We can only manage to visit either Denali or Katmai NP for 3 days in June 14. Which one should we visit following our 7 day Glacier Bay small boat cruise? If we could extend to 5 -6 days, could we manage to visit both parks or will that be too rushed?

You can't miss with either area. If you can do the longer trip, do both IMHO>

It's much more difficult and costly to get to Katmai. Denali is a few hours easy drive from Anchorage and then a bus ride in the park.

I think by the time I got to Katmai I would want to stay more than one day. It will take you a good part of two days to get there and back.

did you mean Katmai, or maybe Kenai?

We flew into Katmai on a float plane from Homer on tne Kenai Peninsula and saw the bears catching salmon at the waterfalls, an all time travel highlight. Bears were all around including on the beach where we disembarked. It was only a one day trip and costly but we felt it was worth every penny.

Many thanks all of your suggestions. I now believe we may be too early for the Katmai salmon catching bears end of May/beginning June. Has anyone seen them around this time or am I being too optimistic!

I had Brooks Falls web cam on my computer most of the summer and they were very active in July. All of a sudden in early August they were gone and so were the bears.

On the Kenai, they were running both years we were there in July.