A landscape is alive underneath our feet, filled with creatures that remind us what it is to be wild.Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears. Plan Your Visit. Get started planning your Katmai adventure.