Salmon still running behind last years count. 50K vs 100K. But they get 4 million in the Naknek so that is basically a rounding error. By 4th of July it is usually several hundred thousand a day. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game count them in most of the spawning rivers. How I do not know. The tables show #s like 19,194 so it may be electronic monitoring for precision like that.

The bears are starting to gather in the last couple of days.
Today was pretty active with some Sows with yearlings, Sows w/spring cubs and a few males showing up.

https://explore.org/livecams/brown-bears/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls

No recent posts as the salmon are just starting up the Naknek River in large numbers on schedule. Will be normal crowds soon. The NPS will restrict crowding on the platforms with a name list that is timed. If you time out just get back on the list and go down to the Riffles platform. I have a platform shot from 7/13/19 and the salmon are so thick they are pushing themselves up out of the water around the bears paws. Every year is different though.
100-400 will work. The far side of the falls may be a stretch but the near lip will be in good range. The closer they are the more you shoot down though. The Sows with Cubs hang around the lower river and camp. They avoid the falls as the big males rule things and it is too dangerous for them. Not sure if you can get a river guide off a fly in but Bristol Adventures runs the lodges/outfitter there and would be the one to check with. Otherwise your guide would have to fly in with you.
Check explore.org and you can watch the cams as the 10th approaches.

The river is great. You need waders to do it right and get up river to the cut. I am camping for a week and will be leaving Brooks on the 10th. Glad to go after NPS closed the camp last year. Double download to get up close !

Settings ? Only you can really know how to set your camera. If you can’t or won’t learn how to use it, then you should probably just set it on Auto and go from there. I know that sounds a bit harsh, but it’s true.
As for resting, there are no benches on the park trails. You can meet a bear on the trail at any time, as they will tell you in Bear School before the Rangers will let you in. It’s best to keep moving and talking to let the bears know you’re there. There’s a platform with benches at the end of the trail past the lower viewing platform ( the Riffles )and before you get to the falls. It’s best to go really early to the falls as it’s overcrowded and there’s usually a wait list overseen by a Park Ranger at that stop point.
This is the Bear that we met on the trail very early one morning.

No recent posts as the salmon are just starting up the Naknek River in large numbers on schedule. Will be normal crowds soon. The NPS will restrict crowding on the platforms with a name list that is timed. If you time out just get back on the list and go down to the Riffles platform. I have a platform shot from 7/13/19 and the salmon are so thick they are pushing themselves up out of the water around the bears paws. Every year is different though.
100-400 will work. The far side of the falls may be a stretch but the near lip will be in good range. The closer they are the more you shoot down though. The Sows with Cubs hang around the lower river and camp. They avoid the falls as the big males rule things and it is too dangerous for them. Not sure if you can get a river guide off a fly in but Bristol Adventures runs the lodges/outfitter there and would be the one to check with. Otherwise your guide would have to fly in with you.
Check explore.org and you can watch the cams as the 10th approaches.

The river is great. You need waders to do it right and get up river to the cut. I am camping for a week and will be leaving Brooks on the 10th. Glad to go after NPS closed the camp last year. Double download to get up close !

We've driven to Alaska three times, once in a Class A, and twice pulling a 36' 5th wheel. If it were not for our age, we'd go again. You are about to experience a thrill of a lifetime on the frontier. Document with photographs, and write logs on your experience. The first time we only allowed 3 weeks in AK, and from that mistake the next two trips we were there for 2 to 3 months, and wished we had more time. Don't sweat the little things, as they are going to happen, keep your focus on the beauty and thrill of adventure.

It has been several years since I drove an RV around there. Buy the full coverage insurance. We had the spare tire bounce off somewhere and the insurance paid for it. As a previous person said “ stay on paved roads” or well maintained gravel roads. Get yourself a copy of “The Mile Post” it is the best maps and information on all roads and road side stops. WiFi is ??? In many spots. A real GPS is more useful. It use to be legal to camp anywhere that was not private property. I can’t emphasize enough to get the MilePost. It will be your bible. Enjoy your trip. Stop at the Iditarod Hq. and say hi to the dogs.

It has been several years since I drove an RV around there. Buy the full coverage insurance. We had the spare tire bounce off somewhere and the insurance paid for it. As a previous person said “ stay on paved roads” or well maintained gravel roads. Get yourself a copy of “The Mile Post” it is the best maps and information on all roads and road side stops. WiFi is ??? In many spots. A real GPS is more useful. It use to be legal to camp anywhere that was not private property. I can’t emphasize enough to get the MilePost. It will be your bible. Enjoy your trip. Stop at the Iditarod Hq. and say hi to the dogs.

You have an adventure on your menu. Stay on paved roads, and stray off them only if the road is maintained. Travel light. Bring along two or three LED flashlights with spare batteries, for emergency signaling at night. I can suggest a portable air pump (running off the cigarette lighter outlet) for inflating tires. Take 2 or 3 flats of bottled water. A first aid kit seems like a good idea, too. Wear broken-in hiking shoes.

Make a list of everything you will need to pack before you leave.

For sure if you go into a remote area, file a trip plan with a park ranger. Then they will know where to start looking if you fail to report your return.