McNeil Falls

McNeil Falls on Alaska’s McNeil River, near Katmai National Park, is renowned for the summer gathering of spawning salmon and the exceptional concentration of brown bears they attract. In some summers, 144 bears have been identified along the river, with dozens assembled at once and as many as 100 visiting in a single July day. To protect this habitat, Alaska created the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary in 1967, and later limited summer visitation to ten people per day during peak season. Conservation measures, including restrictions on nearby bear hunting, helped bear numbers at the falls rise again, strengthening its importance as a protected wildlife-viewing area.

Kokhanok, Alaska · United States