Brooks Falls
- Height
- 6 ft
- Hike
- 1.2 mi each way
- Permit
- Not required
Brooks Falls drops about 6 ft on Brooks River in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska. Reaching it is a 1.2 mi hike each way.
Closures and warnings
Brown bears concentrate at the falls. Stay on elevated platforms; platform capacity 40 with timed access when full. July wait times commonly exceed 1.5 hours midday. As of September 2, 2025.
The falls
| Height | 6 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | NPS: roughly six-foot waterfall on the 1.5-mile Brooks River between Brooks Lake and Naknek Lake; famous bear fishing site |
| Swimming allowed | No |
|---|
Access
| Hike | 1.2 mi each way |
|---|---|
| Road note | Fly-in access to Brooks Camp; no road access |
| Fee | Katmai entrance fee / Brooks Camp commercial transport costs apply |
| Hours | Falls Platform, Treehouse, and Riffles closed 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. June 15 to August 15 (often extended through Sept 30) |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Day-use cap | 40 |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Katmai National Park & Preserve) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Note | Nearest restroom 0.6 mi from Falls Platform at start of Brooks Falls Trail |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Brooks Falls open?
Brown bears concentrate at the falls. Stay on elevated platforms; platform capacity 40 with timed access when full. July wait times commonly exceed 1.5 hours midday. As of September 2, 2025. Hours: Falls Platform, Treehouse, and Riffles closed 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. June 15 to August 15 (often extended through Sept 30).
How tall is Brooks Falls?
Brooks Falls drops about 6 ft.
Can you swim at Brooks Falls?
No, swimming is not allowed at Brooks Falls.
How long is the hike to Brooks Falls?
It's a 1.2 mi hike each way. Fly-in access to Brooks Camp; no road access.
Do you need a reservation for Brooks Falls?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Brooks Falls?
The fee is Katmai entrance fee / Brooks Camp commercial transport costs apply.
When is Brooks Falls flowing?
NPS: roughly six-foot waterfall on the 1.5-mile Brooks River between Brooks Lake and Naknek Lake; famous bear fishing site.
Sources
2
- https://www.nps.gov/places/brooks-falls-platform.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName, access.hikeDistanceMi / hikeDistanceBasis, access.hours / dayUseCap / amenities, waterfall.heightFt / flowNote / ephemeral, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / hazardNote)
- https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/watch-bears-at-brooks-camp.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.roadNote)
More: Alaska waterfalls