My group of 8 friends was able to snag a flight and booking at Brooks Lodge for next summer.
We've chosen the option to fly out of King Salmon (far cheaper) and have redeemed miles to fly from ANC to AKN. We're actually flying into AKN the morning of the day before our Brooks flight in order to minimize potential weather delay/cancellation issues and also to experience whatever King Salmon/Naknek has to offer. (Some of us like driving to ends of roads, which is always fun in Alaska, so the Alaska Peninsula Highway is of interest...)
A few questions from those familiar with this area:
1) What are the on-the-ground logistics like in King Salmon? Is there any infrastructure to speak of--taxis, places to eat, etc.? We do have a lead on a car rental option; is that the best/only way to get around? Anything near the airport to kill time doing?
There is really not much to do in KS in my opinion. There is an OK visitor center near the airport. Walk to the river and see the floatplanes take off and land its actually pretty junky around the airport. We stayed at the antler inn within walking distance to the airport. They have cabins that are pretty reasonable but rustic for sure, Cab rides to Naknek is pretty expensive $30 each way, going to see the set nets fish at Naknek is pretty cool to see. If its a nice day walking along the beach is nice. Its a different world out there unlike most places in AK.
2) Any particular recommendations on affordable lodging in King Salmon for our overnight? Have a few leads but nothing is jumping out as an obvious option. Appreciate any recommendations from personal experience.
3) Anything of interest in the King Salmon/Naknek region--hiking, or anything else? Or will our full day there kind of a waste? IMO a waste
4) How do the Brooks flights on Katmailand work? They've assured us that if we were to experience a weather delay getting into King Salmon, they'd hold the plane for us, but how does that actually work? Probably a non-issue as I think we're all flying in the day before, but if someone does need to fly in the same day and they have a Ravn weather delay, would the rest of our group be held up (like a charter) until our whole group is assembled and ready, or do they run regular shuttle flights and just whoever is ready to go, goes, and anyone who's late just takes a later flight?
We took the jet boat over it was really fun, Katmai water taxi. The plus is that you are not limited to what baggage you can bring. Most of the air taxis limit you to one bag not to exceed 50lbs.
5) We obviously have plans to spend a significant amount of time at Brooks Falls itself, but we've booked the longer package that includes the bus ride to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. I assume the itinerary is fairly fixed, but anything we should know about or be sure not to miss while in the park?
The bus ride is worth it but on the way back it gets long.
6) For the return, we're planning a ~4 hour layover before catching our return Ravn flight to ANC--again, as insurance against weather delays on our Katmailand flight. How reliable are those flights and do we need to have such a large buffer? Or would catching the 4pm Ravn flight be acceptable (and does Ravn have flexibility when Katmailand flights are delayed)?
Weather in AK is very unpredictable but the floatplanes can fly pretty low over the lake so you should be ok. I think 4 hours is about right. There are certain times of the year when you really do not want to miss your flight. It might take you a week to get on another one. I am not kidding when fishing season is over thousands of fishermen and cannery workers are trying to get out of a tiny airport. When I flew out the standby list was over 500 people long for the day on all AS flights.
7) Any obvious things I'm missing?
Are you camping to staying in the lodge at Brooks? The food is pretty decent at the lodge actually. Just plan on spending lots of time taking in the amazing bears and taking photos. We did a nice long hike into the valley of 10,000 smokes. There is another hike but we decided to enjoy the bear viewing and passed on the other hike
Special ping alert to
fti and
Gardyloo, who are always good for answers to this kind of thing.
