Accessible only by air at the jet charter airport in King Salmon, this reclusive and rugged piece of paradise is a fisherman’s dream. Located about 280 miles southwest of Anchorage via air, you won’t find any roads or ferry routes leading in or out. You can, however, rent a car when you land, but everything is relatively close together making a car somewhat unnecessary.
If you’re headed to Salmon King during the summer months, you’ll have plenty of time to fish or hunt since most days experience 16-19 hours of sunlight. However, if you’re headed there during the winter season, you’ll only see the sun for as little as five hours each day.
Fishermen can hire a guide if they feel inclined, but because Salmon King is considered one of the best fishing destinations in the world, you’ll probably do well on your own as well.
While in Salmon King, you’ll want to spend time bearwatching. These wild beauties prefer to spend their time at the infamous Brooks Falls, but it’s not unusual to see them hunting for dinner on the Naknek River. Other notable wildlife in the area include brown bears, bald eagles, foxes, moose and coyotes.
If you’d like to experience the beauty of the shoreline from a boat, you can also book a jet boat tour. You may even be lucky enough to watch the salmon run under your boat. If you’d rather spend your time on land, take a backpacking trip through the country at Katmai. Here you can visit the valley of 10,000 smokes and explore the inside of an extinct volcano.
