Alaskan bear cubs playing (until mama bear shows up)

Though summer in Alaska stretches from May to September, weather will vary depending on which part of the state you’re visiting. June and July, when we have the warmest and longest days, are the most popular months to visit Alaska. May historically has the least amount of rainfall and is off-peak, with airfare and lodging as much as 25% lower than it is during Alaska’s prime tourist season. September is also a shoulder season, with less visitors, more availability, and lower prices. Some sport fishers say September is the best time to fish in Alaska, with bigger catches. Bear watching can also be great in September, since the salmon are weakening, which means the bears (and fishers) don’t have to work as hard to catch them. You’ll see moose, whales, eagles, and other native wildlife all summer long.

You’ve come all this way for the ultimate Alaska experience and to really feel like you’re far away from home. There are a few must-see places and experiences. Of course, you need to see the brown bears scooping salmon out of the falls. Brooks Lodge has bear viewing platforms to get your fair share of bears feasting on fish. We highly recommend a hike to get closer to our other wildlife.

And then of course there’s world-class flyfishing. Book a guided fishing tour to find the area’s best fishing spots. Or go at your own pace by taking a canoe or kayak onto the pristine waters. The Bristol Bay salmon run begins in mid to late June. By the end of July, more than a million salmon have moved through Katmai Park’s rivers, lakes, and streams.

We also recommend a day trip to the surreal vistas of Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, the sight of one of the most violent eruptions in modern history. It was ten times more powerful than the Mount St. Helen’s eruption. The panorama is so out of this world, that NASA sent Apollo astronauts to train there. Day-long natural history bus tours depart daily during the season from Brooks Lodge. For the more adventurous, hike with a guide down to the ash and pumice “Valley floor. For a thrilling experience, book a one-hour flightseeing float plane tour over the “Valley” to take it all in. You’ll also get a birds-eye view of active volcanoes, Katmai Crater Lake, and Alaska’s wildlife.