My 100 Best Grizzly Bear Pictures at Katmai National Park

28 Comments / September 17, 2023 / Alaska

Alaskan Brown Bears (Grizzly Bears by nickname) are the attraction at Katmai National Park. Brooks Falls is the number one place in the world to see them. These wild bears gather at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park to feast on salmon. When the bears are at Brooks Falls, they are focused on one thing (food). Bears always have a one-track mind, and food is always their focus.

Dangerous Wildlife in Alaska Brown Bear at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center — This is a Brown Bear at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Brown Bears are the same as Grizzly Bears, but in Alaska, the name is based on location. This picture is included only to entertain you and is not part of the photo contest.

During our trip to Katmai National Parks, we took over 1,000 pictures of the bears chasing and feeding on salmon. Here are the Best 100 wild Grizzly Bear pictures I took at Katmai National Park during our visit.

A reverse photo contest

Usually, in a photo contest, you submit your photo to judges, and they will pick the winning photo. You are the judges in this photo contest, and I am submitting the images. I am the winner because I will get to hear from you.

About photo contests

I am a pretty proud photo contest winner. Here is a link to my blog story about that. Cover Photo for FMCA magazine

Family RV magazine cover photo — FMCA Family RVing magazine cover photo

Please comment

Which pictures do you think are the best? Each photo is numbered. Please tell me what you like about the photo. If you desire, pick more than one. I will include your comments about the pictures in the text as soon as I get them so that others can enjoy them. (Sorry, comments are not real-time; they are screened before posting to keep the blog a happy place.)

Ursus arctos horribilis

Class: Mammalia (mammal), Order: Carnivora (carnivore), Superfamily: Ursoidea (dog-like), Family: Ursidae (all bears), Genus: Ursus (Polar, Brown, Black, and Asian bears) Species Arctos (cold weather arctic, Brown Bears) Subspecies gyas = Alaska Peninsular Bear Bear and horribilis (horrible=inland Brown Bears). Nickname in North America: Grizzly Bear. Typically, in Alaska, Ursus arctos horribilis found inland are called Grizzly Bears, and on the coast, Ursus arctos gyas are called Brown Bears. On Kodiak Island, Ursus arctos middendorffi are called Kodiak Brown Bears. Despite the multiple names, they are all the same bear species and all genetically identical.

Dangerous Wildlife in Alaska Brown Bear at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center — Brown Bear at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This picture is included only to entertain you and is not part of the contest.

Other bear pictures in my blog

The biggest difference between this article and the other bear pictures in my blog is that in Katmai National Park, we walked on the same path that bears use daily. While on the path leading to the overlooks, there was no fence between us and the bears. We didn’t have any protection, so the bears couldn’t eat us. Our safety depended on the bears not wanting to eat us. (They have a long history of not eating people in Kenai National Park. Other Grizzly Bear pictures in my other article were great, but they were all without risk of being eaten. Here is a link. Dangerous Wildlife in Alaska

Please ask questions about Katmai National Park and the Grizzly Bears. I will do my best to answer and include all the answers in the next post when I describe how we got to Katmai and what it is like to walk on the very same paths that the bears walk on and cross every day.

My selection process

How I selected my pictures to show you… First, the photos had to be in focus. Then, I selected based on color. Then, I tried to get photos of bears facing the camera. From there, the selection became difficult. I still had about 250 good images. Gradually, I eliminated them individually to show you pictures of the bears doing slightly different things. I think that these pictures are the best.

My 100 Best Grizzly Bear Pictures at Katmai National Park

The pictures are presented in the order they were taken (except for the one at the very top, which was actually taken last).

Brown bear walking next to the Brooks River at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 1 Unusual because roaming the land. –Wanda

Brown bear walking next to the Brooks River at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 2

Brown bear standing up in the Brooks River, looking for salmon at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 3
If I stand up, I can get a better view. — Scott

Brown bear in the grass at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 4

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 5

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 6

Two brown bears (Mom and her cub) at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 7 Looking for fish is hard work. I will just lay my head here and catch a nap. — Scott … Cub napping or at least resting while mom is intent. — Wanda

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 8
Don’t miss the big one in the shadows — Scott

Two brown bears (Mom and her cub) at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 9

Two brown bears (Mom and her cub) at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 10

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 11

Two brown bears (Mom and her cub) at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 12
Picture number 12 was taken about a minute after photo number 10. –Scott

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 13

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 14
If two (or more bears) are close together they are related. Bears are very bad at sharing. — Scott

Three brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 15

Four brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 16 Four bears in this picture. Don’t miss the big one in the shadows — Scott… Standing up looking far out. — Wanda

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 17

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 18

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 19

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 20

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 21

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 22

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 23

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 24

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 25

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 26

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 27

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 28
I call this one glamor girl. Looks like she is posing for photos on the red carpet. (actual gender unknown) — Scott

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 29

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 30

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 31

Five brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 32
The big girl on the falls waited until a fish jumped into her mouth… and it worked, just like she planned it. (her cub is found in picture number 40 and others) — Scott … Ingenuity to wait at the top of the falls. — Wanda

Two brown bears (Mom and her cub) at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 33

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 34

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 35

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 36

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 37

Three brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 38
Mom gets the seat on the rock. You kids can stand in the water. — Scott

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 39

Brown bear cub at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 40
Sitting on a post, trying to stay awake. — Scott

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 41
Mom, checking on here cub (photo number 40…). — Scott

Brown bear cub at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 42
Mom is in the prevous picture watching. — Scott

Brown bear cub at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 43

Brown bear cub at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 44

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 45
Back to watching for fish. — Scott

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 46
This one uses a little too much eye shadow. Scott

Brown bear cub at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 47
Every time I wake up, this guy takes my picture. — Scott

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 48
This is the way I feel after Thanksgiving Dinner. — Scott

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 49

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 50

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 51

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 52

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 53

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 54

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 55

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 56

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 57

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 58

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 59

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 60
Sharing dinner, bear style. — Scott

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 61

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 62

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 63

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 64

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 65

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 66

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 67

Three brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 68

Three brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 69

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 70

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 71

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 72

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 73

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 74

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 75

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 76 Talk about looking at the camera! — Wanda

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 77
These two bears were not related. I thought I was going to see a fight. — Scott

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 78

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 79

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 80

Year old brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 81

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 82

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 83

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 84

Two Brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 85

Two brown bears at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 86

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 87

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 88

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 89

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 90

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 91

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 92

Brown bear cub at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 93 I liked the ones in the tree, with the little guy. –Mary Ellen

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 94

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 95

Brown bear cub at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 96 I liked the ones in the tree, with the little guy. –Mary Ellen

Brown bear at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 97

Brown bear walking through the water at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 98

Two brown bear cubs at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 99 Looks like someone is about to be pounced on. Cute. — Wanda

FoxRVTravel Brown Bear (Grizzly bear) cubs picture at Katmai National Park — Brown Bears at Katmai Picture 100 Cute cubs intently watching mom. –Wanda

This is the same picture as the one at the very top. It is interesting that it was indeed the last photo I took and included in this blog post. After taking this one, I switched to taking videos at the falls. I will share them soon.

Please Comment

As I get comments, I will include them at the bottom, and when I get a comment about a specific picture, I will add it to the article under that picture, including your name, especially if the comment is witty.

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Links

This video is from the Katmai National Park, National Park Service, hosted by explore.org. The camera is on pretty much from sunrise to sunset. After hours, I think you get re-runs. I assume that during the winter, when the bears are hibernating, and the salmon are not running, the National Park Service will shut the camera off. Since they are not commenting and the pictures on the web camera are limited, I will soon link some of my videos hosted by YouTube in a separate blog post.

Fat Bear Week 2023 winner

Katmai National Park

Katmai National Park, Brooks Falls Live Camera

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28 thoughts on “My 100 Best Grizzly Bear Pictures at Katmai National Park”

Karen
September 17, 2023 at 11:47 am

Picture 100 is my favorite. A close second is number 32. Of course, you can’t beat picture 1 with the cubs!

Reply
Pam
September 17, 2023 at 12:26 pm

16, 42, 60, 76, 87, 99. lol. Oh Scott, I can’t pick just 1. They’re all awesome pictures!

Reply
Jay
September 17, 2023 at 12:32 pm

l like 16, 47, and 100. WOW what an incredible place. I have been very busy and have not had time to see last several posts. Winter coming soon. Where are you now?

Reply
Emily
September 17, 2023 at 12:33 pm

My vote is Picture 100. Those cubs look like they are watching something but also posing for you nat geo style

Reply
1. Scott
  September 17, 2023 at 12:43 pm
  
  The cubs were watching mom. Mom was fishing.
  
  Reply
Joan
September 17, 2023 at 12:44 pm

I can’t wait to see your videos.

Reply
Christopher
September 17, 2023 at 12:46 pm

Picture one is my first choice! You could use that one for a wall picture!

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Brenda Taylor
September 17, 2023 at 1:04 pm

That my friend was a hard choice. I vote for Number 100 of the two cubs.

Reply
Lee Buckley
September 17, 2023 at 1:28 pm

Scott, I have serious ursa overload right now! 100 gets my solo vote because they are obviously ignoring you VERY well….”look off to the right and ignore the stupid tourist….”

Reply
Wanda
September 17, 2023 at 2:31 pm

1. unusual because roaming the land.
7. Cub napping or at least resting while mom is intent
16. standing up looking far out
32. Ingenuity to wait at the top of the falls
76. Talk about looking at the camera!
99. Looks like someone is about to be pounced on. Cute
100. Cute cubs intently watching Mom

Reply
Angie
September 17, 2023 at 5:38 pm

Hard decision. All are great. But I love #100. They look mighty skinny for bears.
Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Breeze
September 17, 2023 at 5:40 pm

Definitely picture 100!. However, they were all incredibly clear and I felt like I was there with them.
We’ll done, Scott

Reply
David
September 17, 2023 at 6:52 pm

Grizzly Bears are awesome creatures. thanks for sharing these great pictures.

Reply
Mary Ellen
September 18, 2023 at 8:40 am

WOW. They are ALL amazing. How did you get such great pics?!!!! Of course, I like the last one best! Or, is it the first one best… hmmm. All of them are amazing. I liked the ones in the tree, with the little guy.

Thank you thank you!

Reply
Judy Shelly
September 18, 2023 at 8:42 am

Well done… 🐻 😁
22
70
99

Reply
Keri S.
September 18, 2023 at 10:16 am

We really like #32 for the anticipation factor and #100 for the cuteness factor. What a great experience you all had out there!
~Keri S.

Reply
Wishart Bell
September 18, 2023 at 10:56 am

I think if I had taken these photos, I would be framing them all to put on my wall. Well done!

My personal favorites were 47 (the eyes make that one work!); 100 (the beautifully posed babies); 76 (what a pose!); 7; 16; 32; 39; 56.

Reply
John
September 18, 2023 at 7:40 pm

Picture 8 and picture 1

Reply
Graeme
September 18, 2023 at 7:42 pm

Great photos! However, according to the Katmai NP website the brown bears in Katmai are not grizzly bears.

Reply
1. Scott
  September 18, 2023 at 8:51 pm
  
  “Grizzly bears and brown bears are the same species (Ursus arctos), but grizzly bears are currently considered to be a separate subspecies (U. a. horribilis).” NPS website quote.
  
  Subspecies of North American Brown Bears
  
  Ursus arctos horribilis = Grizzly Bear
  Ursus arctos gyas = Alaska Peninsular Bear Bear
  Ursus arctos middendorffi = Kodiak Brown Bear
  Ursus arctos sitkensis = Alaska Sitka Island Brown
  
  Brown Bears are the same Genus/Species (Ursus Arctos). The reason the difference is arbitrary is that both are genetically identical and physical differences (size) are based on diet and region.
  
  “the difference between a grizzly bear and a brown bear is fairly arbitrary” NPS website quote
  
  Reply
Bonnie
September 18, 2023 at 7:42 pm

#32…Teacher with students. She says “watch me and learn”

Reply
Denise
September 19, 2023 at 8:38 am

They were all great! My favorites are #7, 12, 32, 41, 76 & 100 with #32 and #100 my very favorites.

Reply
Dan
September 20, 2023 at 7:59 pm

Enjoyed your photographs of the bears at Katmai; however, as an Alaskan biologist, I would like to point out a minor problem.

While grizzly bears and brown bears are genetically the same species, coastal bears such as those at Katmai are much larger than their interior grizzly bear brethren due to their protein-rich diet.

So, just a difference between coastal brown bears and grizzly bears semantically. Thanks for the images!

Reply
Robin
September 22, 2023 at 8:28 am

Cute bears
3, 7, 17, 32, 39, 43 & 100

Reply
Kathy
September 22, 2023 at 8:29 am

It was definitely a hard decision, just the thought of being there watching these magnificent creatures of Mother Nature would have been an experience that would be forever in my memory. But I picked 100, 45, 41 and 32. I look for the expression in their eyes, that is what grabs me.

Reply
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