Geographic Harbor
The National Geographic Society "discovered" the harbor and 1919 and offers a spectacular spot for bear watching, paddling, and hiking.
Plan Around Geographic Harbor
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Geographic Harbor Details
Located south of Hallo Harbor at the far back of Amalik Bay, Geographic Harbor is named for the National Geographic Society expedition that discovered it in 1919. Geographic Bay is much narrower than Hallo Bay but has the same sedge meadows and clam flat that are prime feeding grounds for brown bear. A designated bear viewing area is located along Geographic Creek where bears hunt for salmon. However, you are guaranteed to see bears virtually anywhere along the shore. No camping is allowed near the designated bear viewing site during the summer, from April through October. The regulations help to minimize conflict between bears and humans. Paddlers and hikers are welcome to visit Geographic Harbor on their own. Only one commercial outfitter, Deneki Outdoors, is authorized to anchor boats in the area.
Difficulty
Low
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Nearby Parks Around Geographic Harbor
Compare nearby parks around Geographic Harbor when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Geographic Harbor
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Geographic Harbor while the map context is still fresh.
2.1 mi away
Amalik Bay Patrol Cabin
Park ranger outpost located on the southern coast.
17.7 mi away
Mount Katmai
Check out this high alpine lake left over from the 1912 eruption of the volcano Novarupta.
30.8 mi away
Hallo Bay
Hallo Bay is home to a wilderness camp and has an air of mystery and allure that has attracted paddlers and wildlife enthusiasts for decades.
35.0 mi away
Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
When the volcano Novarupta erupted in June of 1912, the surrounding Ukak River Valley was buried under hundreds of feet of ash and pumice.
43.1 mi away
Swishak Lagoon
Located just north of Hallo Bay along the Katmai coast, Swishak Lagoon has a high concentration of brown bears. Stay at one of the wilderness camps along the bays, or come for the day via charter boat or paddle. The bears feed on the protein-rich sedge grass here and dig for clams in the lagoon's wide mud flats.
