Katmai National Park and Preserve, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, Aniakchak National Wild and Scenic River, and numerous State Critical Habitat Areas are all located within this region, preserving the area's remarkable natural and cultural history.

This region has been continuously occupied for the past 9,000 years. Archaeological sites are scattered throughout the Alaska Peninsula, making them some of the oldest sites in North America. Katmai National Park and Preserve is the site of the Brooks River National Historic Landmark with North America's highest concentration of prehistoric human dwellings. For those who would like a glimpse into the past, a reconstructed barbara (a semi-subterranean house) is located just a short hike west of Brooks Camp. Native villages of today provide a hint into the area's cultural history through the traditional subsistence lifestyles its residents continue to practice.

Forming the backbone of the Alaska Peninsula, the Aleutian Range is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, and has many large, volcanic peaks. One of the most prominent mountains in the area, Mt. Peulik, is located in the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. This peak sits at the southern edge of Becharof Lake, the second largest lake in Alaska. Other points of interest in the refuge include the “Gas Rocks”, where you can view carbon dioxide seeping through fractures in the rock. A hot spring in the lake discharging 120-degree water can also be found at the base of the Gas Rocks. Another unique geological feature in the refuge is Ukinrek Maars. Maars are shallow, low-rimmed craters that are caused by violent geological activity. The two Ukinrek Maars were formed in 1977 along the south shore of Becharof Lake. This is the only maar-producing activity ever recorded in the United States.

In the heart of the Alaska Peninsula lies the Aniakchak Caldera. Formed 3,500 years ago after the collapse of a 7,000-foot mountain, the six-mile wide caldera is part of the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve. More recent eruptions have left behind cinder cones, lava flows, and explosion pits inside the caldera. Surprise Lake, located in the caldera, is the source of the Aniakchak Wild River, a 27-mile river which cascades through a 1,500-foot gash in the caldera wall known as “The Gates.” Class III and IV rapids dropping 70-feet per mile for 13 miles, thrill experienced river runners.

Big-game hunting is a popular activity in this region, particularly in the Becharof and Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuges, where world-class trophy moose and brown bear are regularly taken. Great sport fishing opportunities for salmon and fresh water species abound in the waters of Becharof and Ugashik Lakes and their tributaries. No matter the recreational activity – hunting, fishing, hiking, river-running, bird watching, wildlife viewing – this region is packed full of adventures waiting for those who are willing to venture off a path less traveled.

Access to this region is primarily by air. There are regularly scheduled flights from Anchorage to King Salmon, which serves as the transportation hub for the area. Air taxis and charter service provide transportation to the outlying villages of Egegik, Ugashik, Pilot Point and Port Heiden, and other points of interest.