The Trail The trailhead is located across from the Brooks Camp Visitor Center. Follow this trail 1/4 mile one way to reach the reconstructed home site. The trail has practically no elevation gain or loss and is wheelchair accessible. The closest bathroom is here, near the Visitor Center. Occasionally, rangers lead guided cultural walks to the site. Inquire at the Visitor Center for more information. As always, be bear aware. Who lived here? A broad archaeological overview. Human habitation in the Brooks River area began around 2400 BC and continued for the next 4,200 years. There were three distinct waves of human habitation in the region, known as “Traditions,” which are characterized by unique types of artifacts. These help us piece together the archaeological record and learn something about the cultures and people who lived here in the past. The first known people in the region were from the Paleoarctic Tradition (9,000-7,000 years ago), followed by the Northern Archaic Tradition (5,000 to 3,850 years ago), the Arctic Small Tool Tradition (3,850-3,000 years ago), the Norton Tradition (2,250-900 years ago), and finally the Thule Tradition (900 years ago to historic contact). The people of these ancient societies were the ancestors of today’s Alaska Native people whose families originate from this area, particularly the Alutiiq people. We are able to piece together the stories of the past with the help of oral traditions from Alutiiq communities, as well as evidence from artifacts and ancient housing sites, like those found along Brooks River.

Cultural Site Trailhead

This trailhead marks the start of a 1/4 mile one-way trail to the Brooks Camp Cultural Site.

Location

Brooks Camp Cultural Site Trailhead

This is the most popular trail in Katmai. It contrasts a quiet walk through the boreal forest with the intimidating and exciting presence of brown bears. The Brooks Falls Trail begins across from the vault toilets .3 miles from the South Platform. During July, the Brooks Falls Trail rewards visitors with superb bear viewing opportunities. At the end of the trail, .6 miles one way, two raised platforms offer a bird’s eye view of bears fishing in the Brooks River. Bear viewing at the Falls is best during the July salmon run. This hike can be intimidating with frequent bear encounters along its entire length. Bears are commonly encountered walking and sleeping along the Falls Trail especially in July and September. Hikers must exercise caution and be prepared to move off of the trail in order to let bears pass. The trail is unpaved. While the trail is wheelchair accessible, it will be difficult to move off trail in the event of bear encounters.

The view looking down a road with a small building to the left and a trailhead sign on the right

Brooks Falls Trailhead

This trail leads to the Brooks Falls and Riffles Platform along Brooks River.

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.