Ranger - 10 Tips for Visiting Alaska's National Parks
Planning a visit to the National Parks of Alaska? Check out our top 10 tips and plan like a park ranger.
two people camp next to a glacier
Summit Calderas
Summit calderas form on preexisting composite volcanoes that experience VEI 6-7 eruptions that cause their summits to collapse. Summit calderas may become filled with precipitation to form steady-stake lakes, although these lakes may also be drained if the caldera rim becomes breached.
photo of a snow covered volcanic summit caldera
Calderas
Calderas are large collapse features that can be many miles in diameter. They form during especially large eruptions when the magma chamber is partially emptied, and the ground above it collapses into the momentary void. Crater Lake and Aniakchak Crater are calderas.
photo of oblique aerial view of a volcanic caldera with snow and ice
Series: Volcano Types
Volcanoes vary in size from small cinder cones that stand only a few hundred feet tall to the most massive mountains on earth.
photo of a volcanic mountain with snow and ice
Explosive Calderas
Explosive calderas result from violent eruptions of great quantities of silicic magmas. These eruptions produce massive eruption columns that extend into the stratosphere, and voluminous pyroclastic flows. Eruptions that produce explosive calderas generally range from 6 (Colossal) on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) to 8 super eruptions (Apocalyptic).
digital oblique aerial image of a volcanic caldera
Series: Volcanic Eruption Styles
Categories in this traditional classification are based on the eruption styles of particular volcanoes. These magmatic eruption styles are listed in the order of increasing explosivity.
volcanic eruption with glowing lava
Volcanic Necks and Plugs
Volcanic necks are the remnants of a volcano’s conduit and plumbing system that remain after most of the rest of the volcano has been eroded away.
photo of a riverside rocky spire with mountains in the distance
Block Flows
Block lava flows have surfaces that consist of large angular blocks of lava.
photo of blocky lava flows in a mountain valley.
The Prescience of Desired Future Conditions
Landscape restoration goals must intersect with deeply imagined park planning to realize the future we want.
Imaginary landscape of blue circle with white, puffy clouds, surrounded by white wispy clouds.
Mussel Abundance Increased After Sea Star Disease
Read a summary and link to the article published about mussel response to the marine heatwave and sea star wasting disease: Traiger, S. B., J. L. Bodkin, H. A. Coletti, B. Ballachey, T. Dean, D. Esler, K. Iken, B. Konar, M. R. Lindberg, D. Monson, B. Robinson, R. M. Suryan, and B. P. Weitzman. 2022. Evidence of increased mussel abundance related to the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting. Marine Ecology : e12715.
Close up of blue mussels
Pyroclastic Flows and Ignimbrites, and Pyroclastic Surges
Pyroclastic flows and surges are among the most awesome and most destructive of all volcanic phenomena. Pyroclastic flow deposits are found in at least 21 units of the National Park System.
photo of a cloud of ash and dust moving down a mountain side.
How sea otters may be impacted by harmful algal blooms
Read the abstract and get the link to an article about how to potentially detect impacts of harmful algal blooms in higher-trophic levels of the ecosystems: Bowen, L., S. Knowles, K. Lefebvre, M. St. Martin, M. Murray, K. Kloecker, D. Monson, B. Weitzman, B. Ballachey, H. Coletti, S. Waters, and C. Cummings. 2022. Divergent gene expression profiles in Alaskan sea otters: An indicator of chronic domoic acid exposure? Oceans 3(3): 401-418.
A sea otter gets his mouth swabbed for DNA collection.
Taking the Pulse of U.S. National Parks
How do we know if parks are healthy? We measure their vital signs, of course! Across the country, there are 32 inventory and monitoring networks that measure the status and trends of all kinds of park resources. We're learning a lot after years of collecting data. Check out these articles written for kids and reviewed by kids in partnership with the international online journal Frontiers for Young Minds.
A cartoon of a ranger taking the pulse of the Earth.
Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils
The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian.
photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface
Reducing fire risk in Brooks Camp - Katmai National Park and Preserve
In 2021, staff with Katmai and the Alaska regional office developed a mechanical fuels treatment plan around the infrastructure and trails in Brooks Camp. The plan called for thinning and limbing trees and removing downed trees within a 50-foot buffer of the structures and trails/roads. Approximately 65 acres will be treated over five years. This project will help to reduce the fire potential in Brooks Camp.
Two people stand near a pile of woody debris while bears walk along a beach in the background.
22 in 2022: An Explore Nature Year in Review
As we reflect on 2022, we offer you 22 interesting and exciting science and nature events from parks of the national park system. From a brief, yet dramatic eruption of the world's largest active volcano to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the National Natural Landmarks program, 2022 was filled with amazing moments.
the glow of two volcanoes erupting in hawaii volcanoes national park
How Alaskan Marine Ecosystems Responded to a Massive Heatwave
A marine heatwave in the North Pacific had widespread, detrimental impacts on ecosystems and species. Why were some more resilient than others?
Sea otter floats on its back in blue ocean water
Brown bear-sea otter interactions
Read the abstract and link to an article about coastal brown bears and sea otters in Katmai Naitonal Park and Preserve: Monson, D. H., R. L. Taylor, G. V. Hilderbrand, J. A. Erlenbach, H. A. Coletti, K. A. Kloecker, G. G. Esslinger, and J. L. Bodkin. 2022. Brown bear-sea otter interactions along the Katmai coast: Terrestrial and nearshore communities linked by predation. Journal of Mammalogy pp. 1-13.
A brown bear on the coast with a sea otter carcass.
Parasites in Alaska Brown Bears
Read a summary and link to a journal article on the parasites found in Alaska brown bears: Haynes, E., S. Coker, M. J. Yabsley, K. D. Niedrighaus, A. M. Ramey, G. G. Verocai, G. V. Hilderbrand, K. Joly, D. D. Gustine, B. Mangipane, W. B. Leacock, A. P. Crupi, and C. A. Cleveland. 2023. Survey for selected parasites in Alaska brown bears (Ursus arctos). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 59 (1): 186-191. DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-22-00070.
An Alaskan brown bear.
Arctic and Subarctic Bears' Exposure to Toxins
Read a summary of findings and get the link to an article looking at contaminants in brown bears: Fuchs, B., K. Joly, G. V. Hilderbrand, A. L. Evans, I. Rodushkin, L. S. Mangipane, B. A. Mangipane, D. D. Gustine, A. Zedrosser, L. Brown, and J. M. Arnemo. 2023.Toxic elements in arctic and sub-arctic brown bears: Blood concentrations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in relation to diet, age, and human footprint. Environmental Research 229: 115952.
A bear eating salmon in the river
Determining the diets of black oystercatchers using stable isotope analysis
Read a summary and link to the full paper on black oystercatcher foraging, in: Carney, B., D. Tessler, H. Coletti, J. M. Welker, and D. Causey. 2023. Stable isotope-determined diets of Black Oystercatchers Haematopus bachmani in the Northern Gulf of Alaska. Marine Ornithology 51: 123-135.
A black oystercatcher forages on an outcrop island.
2022 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients
View recipients of the National Park Service Freeman Tilden Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to the practice of interpretation and education by NPS employees.
Two women work with a tree while a young man records audio.
2013 Freeman Tilden Award Recipients
Congratulations to the national and regional recipients of the 2013 Freeman Tilden Award for Excellence in Interpretation and Education.
A photo of five award recipients and the Director of the National Park Service.
Factors that influence mercury concentrations in lake trout
Read the abstract and link to a paper that identifies drivers of mercury in lake trout in Alaska: Bartz, K. K., M. P. Hannam, T. L. Wilson, R. F. Lepak, J. M. Ogorek, D. B. Young, C. A. Eagles-Smith, and D. P. Krabbenhoft. 2023. Understanding drivers of mercury inlake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), a top-predator fish in southwest Alaska's parklands. Environmental Pollution 330: 121678.
A researcher takes water samples from a airplane float.
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 15, No. 2, Fall 2023
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
Photo of a boulder with a dinosaur track on one side.
Tertiary Fossil Floras of Alaskan National Parks
The National Park Service units of Alaska have an outstanding fossil record, including fossil plants. Six Alaskan NPS units preserve notable plant fossils of Tertiary age (Paleocene through Pliocene Epochs, 66 to 2.58 million years ago). These fossils were first documented in 1869 and show a major change going from the Eocene to the Oligocene about 34 million years ago.
Photo with to fossil leaves.
Alaska's Shrinking Glaciers
Alaska is one of the most heavily glaciated areas in the world outside of the polar regions. Approximately 23,000 square miles of the state are covered in glaciers—an area nearly the size of West Virginia. Glaciers have shaped much of Alaska’s landscape and continue to influence its lands, waters, and ecosystems. Because of their importance, National Park Service scientists measure glacier change. They found that glaciers are shrinking in area and volume across the state.
A close up of the surface of a glacier with ice and rocky morraine.
Wolves on the Katmai coast hunt sea otters and harbor seals
Read a summary and link to a paper documenting wolves and bears hunting marine mammals: Griffin, K. R., G. H. Roffler, and E. M. Dymit. 2023. Wolves on the Katmai coast hunt sea otters and harbor seals. Ecology e4185.
A wolf with a sea otter in its mouth.
Series: Cultural Landscapes of Katmai National Park and Preserve
An overview of the history, significance, and features of cultural landscapes in the Brooks River area of Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Aerial view of Brooks Camp landscape, with river winding and expanding through trees into a lake
Cultural Landscapes of Katmai National Park and Preserve
An overview of cultural landscapes in the Brooks River area of Katmai National Park and Preserve.
Four areas are identified on a map, in an area where a river connects two lakes.
Lake Brooks Fisheries Research District Cultural Landscape
Overview of the history and features of the Lake Brooks Fisheries Research District cultural landscape.
1940s photo of a wooden weir across the water. A group of tents stands on the opposite shore.
Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road Cultural Landscape
Overview of the cultural landscape of Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Road Historic District.
An unpaved single lane road cuts straight through a landscape of mid-sized, leafy trees.
Brooks Camp Cultural Landscape
Explore the cultural landscape of Brooks Camp.
A row of symmetrical, one-story wooden cabins with porches at a slight angle to a foot path.
Brooks River Archeological District NHL Landscape
Introduction to the cultural landscape Brooks River Archeological District National Historic Landmark.
A person kneels by a hole behind a pile of dirt during an excavation behind a log structure.
I Didn't Know That!: Biological Soil Crusts
You’ve heard people say to stay on the trail, but what does it matter in the desert? It’s just dirt... right? Wrong—it's alive! Discover what biological soil crusts are and why they're so important in dry environments.
biological soil crust
Shrinking Glaciers in Katmai National Park and Preserve
Katmai National Park and Preserve is one of nine national parks in Alaska with glaciers. Glaciers covered 320 square miles of Katmai in 2020. This number is 16.5% less than in 1985, meaning that Katmai lost about 63 square miles of glacier-covered area over the 35- year period. Glacier cover in Katmai decreased by 14% from the 1950s to the early 2000s.
An ash-covered glacier on the slope of a volcano.
23 in 2023: An Explore Nature Year in Review
As we reflect on 2023, we offer you a list of 23 interesting and exciting science and nature events from parks of the national park system. From a dazzling “ring of fire” annular eclipse to celebrating conservation wins with the help of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, 2023 was filled with amazing moments.
the ring of fire as seen during an annular eclipse
Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.
Lava Flow Forms
Young lava flows also have structures and textures that reveal information about their eruptions. Basaltic lava flows come in two major forms: Pāhoehoe and ‘A‘ā.
photo of ropey and blocky lava
Preventing Elodea Colonization of Salmon Habitat
Alaska has one of the most productive salmon fisheries in the world but an invasive plant threatens the quality of lakes for salmon spawning. Funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) have energized early detection efforts to find and prevent the spread of non-native Elodea to freshwater salmon habitat.
A thick mat of elodea.
Dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways
Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on how dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways: Janssen, S.E., C.J. Kotalik, J.J. Willacker, M.T. Tate, C. Flanagan Pritz, S.J. Nelson, D.P. Krabbenhoft, D. Walters, and C. Eagles-Smith. 2024. Geographic Drivers of Mercury Entry into Aquatic Foods Webs Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotopes in Dragonfly Larvae. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02436
close up of dragonfly larvae on white spoon
The important role of seaweed in nearshore food webs
Read the abstract and get the link to a published science article on the important role of seaweed in the North Pacific nearshore ecosystem: Corliss, K., V. von Biela, H. Coletti, J. Bodkin, D. Esler, and K. Iken. 2024. Relative importance of macroalgae and phytoplankton to nearshore consumers and growth across climatic conditions in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Estuaries and Coasts doi: 10.1007/s12237-024-01371-6
Yellowish-green seaweed from the North Pacific.
Project Profile: Restore and Assess Aquatic Ecosystems to Improve Resilience and Understand Vulnerability
The National Park Service will assess watersheds and restore critical habitats in Alaska national parks. The project focuses on Coal Creek in Yukon-Charley National Preserve and Friday and Eureka Creeks in Denali National Park - areas adversely affected by past mining activity, off-road vehicles use, park infrastructure, and water diversions.
Black-and-white photo of the Coal Creek Dredge
Alaska’s Endangered Heritage: Climate Change and Cultural Preservation
The rugged beauty of Alaska has been the homelands of Alaska Native people for thousands of generations. Today the relentless march of climate change threatens a range of cultural resources from archeological sites to historic cemeteries. Now the National Park Service is in a race to document heritage across the parklands in Alaska.
View of a snow-covered mountain from across a lake.
Project Profile: Mitigate Climate Change Impacts & Improve Subsistence Food Security Via Co-Stewardship Arrangements
The National Park Service will enhance climate change resilience and food security in rural Alaskan communities. The project prioritizes goals of building Tribal-NPS co-stewardship relationships that support Tribes’ ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions and associated food security challenges. Activities include improving harvest reporting strategies and conducting community harvest assessments. This project has additional goals to develop adaptive approaches.
Dried fish hanging overlooking a campsite in a forest clearing near a lake.
Dinosaurs of the National Park Service
Dinosaur fossils have been discovered at or are associated with at least 27 NPS units. Geographically, their finds are concentrated in the parks of the Colorado Plateau, but they have been found from central Alaska to Big Bend National Park in Texas to Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Massachusetts. The most famous site is the Dinosaur Quarry of Dinosaur National Monument, but a rush of new finds since the 1970s has greatly expanded our knowledge.
allosaurus fossil
Powerful Humanities Research Methods Can Help Us Avoid Overburdening Tribes
Transcending disciplinary boundaries to include humanities-based research may alleviate research fatigue and make space for more meaningful conversations.
Two people pose for a photo in front of a diorama featuring a wolf carrying a bloodied bone.
Lake Ice Phenology: A New Analysis Approach Yields New Insights
Read the summary and get the link to an article that describes a new approach to model lake ice phenology: Kirchner, P. B. and M. P. Hannam. 2024. Volume-mediated lake-ice phenology in Southwest Alaska revealed through remote sensing and survival analysis. Water 16(16): 2309.
A large lake with ice along the lakeshore.
Racing the elements to find artifacts in melting ice patches
In the mountains of Alaska’s national parks, melting ice and snow patches are revealing artifacts that contain valuable cultural and historical information. With funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, archeologists are performing high-elevation surveys to find and inventory the artifacts before they degrade from exposure to the elements.
Aerial view of a long snow patch on a rocky hillside.
Project Profile: Invasive Species Prevention at Critical Control Points in National Parks
The National Park Service will coordinate with and distribute funding to other Department of the Interior bureaus and Alaska Native Tribal partners for installation of boot cleaning stations at select locations.
A plastic panel with information on it sits in between metal legs
Weather and prey availability drive eagle success
Read a summary and link to an article that analyzes decades of data on bald eagle nest occupancy and success and correlations with weather and other environmental factors: Schmidt, J. H., H. A. Coletti, K. A. Cutting, T. L. Wilson, B. A. Mangipane, C. N. Schultz, and D. T. Schertz. 2024. The effects of spatiotemporal variation in marine resources on the occupancy dynamics of a terrestrial avian predator. Ecosphere 15(11): e70078.
Two bald eagle chicks on a nest.
24 in 2024: An Explore Nature Year in Review
As we reflect on 2024, we offer you a list of 24 interesting and exciting science and nature events from parks of the national park system. From awe-inspiring celestial events to celebrating anniversaries and conservation wins, 2024 was filled with amazing moments.
purples and greens of the northern lights light up the sky over hot springs at night
“Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation
Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280
A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens.
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 10, No. 2, Fall 2018
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
NPS staff work to document a recently discovered slab of Navajo Sandstone
Park Info
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Te Novarupta
A trip planning and information guide to
Alagnak Wild River
Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
Katmai National Park and Preserve
PHOTO COURTESY S. GAGE
Issue Number 2022
What’s Inside:
PHOTO COURTESY L. LAW
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
NPS PHOTO
Brooks Camp ..............6 Katmai Origins...........14 Backcountry Travel ...20
Three National Parks, Many Amazing Experiences
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Alagnak Wild River
Aniakchak National Monument and
Preserve
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Katmai was declared a National Monument
in 1918; Aniakchak in 1978. The Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act of
1980 established Alagnak Wild River, while
Katmai and Aniakchak were expanded to
include national preserve areas. Katmai was
also redesignated a national park. Together,
these lands encompass nearly fve million
acres of unique landscapes managed by the
National Park Service.
Mailing Address
PO Box 7
King Salmon, AK 99613
Park Headquarters
Phone: 907-246-3305
Websites
Alagnak: www.nps.gov/alag
Aniakchak: www.nps.gov/ania
Katmai: www.nps.gov/katm
NPS Mobile App
Download the app and content from entire
parks for offine use prior to visiting as there
is limited to no service.
Welcome to Katmai Country
Welcome to Katmai!
Katmai National Park and Preserve
(Katmai) lies within the ancestral
homelands of the Alutiit-Sugpiat (Aleut)
people. Human habitation of this region
goes back many thousands of years and
speaks of thriving communities and
perseverance in the face of challenging
environments. Today, the Alutiit-Sugpiat
people strive to maintain their traditional
lifeways even in light of pressure
brought on by an ever-changing world.
Their connections to these lands are
enduring and worthy of our respect.
Accordingly, I would like to take a moment
to acknowledge our Alaska Native
communities—be they Alutiit-Sugpiat,
Dena’ina, or Yup’ik—for their enduring
legacy as the caretakers of this wonderous
land we are fortunate to experience, and
today call Katmai.
Geographically, Katmai is found on the
Alaska Peninsula which encompasses a vast
and beautiful landscape where the National
Park Service also has the privilege of
managing Aniakchak National Monument
and Preserve, and the Alagnak Wild River.
Regardless of your interests, collectively
these diferent park areas ofer a diversity of
outstanding Alaskan experiences.
The geology of Katmai is both ancient
and new. The park’s diverse landscapes
comprise expansive mountains, active
volcanoes, fowing glaciers and a wild and
beautiful seacoast that is frequently fed by
sparkling rivers and lakes. The cataclysmic
eruption of Novarupta in 1912 took place
long ago when compared to a human
lifespan but is geologically recent. The
resulting ash covered everything for miles
and even today life is still recovering from
the efects of the eruption.
Many dedicated individuals from diverse
walks of life have worked tirelessly over
the years to ensure that wildlife remains
abundant and diverse throughout this
region. It is in large part because of
these eforts that Katmai today supports
world-class fsheries and outstanding
wildlife viewing opportunities. To observe
an Alaskan brown bear in its natural
environment is a testament to the priorities
of our nation.
We hope that you have the opportunity to
experience these special places for yourself.
Those that journey here are sure to take
back memories that will last a lifetime.
Mark Sturm, Superintendent
NPS/L. LAW
Social Media
Contents:
Southwest Alaska’s Parklands.................................................2-3
Essential Information..................................................................4
Getting Here, Getting Around ...................................................5
Welcome to Brooks Camp .......................................................6-7
Camping at Brooks Camp ...........................................................8
Brooks Camp Map .......................................................................9
Bear Viewing ........................................................................10-11
Safe Travels in Bear Country ....................................................12
Live Bearcams............................................................................13
2 The Novarupta
Katmai and the National Park Idea.....................................14-15
Exploring the Human History of Katmai .................................16
Cycle of the Salmon ..................................................................17
Fishing Information ..................................................................18
Photographing a Wild Heritage & Katmai’s Wildlife ..............19
Backcountry Travel...............................................................20-21
Aniakchak National Monument..........................................22-23
Alagnak Wild River ..........................
National Parks in Alaska
Alaska National Parks
Alaska
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Upper Noatak Valley, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
C
U
H
K
S
I
CH
BEAUFORT
Noatak
Noata
k
Cape Krusenstern
2
r
ve
River
7
er
A
IT
Kobuk
Valley
Riv
S
TR
10
ko
Yu
uk
uk
n
upi
ne
Fort Yukon
iv
e
Circle
BE
RI
Koy
Bering Land Bridge
P o rc
Bettles/Evansville
C AN AD A
AT ES
U N IT ED ST
NG
12
Kobuk
r
R i v er
4
Yukon-Charley
Rivers
Fairbanks
Alaska Public Lands
Information Center
on
Tana
n
iv
ver
i t na
Sus
1
Eagle River
Anchorage
1
T
LE
OK
CO
Nus
ha
Dillingham
1
Homer
ST
O
L
Yakutat
Kenai Fjords
Glacier Bay
GULF OF ALASKA
Juneau
Gustavus
Katmai
Y
Sitka
Petersburg
Hoonah
Kodiak
Sitka
Stra
it
Port Heiden
Skagway
Haines
DA ES
NA TAT
CA D S
E
IT
I
BR
A
Klondike
Gold Rush
Seward
King Salmon
B
Mt. St. Elias
18008ft
5489m
Cordova
UN
SEA
K
WrangellSaint Elias
C ha
BERING
KO
9
4
tham
S
KU
W
Soldotna
1
Valdez
McCarthy
IN
Rive
r
Y
B
A
Iliamna
k
ga
Chitina
er
Prince
William
Sound
Kenai
Lake
Clark
Nabesna
Gulkana
Palmer
Bethel
IM
River
Ku sko
kw
im
Glennallen
5
2
1
Slana
3
13
Alaska Public Lands
Information Center
Tok
8
River
8
5
Ri
4
Mt. McKinley
20320ft
6194m
Alaska Public Lands
Information Center
a
2
McKinley Park
Denali
R
Eagle
2
3
er
Yu
k
NORTON SOUND
Alaska’s immense size can make travel to and through the
state challenging. Some planning is necessary. Just getting to
Alaska can be an adventure involving travel by air, highway, and
sea. Commercial airlines serve Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau,
and other towns, while cruise ships ply Alaska’s southeastern
waters through the Inside Passage. The Alaska Marine Highway
transports people and vehicles on ferries from the Lower 48 to
towns in Southeast Alaska and between points in Southcentral
Alaska. The Alaska Highway, paved in Alaska and most of Canada,
is open and maintained year-round. It extends 1500 miles from
Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Fairbanks, Alaska, and
provides a land link with roads to the south.
Subsistence hunting, fshing and gathering by rural
Alaskans continues on many park lands here. These
customary and traditional uses of wild renewable
resources are for direct personal or family
consumption. Local residency and customary reliance
on these uses determines eligibility for continued
subsistence uses on national park lands.
6
2
Nome
Copp
S
IA
S S TAT E
U
R
S
ED
IT
UN
Uses of Park Lands: Many national park lands in
Alaska are designated as national preserves.This
designation allows for uses not typical in national
parks or national monuments in the continental
United States. Within these preserves, sport hunting
and trapping are permitted subject to state fsh and
game laws, seasons, and bag limits; and to federal
laws and regulations.
Gates of the Arctic
11
Kotzebue
Private Lands: Privately owned lands are located
within and next to park boundaries throughout Alaska.
These private lands are not open to public use or travel
without permission from the owners. Check with park
staff to determine the location of private lands and
public easements. Unauthorized use or travel across
private lands could be deemed criminal trespass.
6
9
KOTZEBUE
SOUND
SEA
Anaktuvuk
Pass
Rive
r
Travel Tips
Once in Alaska, you may have several options for travel to the
park lands. Unlike most National Park Service areas in the Lower
48, most in Alaska are not accessible by road. Scheduled air service
to towns and villages will put you within air-taxi distance of most
of these hard-to-reach parks. Experiencing Alaska’s more remote
treasures can require signifcant time, effort, and money and may
involve air or boat charters, rafts, kayaks, and hiking. See the back
of this brochure for access information for individual parks.
Inupiat Heritage Center
EA
R
For information about individual parks, contact them directly
(see back of this brochure) or visit the National Park Service
website at www.nps.gov/akso/index.cfm. For information
about national parks or other public lands in Alaska, visit or
contact the Alaska Public Lands Information Centers in
Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, and Tok, or visit their
homepage at www.AlaskaCenters.gov.
• Anchorage: 605 West Fourth Avenue, Anchorage, AK 995012248, 907-644-3661 or 866-869-6887
• Fairbanks: Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center,
101 Dunkel Street, Suite 110, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4848,
907-459-3730 or 866-869-6887
• Ketchikan: Southeast Alaska Discovery Center,
50 Main Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6659, 907-228-6220
• Tok: P.O. Box 359, Tok, AK 99780-0359, 907-883-5667
or 888-256-6784.
Tourist information is available from the Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development,
P.O. Box 110804, Juneau, AK 99811-0804,
www.travelalaska.com. For information about ferry or railroad
travel in Alaska, contact:
• Alaska Marine Highw
National Parks in Alaska Map
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior