Brown Bears of Brooks Falls

Brooks Falls is a six-foot-tall waterfall along the Brooks River in Katmai National Park. Each summer, it creates a temporary barrier for millions of migrating sockeye salmon, forcing the fish to leap over the falls and creating one of the highest-density brown bear feeding grounds in the world.

During the peak run in July, bears gather directly at the waterfall to leap-catch active salmon mid-air.

Bears do not just fish randomly—they employ distinct, learned techniques:

  • Standing on the Lip: Dominant bears claim the crest of the waterfall, catching mid-air salmon right out of the jump.

  • The "Jacuzzi": Subdominant bears wait in the turbulent plunge pool below, pinning disoriented fish against the rocks with their paws.

We visited in mid-August after the main salmon run had wound down. Even so, around a half-dozen bears still roamed the falls, patiently hunting for the remaining salmon pushing upstream.

The following photos feature the brown bears of Brooks Falls.

A group of bears wading in a river near a small waterfall, surrounded by lush green trees and rocks.
A bear standing in a river near the waterfall, with dense green trees in the background.
A bear standing on a large rock in a stream, looking downward with its front paws on the rock and water flowing around it.
A brown bear standing in a river with water splashing around it.
Three brown bears in a river with a small waterfall surrounded by greenery and rocks.
A brown bear standing in a river, facing to the left.
A brown bear sitting in water, eating a fish, alongside seagulls.
A brown bear standing in a river with several seagulls around it, one of which is landing in the water.
Grizzly bears in a river with a small waterfall, surrounded by dense green trees.
A brown bear standing in a flowing river with small waves, facing towards the camera.
Two brown bears standing in a rushing river with a small waterfall and greenery in the background.
A brown bear and a bear cub standing in a river, with the mother bear on a rock and the cub in the water nearby.
A bear in the water with a young bear or cub standing on a rock nearby.
A bear sitting in water near a waterfall, with moss-covered rocks in the foreground.
A brown bear sitting on a rock in a river, looking towards the camera.
A brown bear standing on a rock in a river, shaking water off its fur with water splashing around.
A brown bear standing on a rock in a river, splashing water with its front paws.
A bear standing on a rock in a river, looking towards the camera.
A brown bear standing on a large rock in a shallow river, with a forested bank and green foliage in the background.
A brown bear standing in shallow water on a rock, with water visible in the background.
A brown bear standing in a fast-moving river with water splashing around.
A brown bear wading in a river with flowing water.
A brown bear standing in a shallow river with water splashing around its legs.
A brown bear standing on a rock in a river with water flowing around it.
A brown bear sitting on a rock by a river.
A brown bear in a river catches a fish with trees and rocks in the background.
A brown bear resting in a river.
A brown bear standing in a river with water splashing around.
A bear standing in a river with water splashing around, mouth open.
A brown bear walking through shallow water in a river.
A brown bear swimming in a river.
A bear with wet fur walking through water, facing the camera with its nose close to the surface.
A brown bear standing in a river with rocks and green foliage in the background.
A large brown bear wading in a river near a rocky and mossy riverbank with greenery.
A brown bear standing in a rushing river with green vegetation on the riverbank.
A brown bear standing in a river with water splashing around its legs, facing forward with a focused expression.
A bear standing in a river, with water splashing around its legs, grooming itself with its paw.
A large brown bear standing in a shallow river with water flowing around its legs.
A brown bear standing in a river near a rocky and green forested bank.
A brown bear wading through a river, with water dripping from its chin and tumbles of water around it.
A brown bear standing in a river with rushing water, surrounded by rocks and lush green trees in the background.
A bear standing in a river with rocks and green vegetation in the background.
A brown bear cub sitting on the ground in a grassy, dirt area.
A bear standing in rushing water with foam, roaring or yawning, surrounded by rocks and water droplets
A brown bear in a river catching salmon near a rocky riverbank with green plants.
A bear standing in a river with water up to its waist, looking down at the water, with rocks around.
Two brown bears standing in a river, with one bear slightly behind the other. They appear to be wading through the water, which has small ripples and some rocks visible.
A bear cub sitting on a rock in a river.