Eating and Sleeping

 

Plan your stay

Planning an overnight adventure in Katmai National Park and Preserve starts with knowing what to expect. Whether you are looking for a wilderness experience, an overnight stay in Books Camp, or lodging in a remote cabin, knowing your options prepares you for a responsible and comfortable visit.

 

 

At Brooks Camp, visitors may only eat or drink in buildings or designated picnic areas like this one.

NPS Photo/C. Chapman

Where To Eat

Eating and storing food in Katmai National Park and Preserve requires special care and consideration. Katmai is true bear country, where you eat and store your food directly affects both your safety and the wellbeing of the park’s wildlife. Before you head out, take a moment to learn the rules that help prevent bear encounters and protect this wild place.

In Brooks Camp

Eat in designated Picnic Areas. To concentrate scent, there are 3 designated Picnic Areas in Brooks Camp: near the Visitor Center, at Brooks Lake, and the campground.

In the campground, there are 3 lean-tos that are designated for cooking and eating. Cooking and eating outside of these structures is prohibited in order concentrate food odor.

Brooks Lodge offers meal services. These meals must be eaten in the Lodge.

Outside of Brooks Camp

All food must be stored in Bear Resistant Food Containers (BRFCs).

There are no designated picnic areas outside of Brooks Camp. When you are eating in the wilderness areas of the Park, concentrate your cooking and eating to one area to concentrate odors. If you are camping, store and cook your food away from your camping area. It is best to store your food away from both your cooking area and your camp.

Camping with an electric fence is highly encouraged. When camping within an electric fence, cook and store food within the fence. Food must still be stored in BRFCs

If you are not staying overnight at a lodge, be prepared to bring all your own food during your visit to the park. Remember to follow all rules and regulations pertaining to bear safety and food storage/consumption.

 

Learn the rules and regulations

Superintendent's Compendium

 

More Trip Planning

• 

  How do I get to Katmai?

  Directions and Transportation

  Find options to get to all areas of Katmai National Park

• 

  What to do when you run into a bear

  Bear Safety

  Learn more about staying safe in bear country and what to do when you encounter a bear

• 

  Visit the famous Brooks Falls

  Brooks Camp

  Start planning your visit to Brooks Camp