I responded to one of your posts on someone else's thread but not particularly to the one day vs. multi-day trip to Katmai.

If you go on a day trip to Brooks Camp, I would insist that your floatplane operator land on BROOKS LAKE. Most land on Naknek Lake where the visitor services are (lodge, ranger station, campground, etc). The problem with landing on that side is that the bear viewing is 99% on the other side of the river. When I was there last month, the bridge was closed for hours at a time due to "bear jams" meaning that bears were within 50 yards of the bridge or the paths leading to the bridge. If you are only there for say 6 hours, and the bridge is closed for the first 2-3 hours when you get there, even if it opens up, you don't want to cross since you might not get back in time to catch your plane back.

The better option for a day trip to Katmai NP is to fly from Homer to Hallo Bay - no bear jams since you land on the beach. Less developed but I have heard good things about this trip. Still about $500-$600/person for a day trip. Personally, when I am spending that kind of money, I would want to stay longer since the plane cost is the same whether I go for 6 hours or for 3 days.

Too bad camping is not an option. I was not a camper until about 8 years ago. Even now as I type this from a public library, I am camping out at a music festival that is delayed due to the rain. But I was warm and dry inside my tent last night!

John