Things to Do in Homer

Surrounded by trees, mountains and volcanoes — all reflected in turquoise water — and with only subarctic wildlife to keep you company, Lake Clark is Alaskan wilderness at its best. Waterfalls, glaciers, rivers teeming with Sockeye salmon, and the largest lake in the state make this one of Alaska’s most scenic places. Kayaking and fishing on calm Lake Clark are highlights for many, as well as brown bear spotting at the park’s Silver Salmon Creek and Chinitna Bay. The Tanalian trails network helps hikers get to some of the park’s best natural spots.

The park’s geography ranges from mountain ranges to tundra to rainforest, creating habitats for a diverse amount of wildlife. Visitors to the park may encounter wolves, moose, caribou, dozens of species of fish, and of course, Alaskan brown bears. Parts of the park run along the coastline, opening up even more wildlife encounter opportunities.

Remotely located in Southwestern Alaska near Kodiak Island, Katmai National Park is one of the foremost places to see Alaskan brown bears, which come to feast on summer salmon runs. Covering more than 4 million acres, the park has one of the largest populations of brown bears in the world. There are 15 different volcanoes to explore, some of which are still active and releasing steam. In fact, the park was established to preserve the area round Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes after volcanic activity devastated the land in the early 1900s.

Hiking, kayaking, and canoeing among the crystal-clear waters are coming activities here, and bear-watching is best at the park’s Brooks River Falls. The many wild rivers and lakes not only draw bears but also sport fisherman, both of which are after the area’s five varieties of Pacific salmon as well as pike, rainbow trout, and Arctic char. The park’s location provides access to some of North America’s most remote wilderness.