Official State of Alaska Vacation and Travel Information

Home » Destinations » Cities & Towns » Bethel

Southwest

Overview
Map
Parks + Attractions

Bethel

Learn More

Sprawled along the Kuskokwim River 40 miles from the Bering Sea and 400 air miles from Anchorage, Bethel, with a population of 5,665, is one of the largest communities in rural Alaska. It is also the transportation center and supply hub for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, providing food, fuel, medical care and other services for 56 surrounding villages.

About Bethel

Originally a Yup'ik settlement called "Mumtrekhlogamute," meaning “smokehouse people,” Bethel was named for the nearby fish smokehouse. A trading post arrived in the 1870s followed by the Moravian Church mission in 1884 and the town grew up around the mission and trading post.

Bethel is 68 percent Alaska Native or part Alaska Native. Not surprisingly, traditional Yup’ik Eskimo practices and language remain predominant in the area, as do subsistence activities such as the gathering of salmon, game birds and berries.

Things to do

Avid birders will be impressed by the 20-million-acre Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, which encircles the community of Bethel. It is the largest wildlife refuge in the country. The refuge is a landscape of tundra marshes, lakes and streams that supports one of the largest concentrations of waterfowl in the world. Every spring, a spectacle can be seen as 2 million waterfowl, 750,000 geese and 100 million shorebirds return to their habitats to nest.

Those looking to visit the refuge can charter a boat or floatplane for opportunities to get up close for wildlife observation and photography. The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Bethel can help visitors connect with transportation and guides. Hiking in this marshy tundra can be difficult but you can explore the unusual terrain at Pinky's Park in town, which features a nearly two-mile boardwalk over the tundra.

Bethel comes alive during its two main festivals. The Kuskokwim 300, often regarded as one of the top mid-distance dog sled races in the world, is held in mid-January, while the Cama-i Dance Festival is held the last weekend of March. The three-day dance festival is sponsored by the Bethel Council on the Arts and involves participants from other states and countries along with local dancers.

Bethel

Bethel is accessible by daily scheduled jet service from Anchorage and air taxi service from Aniak, Dillingham and St. Mary's.

Learn More

Bethel

Nearby Parks

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Learn More

Attractions

Birding +

Due to it's location to the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, an important breeding ground for shorebirds, seabirds, tundra swans, emperor, white-fronted and Cackling Geese, black brant and other migratory birds, Bethel offers excellent birding opportunities. It is estimated that 100 million shorebirds along next in the refure each summer. The best source of information on local guides and birding is the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in town.
Cama-i Dance Festival +

Sponsored by the Bethel Council of the Arts, Cama-i is a three-day event in the last weekend of March focusing on the language of dance. Dancers from other states and even countries participate along with local dancers in this celebration of culture and dance.
Kuskokwin-300 Sled Dog Race +

Staged in mid-January, Kuskokwin 300 Sled Dog Race is one of the toughest mid-distance dog sled races in the world with the winner often covering the 300-mile course from Bethel to Aniak and back in less than 19 hours. Wrapped around the event is "Race Week" with activities in Bethel before and after the mushers depart.
Pinkys Park +

The focal point of Pinky's Park is a nearly 2-mile boardwalk that extends over the tundra but the 22-acre park also features a baseball field, basketball court and playground. Pinky's is also the favorite among locals to gather in the evening for the sunset.
The Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation +

The Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation has one of the most impressive collection of traditional native arts and crafts on display in Bethel. The collection includes locally-made baskets, masks and rain coats.
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center +

The Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is the best destination to about the area's wildlife, and how important it is to the subsistent lifestyle of many of the local residents. The center features wildlife displays and photographs and occasional organizes birding tours in the summer. There is also a bookstore with material for sale relating to the refuge.
Yupik Cultural Center +

Built in the mid-1990s, the Yup'ik Cultural Center showcases the Yup'ik lifestyle with displays of clothing and tools along with photograph and art exhibits. It is home to the Public Library of Bethel and a gift shop stocked with postcards, videos and books about the Yukon- Kuskokwin Delta. Among the many activities stages at the center are dance lessons, concerts, training classes and the seasonal Saturday Market.