How to Elope in Katmai National Park
IMAGE VIA National Geographic
A HISTORY OF KATMAI
Katmai is an incredible area and you’re in for a heck of an adventure! It was declared a National Monument in 1918 after the cataclysmic 1912 eruption of Novarupta and the collapse of the summit of Mount Katmai. Even after the ash was gone and the lava cooled, the protection of the Kodiak bears in the area because the next important cause to rally behind. The boundaries of the park were expanded to encompass the bear’s territory and the National Monument was made a National Park in 1980. Today there are 15 volcanoes lining the Shelikof Strait, making it one of the world’s most active volcano centers. Even though the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is mostly quiet now, it wasn’t always and won’t always be: Trident erupted in 1968, and Four-Peaked Mountain erupted after 10,000 years in 2006.
The bears found here — the park’s most famous inhabitants (I LIVE for Fat Bear Week!) — are larger than grizzly bears because of their fish diets and are even classified as a different species! They are only found on Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska and can weigh up to 900lbs. More than the bears is a huge variety of wildlife like tundra swans, arctic terns (who travel 20,000 miles in migration!), bald eagles, caribou, otters, sea lions, beluga, orcas, and gray whales.
THE ALUTIIQ TRIBE
Katmai is the traditional home of the Alutiiq people (the ancestral name is Sugpiat). In the early 1800s, there were around 60 villages in the Kodiak archipelago and 13,000 people living in the isles. Today, around 4,000 Alutiiq people call Alaska home. They have lived here for thousands of years in a coastal lifestyle using resources from the ocean like salmon, halibut, and whale. What they couldn't gather from the sea, they gathered from the land like berries and land mammals like bears and moose. Russians invaded their homeland in 1784 with a massacre of hundreds at Awa'uq. Once the US purchased Alaska, the Alutiiq were forbidden from teaching their children traditional ways of life, banned from owning land, and kids were sent to boarding schools. Luckily, the youth in the community are reclaiming their heritage and celebrating it in full. They have advocated for traditional hunting rights in the National Preserve (and won), and are working to bring their culture back into their lives. In past years, the traditional language of Sugstun (a branch of Kodiak) was in danger of being lost until students petitioned to be taught the language in their schools (yay!).
Thank you to The Alutiiq Museum, The Alaskan Native Language Center, and The Afognak Native Corporation for helping me learn more about the history and culture of the Alutiiq Tribe.
THE KODIAK ALUTIIQ DANCERS. FROM LEFT: SAMANTHA HAIGLIN, MARGARET ROBERTS, AND SADIE COYLE. PHOTO BY SARAH HARRINGTON VIA PBS
AN OVERVIEW OF KATMAI
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
The whole atmosphere here is very volatile. Spring and fall is wet and cool, but the temperatures range anywhere from 30 - 80. Most lakes are completely frozen over by mid-fall and the higher elevations will have snow until early summer. Winter is entirely frozen over with temperatures from -35 - 50. The Pacific side of the coasts is cooler, wetter, and stormier than the interior of the park and strong wind is common all year. Katmai is known for its stormy weather, so plan accordingly!
PEAK SEASON
Late June to early September is going to be your best bet for having an enjoyable time in Katmai. It’s the most temperate in weather and it’s when you’re most likely to see the bears out and about. They gather in the rivers and streams during the summer as they prepare for the winter. April is when the bears emerge from their dens, so any travel before that is unlikely to get you any bear spotting. Peak salmon season is July, so that’s when the bears are most active.
AIRPORTS, TRAVEL, & GETTING AROUND
Traveling to the park has to be done by plane or boat, so leave the car at home and opt for another kind of adventure instead! You have a lot of options in air and sea travel, though!
A I R : Air taxi flights leave from Anchorage, Dillingham, Homer, King Salmon, Kodiak, and other Alaskan towns and Villages. There are also regular flights from King Salmon to Anchorage.
S E A : Brooks Camp and locations along the Naknek River can be reached by power boat from Naknek and King Salmon
F O O T : This park is perfect for backcountry adventures! Once you feel confident in your ability to backcountry camp in true wilderness, this park is ready and waiting for you to explore all the beauty it has to offer!
SAFETY INFORMATION
Always have a detailed trip plan written out including where you’re going and when you’ll return. Have at least three copies: one for someone back at home, one for your pilot or captain, and one for the park rangers (plus another if you’re staying at a lodge or cabin). Trip planners can be filled out at King Salmon and Brooks Camp visitor centers or you can email your itinerary to the Ranger’s dispatch office. Rangers won’t track your trip, but they’ll be able to aid rescue workers in finding you if need be.
Strong storms are common here. Have waterproof gear and extra food — flights can often be delayed because of the weather and you want to know you’re prepared if you have to spend a few extra days in the backcountry. Always carry a sat phone with you so you have some form of communication. Have a backup plan if things aren’t going well and don’t be afraid to use it.
Remember the Ten Essentials — check out this blog post for more on what you need to be prepared in the outdoors!
BEAR AND MOOSE INFORMATION
Katmai is home to the largest collection of bears in the world. Kodiak bears are even larger than brown bears. The best way to practice bear safety in the backcountry is to always assume you’re going to encounter a bear. Don’t start a trip hoping to avoid them — plan to see one and know what to do when it happens. It’s the best way to be prepared! Study bear behavior and know how to react correctly. Read about bear behavior, watch some YouTube videos, and prepare accordingly. A few starter tips: carry and know how to use bear spray, make lots of noise often (it helps scare the bear away while you’re hiking/camping), hike with others, NEVER run from a bear, stay calm if you see one, don’t try to distract them by throwing something or dropping your pack.
Moose can weigh three- to four- times more than the average bear, up to 1600lbs! Moose charge when they feel threatened. Unlike with bears, you should run as fast as you can from a moose if it begins to charge. They are very common in the thickets, meadows, and open forests. Increase the distance between you and them, hide behind a tree, change your route, and leave the area quickly. Moose are known to be aggressive.
ENTRY FEES
Unlike many other National Parks, entry into Katmai National Park is FREE!
image via nps.gov
HOW TO ELOPE IN KATMAI
HOW TO GET A WEDDING PERMIT FOR THE PARK
The permitting system here is as of June 2022 and is subject to change at any time. Because of a recent Supreme Court decision (Price v. Barr), the NPS is evaluating how filming in the park will look going forward. Please contact the park when planning a wedding here to make sure you're doing so legally!
You’ll need a Special Use Permit from the permit coordinator. It needs to be sent in as soon as possible but no later than 10 days out from when you want to come, and there’s a $200 permit fee.
HOW TO GET A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN ALASKA
Both parties must be at least 18 years old. There is a three-day waiting period that begins once a mailed or faxed application payment is received by the issuing office. If you need it quickly and cannot pick it up in person, you can have it shipped with Priority Mail. The license is valid for three month from the date of issuing. If you have been divorced before, you need to state the beginning and ending dates of your previous marriage on the application.
VALID OFFICIANTS IN ALASKA
A minister, priest, recognized leader, or rabbi of any church or congregation in the state, a commissioned officer of the salvation army, marriage commissioner, or a judicial officer of the state, as well a friend or relative to perform your ceremony (if they get a marriage commissioner appointment from an Alaskan court as authorized by AS25.05.081.2)
VENDORS FOR KATMAI
Remember that Katmai is pretty remote, and most vendors don’t cater to the park itself. If you’re traveling from Juneau, you have more options for florists, HMUA, and other vendors but in general, I recommend getting confident with doing your own hair and makeup in the backcountry!
Alaska Stems
Click the photo to see Rachel’s Instagram page!
Mylords Floral
Click the photo to see their Instagram page!
BEST CEREMONY LOCATIONS IN KATMAI
The Glaciers
Alaska has no shortage of ice, and Katmai is no exception! Between well-known glaciers and hidden alpine surprises, a good air taxi guide will be able to help you nail down the perfect place to say “I do” on the ice.
The Backcountry
The Backcountry is the perfect place to explore and find your very own custom location! Just like with finding a glacier, your guide or pilot can help recommend some beautiful locations where you’re likely to not see anyone else.
Dumpling Mountain
Dumpling Mountain offers an overlook of Naknek Lake, the Brooks River, and Lake Brooks. The trailhead starts off at Brooks Camp Campground and settles around 1.5 miles. Another stunner for sunrise or sunset!
Brooks Falls
Brooks Falls is one of the best places to watch bears, and it’d be a beautiful place for some portraits! As long as there were no bears feeding at that time (don’t approach wildlife and give them space!), portraits here would be beautiful!
Naknek Lake
Naknek Lake drains into Bristol Bay and it’s absolutely beautiful! It’s famous for sport fishing and bears often hang out around the banks. Sunrise here would be stunning and so unique!
Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
The valley is the site of the Novarupta and Katmai volcanic eruptions in 1912 and is a super unique space in the park and preserve. You can get here by foot and a bus serviced by the National Park. Can you imagine portraits here?!
WHAT TO PACK FOR KATMAI
GENERAL PACKING
Because Katmai comes with its own set of unique challenges with being almost entirely in the backcountry, there are some pretty important things to pack!
Sturdy hiking boots and at least a few pairs of wool or synthetic socks to keep your feet warm. Also consider bringing gaiters for river crossings!
A backpack that is fitted correctly and can carry your personal gear, a tent, and a rain fly for your pack. (A trashbag inside your pack can also help protect the contents from the water and rain.)
A rain jacket and pants, NOT a rain poncho.
Warm, quick-drying clothing is very important! Cotton won’t keep you warm if you get wet, so stick to wool or synthetics like polypropylene or nylon. Bring quick-drying pants, at least one long-sleeved shirt, long underwear, a winter hat, waterproof gloves, and a fleece jacket.
A stove, fuel, cookware, water bottles, and water purifying tablets or a water filter.
A sleeping bag and a pad.
Emergency gear and The Ten Essentials.
Bear Spray
Water purifying tablets or water bottles and dense high-calorie food
A physical map and compass, along with a whistle, knife, first aid kit, and insect repellent
Always bring a map! While apps like AllTrails are great, your phone could die or you could drop it in a puddle and poof — there go your maps. Paper maps are still a thing, I promise.
Be prepared with the bug trifecta: the right clothes, bug repellant, and something to treat bug bites. If you can stand it in the summer, pants will help shield you from ticks, black flies, and mosquitos. The same goes for long-sleeved shirts (you can even find some with SPF!).
Remember that sunburns can happen even on cloudy days, and especially on snowy (but sunny) days. Protect that beautiful skin of yours.
PACKING FOR YOUR ELOPEMENT
You wouldn’t forget your dress or your suit (hopefully), but what about all the other little things? Here’s a short list of extras you might be forgetting:
A way to transport your ceremony clothing (whether by wearing it on a hike, packing it in a backpack, or just using garment bags)
Your rings! (A pretty important part, tbh.)
Vow books, clothing accessories (ties, cufflinks, belts, safety pins, stain remover), jewelry, perfume and deodorant, letters to each other, small trinkets, and anything else you plan on including during your elopement.
All of your legal documents, including park entrance passes, park wedding permits, IDs, and your marriage license (you’ll also need your passports if you’re coming from out of the country).
HOW TO ENJOY KATMAI
WHERE TO STAY
Your options for where to stay in the park are pretty limited if you don’t want to camp or stay on a boat, but the surrounding areas of Juneau and Gustavus have more options! Here are a few of my favorite besides camping (and besides Glacier Bay Lodge):
Brooks lodge
Originally opened in 1950 as a fishing camp, the lodge has been fully upgraded! The main lodge has a view of Naknek Lake and boasts a big fireplace and three times daily buffet in the dining area, plus a bar in the afternoon and evenings. Each cabin has two sets of bunkbeds and private bathrooms.
Royal wolf lodge
The lodge is a first-class all-inclusive resort just outside the park! It has a main lodge with a wrap-around deck, windows overlooking the meadows and lakes, a spa and sauna give relaxation, and the owner’s experience as a former chef lets you have the most amazing food options!
Enchanted lake lodge
Built in 1961 and remodeled in 2002, this lodge is world-class. It can only be accessed by float planes but it’s worth the trip. Professional chefs serve up the food and there’s a complimentary bar. Two decks show off Nonvianuk Lake and the Walatka Mountains, and each room boasts big beds and private bathrooms.
WHAT ELSE TO DO
Whether you go with an activity led by the rangers in the park, trek out with a local guide to explore the area, or head out on your own for some solitude, this park is waiting to be explored!
Get your NPS Passport Book stamped! You can get your stamps at the visitor center.
Try out backcountry camping!
Take a flightseeing trip with an air taxi pilot! They can show you all the best places without having to hike your way in and out.
Check out the rest of the nature areas in the Kodiak Region: Aniakchak National Monument, Alagnak Wild River, Aleutian WWII National Historic Area, Lake Clark National Park, Alaskan Penninsula, Becharof and Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, and the McNeil State Game Sanctuary.
Go see the bears!!! There are four wildlife viewing platforms at Brooks Camp that along good viewing and very minimal impact on the bears. The Pacific coast has one of the highest populations of bears in the world, so they’re easy to see all over the park. Anywhere sedges, clams, and fish can be found is a good place to watch for bears. In the spring they’re in meadows and mudflats, and they’re in the rivers in the summer and fall.
Vote in the Fat Bear Week contest!!! It’s my very favorite thing and it makes me so happy! (Chunk is my favorite bear to vote for!)
A LIST OF RECOMMENDED GUIDES
Please click through these links for recommended guides and services vetted by the National Park Service. As always, do your own research as well to make sure you feel comfortable with your pilot and guides!
A complete list of guides and services provided by the National Park Service
“We come to Katmai to sample but an edge of its enormous raw natural force, a sampling itself constituting a rare and endangered opportunity.”
READY TO BOOK YOUR DREAM ELOPEMENT IN KATMAI?!
All photographs link back to the webpages and photographers who they belong to.