Brown Bears of Katmai in the Fall
Embark on the journey of a lifetime to the remote wilderness of Katmai National Park, Alaska to photograph Grizzly Bears up close and personal! Katmai is one of the largest National Parks in the United States at over 4 million acres and is arguably the single best place on Earth to photograph Grizzlies in their natural environment. Situated on the Alaskan Peninsula, Katmai is some 300 air miles to the Southwest of Anchorage and 170 miles from Homer. There are no roads into Katmai and so the only access is by float plane!
On this 5 day Tour / Workshop we will be immersed in Grizzly Bear Photography from the beginning until the end. The bears are extremely active in September as they begin to fatten up for winter. Bears during the Fall Months have a healthier, shiny coat as they have been gorging on Coho & Sockeye Salmon all summer long. Brooks Falls is the highlight of this trip where one can spot over a dozen bears at a time fishing for salmon. If you’ve ever seen a photograph of a bear catching a salmon from a waterfall it was most likely captured at Brooks Falls.
We’ll spend three nights base camping right at Brooks Falls to maximize our photography during peak lighting conditions. Being right there gives us excellent access to the action going on at Brooks Falls and you will be able to capture thousands of excellent Grizzly Bear Photographs in just a few short days. Fantastic, full-frame images are possible with lenses ranging from 300mm to 400mm. Aside from Grizzly Bears we may also have the opportunity to photograph other species such as Moose, Fox, Wolf and Bald Eagles.
Ready for Katmai? Join us this fall for the most spectacular Grizzly Bear Photography Experience in Katmai National Park, Alaska.
Highlights
- Small groups
- World Famous Katmai Brown Bears
- Deluxe Base-Camping Trip with Electric Bear Fence
- Photograph Grizzlies in the Fall
- Visit Katmai after the tourists & mosquitoes are gone
- All Inclusive Trip with our own Gourmet Camp Chef
Brown Bears of Katmai in the Fall
5 Days
Trip Price: from $2795 double occupancy (for hotel accommodations only – all guests get their own tent while at camp if they wish!)
+$200 single supplement
Deposit: $1000
Fitness Level: Moderate – “Daily hikes on dirt trails with your camera gear to view & photograph bears. Wading in the river for eye-level bear photography.”
Meals: Most meals included (see itinerary)
Lodging: 1 nights lodging, 3 nights Base-camping
Fly In/Out: King Salmon, Alaska
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 4pm Mountain Time
Brown Bears of Katmai in Summer
Brown Bears of Katmai: Brooks Lodge
Trip Extensions
Dates & Pricing
The earlier you book, the more choices you’ll have on dates and you’ll lock-in our lowest prices! Plus you can always change your mind – you won’t be charged to switch to a different trip before your final payment is due!
| September 8th to 12th, 2020 | Hiker Photo Trip | with Ben Blankenship | 5 Days from $2795 per person, double occupancy | 1 Spot Left | Book These Dates |
| September 11th to 15th, 2020 | Hiker Photo Trip | with Ben Blankenship | 5 Days from $2795 per person, double occupancy | Sold Out | Book These Dates |
| September 16th to 20th, 2020 | Hiker Photo Trip | with Ben Blankenship | 5 Days from $2795 per person, double occupancy | 1 Spot Left | Book These Dates |
| September 10th to 14th, 2021 | Hiker Photo Trip | Trip Leader(s) TBA - Meet our team! | 5 Days from $2895 per person, double occupancy | Available | Book These Dates |
| September 13th to 17th, 2021 | Hiker Photo Trip | Trip Leader(s) TBA - Meet our team! | 5 Days from $2895 per person, double occupancy | Available | Book These Dates |
*Single Supplement +$200
Trip Extensions
We offer an optional Northern Lights Extension immediately after our Brown Bears of Katmai in the Fall trip (please note that this is not available during our summer sessions as it doesn’t get dark enough to view the Northern Lights). The extension can be reserved with the main trip while making your online reservation or it can be booked as a standalone trip.
Trip Extension #1: Northern Lights Extension
A post-trip excursion to Fairbanks, Alaska to photograph the Aurora Borealis
Trip Details
Physical Requirements
All participants must be in good physical condition and have the ability to hike with a daypack. Typically backpacks weigh between 15 and 20 lbs. Participants must also be able to hike several miles each day between three and six miles per day for several days in a row. These hikes will be on a flat dirt road and a dirt trail.
Group Size
This trip is limited to ten participants
Accommodation
We will be staying at the Antler’s Inn in King Salmon, Alaska on the first night of the trip and base camping at Brooks Falls after that. Lodging and camping gear provided.
Meals
Most meals are included during the trip dates. We’ll have a group dinner in King Salmon the first night and then be eating fantastic meals at our camp after that. We often do snacks on the trail and then return for a late breakfast during photography trips as we are often out early to capture the morning light.
Weather
The weather on the Alaskan Peninsula is variable in the fall. In past years we have had everything from beautiful, sunny fall days to overcast with light rain. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 50-60 Fahrenheit range and evenings are usually in the 40-50 Fahrenheit range. Remember some of the best photographs are made before, during and immediately after a storm cycle. There is no such thing as bad weather just poor layering and gear choices – please plan accordingly! For more info on what to bring please email or call us.
Price Includes
Most meals, ground transportation, float plane to/from Brooks Falls, accommodation during the trip dates, professional photography instruction, medically certified wilderness guide.
Price Does Not Include
Airfare to/from King Salmon, alcoholic beverages, accommodations before or after the trip dates, guide & staff gratuities
Itinerary
Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 1 (Travel Day) (D)
Arrive in King Salmon, Alaska by 7:15pm for orientation and welcome dinner.
Day 2
Today we will board a small float plane for Brooks Falls. After a safety briefing and setting up our base-camp we will begin photographing Grizzly Bears! We’ll spend the entire rest of the day photographing the bears as the run, swim, fight & fish the stream for Salmon.
Days 3-4
Full Days of hiking & photography as we witness the spectacle of the great bears at Brooks Falls!
Day 5 (B)
We’ll have a morning session of photography during magic hour lighting and then break down our base camp before we board the float plane for King Salmon. You can book flights home (or to Anchorage) from King Salmon any time after 4pm.
Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and nature photography we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions regarding wildlife or natural phenomena.
Trip Extension: Northern Lights
We offer an optional Northern Lights Extension immediately after our Brown Bears of Katmai in the Fall trip (please note that this is not available during our summer sessions as it doesn’t get dark enough to view the Northern Lights). Please click here for details.
“Russ runs an incredible Bear Workshop in Alaska. Safety is evident and paramount in the operation but it is also fun and informative. You will learn a lot about wildlife photography by traveling with Backcountry Journeys. The camp is well-built and very comfortable and the meals are REALLY GOOD!”
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Other Recommended Trips
Brown Bears of Katmai: Lodge-Based
Brown Bears of Alaska: Lake Clark
Brown Bears of Katmai in Summer