Fat Bear Week 2026
Fat Bear Week Voting Returns Sept. 22 as Katmai’s Bears Bulk Up for Winter
Official NPS sourcePERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Travel Archive
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
2026-09-11
1 STORIES2026-08-12
1 STORIESAircraft Removed Following Aug. 6 Accident in Katmai National Park and Preserve
Cleanup following an Aug. 6 floatplane accident in Katmai National Park and Preserve has been completed. The aircraft was successfully removed from the site Aug. 11, and no injuries were reported in the accident.
Official NPS source2026-07-23
1 STORIESBear Pin Logo Design Winner
A design by Fred Anderson of Naknek, Alaska, won the annual Brooks Camp bear pin logo contest in Katmai National Park. Park staff distribute the pins to over 20,000 visitors who complete mandatory bear safety training at Brooks Camp.
Official NPS source2026-07-16
1 STORIESPark and Community Poetry Workshops
Poet Jodie Hollander is leading three free poetry workshops and readings in Katmai National Park and Naknek from July 26 to 31, 2026. The two-hour workshops begin at 2 pm on July 26, 2026, at the Bristol Bay Historical Society Museum in Naknek, and at 7 pm on July 29, 2026, at the Brooks Camp auditorium in Katmai National Park.
Official NPS source2026-01-30
1 STORIESSugpiaq Qayak Model Workshop
Katmai National Park is hosting a free traditional Sugpiaq qayak model building workshop for the communities of King Salmon and Naknek. The workshop takes place from 5 to 8 pm February 23 to 27, 2026, and from 1 to 4 pm February 28 to March 1, 2026.
Official NPS source2026-01-29
1 STORIES2026 Brooks Camp Bear Pin Logo Contest
The park invites Southwest Alaskan residents of all ages to submit a design for the bear pin. The winning design becomes the official Katmai bear pin that tens of thousands of visitors wear this summer
Official NPS source2025-12-03
1 STORIESMeeting Notice for 2026 Subsistence Caribou Hunt for Igiugig and Kokhanok Residents
A public meeting will be held regarding a proposed limited subsistence caribou hunt for residents of Igiugig and Kokhanok, Alaska. The caribou hunt is tentatively scheduled from January 1 to March 31, 2026.
Official NPS source2025-09-16
1 STORIESSomething Big is Coming!
Fat Bear Week returns to Katmai National Park September 23-30, 2025. Choose the bear that has what it takes to survive the winter and experience the crowning of the champion on September 30, 2025, at www.fatbearweek.org.
Official NPS source2025-09-11
1 STORIESFederal Subsistence Hunt and Public Meeting Notice
The National Park Service (NPS) will open a federal subsistence hunt on September 14, 2025 for the Kukaklek Shelf caribou in Katmai National Preserve. This hunt is limited to residents of Kokhanok and Igiugig, Alaska who are federally qualified subsistence users.
Official NPS source2025-07-07
1 STORIESSmall Plane Crash in Katmai National Park
On July 5, 2025, a small float plane crash landed near Brooks Camp within Katmai National Park. The four occupants of the plane were transported to an Anchorage area hospital with non-critical injuries.
Official NPS source2025-06-09
1 STORIESBear Pin Design Contest Winner
Katmai National Park celebrates the winning Brooks Camp bear pin design by Jess Thomas from King Salmon, Alaska. Park staff distribute the pins to thousands of visitors each year who complete mandatory Brooks Camp bear safety training, also known as “bear school.”
Official NPS source2024-11-06
1 STORIESMeeting Notice for Subsistence Caribou Hunt for Igiugig and Kokhanok Residents
A public meeting will be held regarding a proposed 90-day limited subsistence caribou hunt for residents of Igiugig and Kokhanok, Alaska.
Official NPS source2024-10-05
1 STORIESBrooks River Corridor Reopening at Katmai National Park
The lower Brooks River corridor from Brooks Falls downstream to the elevated bridge and boardwalk will reopen at sunrise on Monday, October 7, 2024. During the closure park staff have worked to address habituated bear behavior exhibited by bear #307 and will continue these efforts thru sunset on Sunday, October 6, 2024. One section of the Brooks River downstream from the elevated bridge and boardwalk along with adjacent upland areas on the north side of the river between Brooks River and Brooks Lodge will remain closed due to the presence of a concentrated food source (bear carcass) in the area.
Official NPS source2024-09-30
2 STORIESBrooks River Corridor Closure at Katmai National Park
Between September 18 and 29, 2024, there were four known incidents in which a bear received fish from anglers on the Brooks River. To prevent further incidents of bears receiving food, the Brooks River corridor will be closed to all non-subsistence users below Brooks Falls effective immediately, and remain closed until October 31, 2024, or until rescinded by the Superintendent.
Official NPS sourceDeath of a Bear and Fat Bear Week Bracket Postponed at Katmai National Park
This morning bear #469 attacked and killed bear #402 at Brooks River, downriver from Brooks Falls, in Katmai National Park. Because of this incident the Fat Bear Week bracket reveal is postponed until tomorrow at 3 pm AKT (7 pm ET), October 1, 2024
Official NPS source2024-09-23
1 STORIESWeigh-in with your vote for the fattest bear during Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park
Weigh-in with fat bears and vote for your favorite one as Fat Bear Week returns to Katmai National Park & Preserve October 2 – 8, 2024. Choose the bear that has what it takes to survive the winter and experience the crowning of the champion at fatbearweek.org.
Official NPS source2024-07-29
1 STORIESUnplanned Road Removal and Restoration
On August 1, 2024, Katmai National Park and Preserve will begin removing a 200-foot-long gravel road near Lake Brooks. The road was improperly constructed by the park in 2014 and will be restored to its natural state.
Official NPS source2024-07-10
1 STORIES2024 Bear Pin Logo Contest Winner
Katmai National Park and Preserve is celebrating a winning design by Cianne Adams, a 13-year-old student from Newhalen, Alaska, that is featured on the Brooks Camp bear pins this summer.
Official NPS source2024-07-05
1 STORIESWildfires Update for Katmai National Park
Two wildfires are burning within Katmai National Park & Preserve at American Creek and Naknek Lake. Regular monitoring reveals that neither fire is growing significantly or posing an immediate threat to life or property.
Official NPS source2024-06-25
1 STORIESWildfires Update for Katmai National Park
Two wildfires are burning within Katmai National Park & Preserve at American Creek and Naknek Lake. Regular monitoring reveals that neither fire poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Official NPS source2024-06-17
1 STORIESTwo Wildfires Monitored in Katmai National Park and Preserve
Two wildfires are currently being monitored by personnel with the National Park Service and Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection within the boundaries of Katmai National Park and Preserve. Both fires are likely lightning-caused, and do not pose an immediate threat to life or property.
Official NPS source