This is my first post, but I read this forum before taking any trip and so appreciate the great advice. We are planning a trip to Alaska in August/September 2009...land and one-way cruise. We did this in 2005 and will do some things differently this time. We'll skip Denali and go to Homer instead. Also Seward again as we did last time. Two questions:

Is anyone else out there an avid National Park fan who collects passport cancellations? I would like to go to Katmai NP from Homer to see the bears and get a stamp. You can get one at Brooks Camp or King Salmon. I've read that you can only get there via plane or boat, but can't seem to find out more. I missed getting a stamp at Glacier Bay on the ship the last time and will pursue that for this time as well.

Second, I'm having trouble deciding whether to go to Homer first and then Seward or vice versa. We'll have to get back to Anchorage to take the cruise out of Whittier. From what I've read in previous posts, the train ride from Anchorage to Seward is nice, then we could rent a car and return it in Anchorage. Is that much more expensive to do? Guess that's a third question. Thank you in advance for your input.

I would like to go to Katmai NP from Homer to see the bears and get a stamp. You can get one at Brooks Camp or King Salmon. I've read that you can only get there via plane or boat, but can't seem to find out more.

I've been to Brooks Camp several times but always flying from Anchorage, either to a lodge airstrip and then a floatplane to Brooks or on Alaska Air to King Salmon and then a short floatplane flight to Brooks. These guys have the lodge concession and have many flight and lodging options, so a good place to start. http://www.katmailand.com/air-services/index.html

There are several companies in Homer who run day trips to Katmai but I'm not sure if there are regular flights if you want to overnight at Brooks.

You can't really get to Brooks by boat (well, technically you could but it would take a long time and most do it in a kayak or canoe).

Here's the official Katmai NPS site:
http://www.nps.gov/katm/

The bear viewing is good at Brooks starting around the 4th week in August until closing time mid-September ... the later you go the better, I think.

Bill

Thank you for the info on both questions Bill H. I'll check out the website you sent. We don't plan to overnight in Brooks. Just want spend a day to see the bears and get my cancellation stamp. Thank you for the suggestion to go later. Easy to go to Homer after Seward.

We don't plan to overnight in Brooks. Just want spend a day to see the bears and get my cancellation stamp.

Some of the bear viewing day-trips from Homer to Katmai will fly to the coastal areas instead of Brooks ... a lot of bears (in some spots, depending on the salmon run), many fewer people, but no stamps ... so make sure the Homer bear trip you choose will actually go to Brooks or you won't get your stamp.

Bill

Thanks again, Bill. I'm going to look into getting the stamps through the passport program. They used to send them via mail if you gave them the date of your visit. Not sure if they still do that, but it would offer us some flexibility if they do.

I was in Katmai last week...unbelievable!

Some photos and report are here:

http://www.klugusamy.com/archives/tr...national-park/

I was in Katmai last week...unbelievable!

Really nice presentation, thanks for posting! You were really fortunate to see the wolf, we've yet to see one in Katmai.

Bill

I did a trip to Homer and Seward in 2006.

I loved Homer! Im not sure about the "stamp" your talking about but I did a day trip over to Katmai with Emerald Airways... it was amazing!

The spit is alot of fun too!

I liked Seward but was bored with it after a day. The Fjords are beautiful. Take the "captains choice" tour from the marina .. its a smaller boat and they will take you to see what the majority of the group wants.
Have fun!

Thank you for all of the info bigbrownboy. You certainly packed a lot into a couple of days. Your pictures are just awesome!

Thank you too for the advice Laura. The Captain's Choice trip in Seward sounds like the one for us. It was too rainy to take the boat trip the last time we were there, but went to Exit Glacier and the museum...still worthwhile.

Still planning and appreciate all of your help.

We stayed in Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park this past june We had to fly from anchorage to King salmon and then take a sea plane to Brooks lodge. Stayed overnite in one of their cabins , wondeful and a great experience. Brooks Lodge is only open certain months of the year .It is a beautiful park.. no roads just rails and wildlife.Highly recommend it if you have the opportunity