Katmai National Park & Preserve is a National Park & Preserve in Alaska. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Katmai
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Katmai. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Katmai the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 38° (NE) at the June solstice and 138° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 322° (NW) in June to 222° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 55° in summer but only 8° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9:58 AM | 11:22 AM | 3:39 PM | 5:02 PM | 228° | 7h 04m |
| February | 8:54 AM | 9:55 AM | 5:16 PM | 6:16 PM | 247° | 9h 22m |
| March | 8:37 AM | 9:30 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:23 PM | 268° | 11h 46m |
| April | 7:08 AM | 8:02 AM | 8:39 PM | 9:34 PM | 291° | 14h 26m |
| May | 5:52 AM | 6:55 AM | 9:39 PM | 10:42 PM | 311° | 16h 50m |
| June | 5:11 AM | 6:25 AM | 10:18 PM | 11:31 PM | 322° | 18h 20m |
| July | 5:37 AM | 6:45 AM | 10:08 PM | 11:16 PM | 317° | 17h 40m |
| August | 6:42 AM | 7:39 AM | 9:12 PM | 10:09 PM | 299° | 15h 27m |
| September | 7:50 AM | 8:43 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:42 PM | 277° | 12h 51m |
| October | 8:57 AM | 9:54 AM | 6:19 PM | 7:16 PM | 255° | 10h 18m |
| November | 9:11 AM | 10:24 AM | 3:47 PM | 5:00 PM | 234° | 7h 49m |
| December | 10:06 AM | 11:46 AM | 2:46 PM | 4:26 PM | 223° | 6h 20m |
Computed for the park's reference point (58.6224, -155.0127); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| May | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| June | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| July | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| August | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Located between the stormy north Pacific Ocean and the even stormier Bering Sea, the Katmai region is often a battleground between weather systems. When you visit, be prepared to encounter all types of weather. On average, wet and cool conditions predominate in spring, summer, and fall. Winters are drier and colder.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 65% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (82%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Katmai National Park & Preserve is located on the northern Alaska Peninsula, northwest of Kodiak Island and southwest of Homer, Alaska. The park’s headquarters is in King Salmon, about 290 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Unlike most national parks in the United States, Katmai is almost exclusively accessed by plane or boat.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Flying
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
