Permit Reservations Being Accepted For Brooks River Corridor Access

The following press release is courtesy of Katmai National Park:

Brooks River Permit Requirement for 2023 

KING SALMON, Alaska ––Katmai National Park will implement a permit system to access the Brooks River Corridor (within the Brooks Camp Developed Area) between June 15 and October 31 for all activities, except redfish fishery subsistence activities.  

Following overwhelming support received through the public comment process, the park is moving forward with requiring a permit to access the area defined as the Brooks River Corridor. This corridor includes the river itself and 50 yards from the water on either side along the banks of the river. This does not include trails, boardwalks, or wildlife viewing platforms. The map included in this announcement outlines the areas where a permit will be required. The expansion of the permit season better aligns with when anglers historically arrived to the area as well as when bears start frequenting this section of the river.  

Each permit is valid for 7 days with a maximum group size of 6 individuals. Permits are free but there is a $6 booking fee that is charged by the permit booking system, www.recreation.gov. Interested parties can reserve their permits online beginning June 1, 2023. It will also be possible to obtain a permit while at Brooks Camp, but this process may take time depending on park staff availability and visitation levels on the day in question. Therefore, it is recommended that visitors and commercial users obtain permits before arriving at Brooks Camp viawww.recreation.gov.   

The Brooks River Corridor is used primarily for fishing, bear-viewing and photography and the intent is that a permit system in this area will ensure a safer and more compliant experience for visitors using the river. The use of the permit system in 2022 allowed the park to better regulate and address issues. The permit system will continue to serve as an integral planning and management tool to enhance visitor safety, compliance, and resource protection and will build on other actions taken to manage the Brooks River Corridor within the park’s 1987 General Management Plan (GMP).  

The Brooks River is an important food source for the Alaskan brown bear. Bear populations and human presence has been steadily increasing to levels that pose an inherent risk to visitor and resource safety. 

Similar to the 2022 pilot permit system, there will be no limit to the number of permits issued during the permit-required time frame in 2023. The park will be analyzing visitor capacity in a future planning effort.