Just wondering if any 2026 lottery winners have been announced yet, and also wondering if they contact you even if you don't win?

I was notified back on last Tuesday that I won and drew July 20-23.

From prior experience if you don't win they send an email telling you roughly where you are on the wait list. For last year, we got the initial email that Mrs Mathguy was between 75 and 150 and that one said it's not unusual to be contacted if you are that close. My email said I was beyond 7500. We actually made it last year based on her spot on the list.

The season before one of us was like 3000-3500 and the other 1750-2000.

Mathguy64 said:

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I was notified back on last Tuesday that I won and drew July 20-23.

From prior experience if you don't win they send an email telling you roughly where you are on the wait list. For last year, we got the initial email that Mrs Mathguy was between 75 and 150 and that one said it's not unusual to be contacted if you are that close. My email said I was beyond 7500. We actually made it last year based on her spot on the list.

The season before one of us was like 3000-3500 and the other 1750-2000.

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Thanks, and congratulations Mathguy!
I haven't been contacted yet...

Is this about Brooke's lodge in Jackson hole?

You have to win a chance to get there?

We went every winter for like 4 years growing up. Amazing place

Does it cost anything to enter the lottery? It didn't say on the website.

Nope.

But if you win you have 7 days to pay the deposit or forfeit your spot. The deposit is half the total bill.

Ok well that's cool also

I still haven't heard anything. Bad sign?

Last year I got my email for 2025 telling me I was waitlisted on 1/19/24. The winner this year came 1/14/25.

It comes from Bristol Adventures in case you are checking junk folders.

I'd never seen this before - looks like the lottery is only open in December?

That's correct. And it's for a spot a year and a half out (so the lottery that opens in Dec '25 is for the summer of '27).

Wow, okay. And $1100/night isn't to be taken lightly, but it looks beautiful so I can see the appeal.

Do people usually try to pick specific dates, or just say "I want to go, I'll go whenever"?

Super jealous of those that get to go.

If you can't go, you can watch their live cams (only on during salmon season, normally mid June through Sept). Video below is just highlights for the year, but that's what you can see live. Has a solid following with viewers and chat along with the rangers popping in as well to talk. Family will have it on a lot in the background and watch/rewind whenever. The bears have numbers or names with their own personalities, fishing styles, moms with cubs, drama, fights at times, etc...

Early and late season not so many bears. All depends on the salmon numbers and when it peaks that year for that area...but mid late July is normally peak time. I have counted over 20 bears at the falls during that time. Early season and late, sometimes barely any or none at times.

Naveronski said:

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Wow, okay. And $1100/night isn't to be taken lightly, but it looks beautiful so I can see the appeal.

Do people usually try to pick specific dates, or just say "I want to go, I'll go whenever"?

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Keep in mind that the cost includes airfare from ANC. It's a pretty spectacular place. Of all the national parks I've been to, it's top 5. Obviously it's number 1 for animal encounters.

I try to pick July 18-20 area. The bears were pretty active on the falls when I went on those dates.

BSD said:

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Naveronski said:

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Wow, okay. And $1100/night isn't to be taken lightly, but it looks beautiful so I can see the appeal.

Do people usually try to pick specific dates, or just say "I want to go, I'll go whenever"?

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Keep in mind that the cost includes airfare from ANC. It's a pretty spectacular place. Of all the national parks I've been to, it's top 5. Obviously it's number 1 for animal encounters.

I try to pick July 18-20 area. The bears were pretty active on the falls when I went on those dates.

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definitely a bucket list type of trip....i imagine this occurs only during the salmon run....for future potential planning, what date range can we expect to see the bears?

Bachelor99 said:

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BSD said:

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Naveronski said:

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Wow, okay. And $1100/night isn't to be taken lightly, but it looks beautiful so I can see the appeal.

Do people usually try to pick specific dates, or just say "I want to go, I'll go whenever"?

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Keep in mind that the cost includes airfare from ANC. It's a pretty spectacular place. Of all the national parks I've been to, it's top 5. Obviously it's number 1 for animal encounters.

I try to pick July 18-20 area. The bears were pretty active on the falls when I went on those dates.

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definitely a bucket list type of trip....i imagine this occurs only during the salmon run....for future potential planning, what date range can we expect to see the bears?

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Bears begin to appear mid to late June but its really a function of the salmon run. The first time I went was mid July and there were close to 40 bears at the falls, plus 5-6 in and around the camp at all times. BSD was there the same time (by sheer luck we didnt know each other) and he can testify just how many there were. Ill post a pic when I get a chance.

Last year I went Aug 6-9 and we were about 4 days too late. There were 6-9 bears at the falls and almost none in/around camp People who were camping there said the bears began to move away from the river a couple of days before we got there.

Dont get me wrong. It was incredibly cool to be within 20 yards of 6-9 massive grizzly bears who didnt care to eat you. But 35-40 is a whole other world.

August is typically slower and they say that September actually picks back up with activity.

I got July 20-23 this time. When you fill out the application you can give your "ideal" choice and a window where you will take anything. I got my ideal 3 days, but I gave a window that was basically July 6-Aug 10.

ETA some promised pics.

2021

Mathguy64 said:

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Dont get me wrong. It was incredibly cool to be within 20 yards of 6-9 massive grizzly bears who didnt care to eat you. But 35-40 is a whole other world.

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I'll echo this. It's unreal. You're literally surrounded by brown bears, even at camp. I counted over 34 bears in the river when I was there. Plus those bears that are behind/around/under the viewing platform. You have to look both ways and around buildings when you leave your cabin or the main lodge building. And it's about a mile walk to the falls from the cabins so there are bears along the trail. It's amazing.

That is amazing! Glad I found this thread. Sorry to be competing against you… but maybe we'll see you there eventually

Here's a hint: the cabins hold 4 people so have everyone in your group that's going submit an entry into the lottery.

There are other ways to go besides winning the lottery. That's strictly for a cabin. Those are the hardest but best way to go but there are only like 18 cabins and roughly 10k take part in the lottery. It's a crapshoot.

You can get a spot in the campsite. I think they have 10 sites. There is a public bathroom and shower for the campsites. Those open up later and I've never looked at the process but I know it's also competitive. Mrs Mathguy ain't sleeping in a tent on a foam pad with nothing between her and a big brown bear but an electric fence.

You can day trip in as well. Most come via float plane from some other lodge but you can also take a water taxi from King Salmon. It's about an hour ride. One old guy I've met each time I have been does that. He gets a hotel room in King Salmon and rides it every day for about 10 days. He does that every year. The downside is if the weather is foggy or the lake is too rough planes can't come in and the water taxi doesn't run. Priority for coming in is people with reservations at the camp first and day trippers second. Day trippers flying in generally get there between 10-11AM and leave 5-6PM.

It's definitely expensive. 2 of us, 3 nights for 2026 was $6600 and you owe half immediately. That's airfare from ANC to Brooks plus the cabin. Food is good and all you can eat but 3 meals will run $100/day per person. Booze is also extra. The bar opens at 4:00 and is well stocked.

It's expensive. It's also maybe the most amazing place I have been to. We know a bunch of bears by sight now and that's something I never thought I would ever say. I know a wild brown bear by sight and name. We apply every year and have since 2021. This will be my third time in 6 tries. I've won a ticket twice and been high enough on the waitlist once to get in. We build a whole 2 week vacation around the dates.

Looks awesome. Made myself a reminder for December

Mathguy64 said:

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There are other ways to go besides winning the lottery. That's strictly for a cabin. Those are the hardest but best way to go but there are only like 18 cabins and roughly 10k take part in the lottery. It's a crapshoot.

You can get a spot in the campsite. I think they have 10 sites. There is a public bathroom and shower for the campsites. Those open up later and I've never looked at the process but I know it's also competitive. Mrs Mathguy ain't sleeping in a tent on a foam pad with nothing between her and a big brown bear but an electric fence.

You can day trip in as well. Most come via float plane from some other lodge but you can also take a water taxi from King Salmon. It's about an hour ride. One old guy I've met each time I have been does that. He gets a hotel room in King Salmon and rides it every day for about 10 days. He does that every year. The downside is if the weather is foggy or the lake is too rough planes can't come in and the water taxi doesn't run. Priority for coming in is people with reservations at the camp first and day trippers second. Day trippers flying in generally get there between 10-11AM and leave 5-6PM.

It's definitely expensive. 2 of us, 3 nights for 2026 was $6600 and you owe half immediately. That's airfare from ANC to Brooks plus the cabin. Food is good and all you can eat but 3 meals will run $100/day per person. Booze is also extra. The bar opens at 4:00 and is well stocked.

It's expensive. It's also maybe the most amazing place I have been to. We know a bunch of bears by sight now and that's something I never thought I would ever say. I know a wild brown bear by sight and name. We apply every year and have since 2021. This will be my third time in 6 tries. I've won a ticket twice and been high enough on the waitlist once to get in. We build a whole 2 week vacation around the dates.

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im not keen on depending on luck....im liking what the old guy is doing. i like the idea of day trips from other lodges via float planes. do day trippers need to pay some fee to enter the viewing platform areas?

Nope. There is no fee to get on the platform.

There is a $30 fee to enter the park. It's a NP. And they don't participate in the annual pass program.

Try your luck first, then go with the alternative. The day crowds can cause a traffic jam at the platform and you could end up waiting an hour or so before getting to the good view. If you're staying at the park, you can get to the platforms before the crowds show up and hang out after they are gone. You can also go to the Valley of 10,000 Smokes.

No fees to enter the park. It's just expensive to get there.

I just looked. The water taxi is $450 round trip. Yikes. That adds up fast.

ETA, a float plane from King Salmon is also $450.

I think waitlist emails are coming out. Mrs Mathguy (who didn't win and can't because I did) got an email saying waitlist emails are coming shortly.

My son and I camped when we went in 2021. We've submitted for the lottery that year for a cabin and each year since and finally won for this coming July.







This was the view from the north platform looking upstream....probably the most relaxing place I've ever been....sat there for hours