Where is King Salmon Alaska? A Guide to this Remote Gateway Town
Situated in a beautiful but remote corner of southwest Alaska, King Salmon serves as the gateway community to stunning Katmai National Park With a location over 280 miles from Anchorage, King Salmon has a frontier outpost feel and provides easy access to world-class fishing, bear viewing, flightseeing, and backcountry adventures.
We’ll tell you where King Salmon is, how to get there, and what to see and do in this rough starting point for exploring the Alaskan wilderness in this article.
Where is King Salmon Located?
King Salmon is located on the Alaska Peninsula, which juts southwest from mainland Alaska into the Bering Sea. The town sits on the northern bank of the Naknek River, around 10 miles upriver from Naknek Bay and Bristol Bay.
The community’s remote location means it is not connected to Alaska’s road system. The closest town is Naknek, located just 10 miles away. However, you can only reach Naknek from King Salmon by boat, air taxi, or an adventurous ATV journey.
Dillingham is the city that is closest to King Salmon. It is about 90 miles to the northeast. Again, there are no roads between these communities.
Some key facts about King Salmon’s location:
- It sits at latitude 58° 41’ North and longitude 156° 39’ West
- The town is 284 air miles southwest of Anchorage
- It is 490 air miles from Juneau, Alaska’s capital
- King Salmon is over 2,400 miles by air from Seattle, Washington
This isolated outpost is just outside the southwest boundary of Alaska’s great wilderness, making it the ideal staging point for exploring Katmai National Park and the Alaska Peninsula.
How to Get To King Salmon
Since King Salmon is not on the road system, the only ways to get there are by air or water. Here are the main transportation options for reaching this remote gateway town:
Fly into King Salmon Airport
The easiest way to reach King Salmon is to fly into King Salmon Airport (AKN). This public airport has a 6,000-foot-long runway, originally built as an auxiliary airfield during World War II.
In summer, Alaska Airlines offers daily jet service between Anchorage and King Salmon. You can book flights directly through Alaska Airlines.
Several smaller airlines like Grant Aviation and Katmai Air offer year-round flights into King Salmon on prop planes from Anchorage as well as Homer, Kodiak, and other Alaska towns.
Take a Charter Flight
Many visitors get to King Salmon by booking a charter flight as part of a bear viewing or fishing package to Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park. Companies like Katmailand offer daily summer flights from Anchorage directly to Brooks Camp, with a quick stop in King Salmon.
Arrive by Boat
From May to early September, it’s possible to reach King Salmon by boat on the Naknek River. Local water taxis and tour boats can transport you between King Salmon and Naknek. Keep in mind the 10-mile journey takes around one hour each way.
You can also charter a boat from Homer, Kodiak, or other coastal towns in the region. However, this option only makes sense if you are planning an extended boat-based trip exploring the Alaska Peninsula.
Key Facts About King Salmon
Now that you know exactly where King Salmon is located, here are some quick facts about the town:
- Population around 250
- Part of the Lake and Peninsula Borough
- Originally built in the 1940s as an Air Force base
- Home to lodges, air services, and National Park Service offices
- Has a clinic, school, post office, and general store
- No road access or car rental (use ATVs instead)
- Completely shuts down in winter when population drops to under 50
Top Things To Do in King Salmon
Most visitors only spend a night or two in King Salmon before venturing into Katmai National Park. However, there are some interesting things to experience right in town:
- Go fishing on the Naknek River for salmon and rainbow trout
- Take a jet boat tour 10 miles downriver to Naknek
- Visit the King Salmon Visitor Center to get oriented
- Check out WWII-era buildings and King Salmon’s history
- Go for a scenic ATV ride on backcountry trails
- Spot bears, moose, caribou, and other wildlife nearby
- Walk along the riverfront and take in views of the Naknek
However, the main activities that draw adventure-seekers to King Salmon all take place outside of town. Here are the top attractions people visit King Salmon to experience:
Katmai National Park
The top reason to fly into King Salmon is its proximity to stunning Katmai National Park. This 4 million-acre park is renowned for its bear viewing at Brooks Camp, the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, abundant salmon runs, and remote Alaskan wilderness.
Most visitors stay at the Brooks Lodge while exploring the park. You can only reach the lodge by floatplane, departing daily from King Salmon. Katmai Air and other local operators offer the 30-minute flight to Brooks Camp.
In addition to bear viewing at Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park offers exceptional fishing, kayaking, hiking, and backcountry camping. See brown bears in their natural habitat, and marvel at the volcanic “moonscape” of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
Remote Fishing Lodges
The other main draw of King Salmon is its access to remote fishing lodges scattered across southwest Alaska. The town acts as the hub for fly-out fishing trips to places like the Copper River, Lake Iliamna, the Alaska Peninsula, Kvichak River, and famous Bristol Bay.
From King Salmon, you can be airlifted to dozens of wilderness lodges and set-net fishing camps reachable only by floatplane. Resident guides lead you to some of the best salmon and trout fishing on Earth. This is the ultimate Alaskan fishing adventure.
Wildlife Viewing & Flightseeing
Several national parks, preserves and wildlife refuges protected vast swaths of habitat in the King Salmon vicinity. This makes the area phenomenal for air-based wildlife viewing and flightseeing trips.
From King Salmon, you can arrange flightseeing tours and air taxi trips to Lake Clark National Park, Katmai National Preserve, Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, and Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge. On clear days, you may even see Mount Redoubt Volcano!
Soar over rugged mountains, spot Alaska’s “Big 5” wildlife, fish-filled lakes and rivers, and volcanoes on guided air excursions departing daily from King Salmon Airport.
When to Visit King Salmon
King Salmon has a short peak visitor season from early June through early September. This coincides with the summer spike in bear activity at Katmai National Park as well as the salmon runs that attract both anglers and bears.
Here is an overview of the best times to visit:
June
- Warmer weather arrives, bears emerge from dens
- King salmon begin running on Naknek River
- Visitor services like air tours begin operating
July
- Peak month for bear viewing at Brooks Camp
- Prime time for fly out fishing trips
- Long days with nearly 20 hours of daylight
August
- Bear viewing remains excellent
- Rainbow trout and silver salmon runs intensify
- Mild weather continues, but days grow shorter
September
- Bear viewing starts slowing down
- Fishing remains very good on Naknek River
- Fall colors start appearing in lowlands
Keep in mind that many activities and lodges shut down at the end of September or early October in King Salmon. By late fall, freezing temperatures return, snow piles up, and visitor numbers drop dramatically.
Where to Stay in King Salmon
As a small town, King Salmon has limited accommodation options. Here are the main places visitors can stay:
King Salmon Lodge
Located right at the airport, King Salmon Lodge offers simple lodge rooms and cabins. There is an on-site restaurant and tour desk. This is the most popular option for overnight stays before heading into Katmai National Park.
Antlers Inn Bed & Breakfast
For more personalized service, Antlers Inn B&B has a variety of updated rooms and riverfront cabins to choose from. Enjoy made-to-order breakfasts and gorgeous Naknek River views.
Brooks Lodge
In Katmai National Park, Brooks Lodge has rustic cabin accommodations, restaurant, and Explorers Camp for camping. Stay here to maximize your time bear viewing and exploring the park.
Remote Fishing Lodges
Consider booking an all-inclusive fishing package that includes round-trip air transport from King Salmon, waterfront cabins, and guided fishing trips. Get away from it all at remote Alaskan lodges!
Public Camping
You can camp right along the beaches and bluffs overlooking the Naknek River in King Salmon. The town also has a designate
Plan Your Trip View By
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If you want real experiences, small group adventures, being completely immersed in nature, and great customer service all in one package,
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Lodging in King Salmon, Alaska
FAQ
How far is King Salmon from Anchorage?
How do I get to King Salmon, Alaska?
Where in Alaska to catch king salmon?
Is King Salmon a city in Alaska?
Where can I fish for King Salmon in Alaska?
Salmon fishing area. See ADF& G for current limits and regulations. Alaska’s most productive king salmon sportfishery is located right in downtown Anchorage! Fish for salmon at Ship Creek even if you have only two hours. During the summertime derbies, specially tagged fish bring in $ 100 -$ 10, 000.
Is King Salmon a good place to fish?
A little about King Salmon: King Salmon is a popular destination for fishing due to its location within Bristol Bay, which is home to some of the best salmon fishing in the world (Literally the reason we moved here!).
How far is king salmon from Anchorage Alaska?
King Salmon is about 280 miles southwest of Anchorage by air. There are no roads to King Salmon from Anchorage and no ferries so flying is the only option! So you would book your flight from your home city to Anchorage then on to King Salmon. WHO FLIES THERE? Alaska airlines provides flights out of Anchorage to King salmon at affordable rates.
How much does a king salmon weigh in Alaska?
The King Salmon (or Chinook Salmon) is one of Alaska’s most sought after species because of its size and relative scarcity. They average 10-50lbs but have been known to reach 130lbs or more. See our list of some of the best places across the state to reel one in: