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Dillingham

A fisherman enjoys early morning on a still lake

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Dillingham is a full-service community that welcomes both the commercial fishing industry and a sizeable number of summer visitors in search of some of Alaska’s best sportfishing and wildlife viewing.

About Dillingham

Dillingham is home to 2,347 residents, who live on the edge of the largest state park in the country, Wood-Tikchik State Park, and enjoy some of the best sportfishing in the entire state – which is saying something! All five species of Pacific salmon along with freshwater rainbow trout, arctic char and Dolly Varden are abundant in the Wood and Tikchik systems of lakes and rivers.

Strategically situated at the head of Nushagak Bay and along the mouth of the Wood and Nushagak rivers, Dillingham has become the economic and transportation hub of western Bristol Bay. Thanks to the rich fisheries of Bristol Bay, Dillingham is the fastest growing community in the region, supporting 230 commercial fishing licenses and four fish processing plants whose workers double the city’s population in the summer.

Things to do

Dillingham and the many surrounding wilderness areas are popular with outdoorspeople who want to enjoy remote wilderness, sportfishing, solitary lakes and quiet rivers and unparalleled wildlife viewing.

Wood-Tikchik State Park is spread over 1.6 million acres and named for its two separate systems of large, interconnected clear-water lakes. Bordered by the Nushagak lowlands on the east and the Wood River Mountains to the west, the two systems of lakes span a variety of terrain and are renowned for their diverse beauty. Other than a handful of fishing and hunting lodges in and around the park, Wood-Tikchik is an undeveloped wilderness that attracts kayakers, canoers, rafters and boaters. Visitors are usually totally self-sufficient and reach the park by air taxi from Dillingham or charter boat from the village of Aleknagik on Lake Aleknagik, 25 miles north of Dillingham and connected to the city by road.

Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary is another popular spot near Dillingham. The sanctuary is made up of a group of seven craggy islands and their adjacent waters located in northern Bristol Bay southwest of Dillingham. Best know among the Walrus Islands is Round Island, the largest walrus haul-out grounds in Alaska, where each summer 15,000 male walruses haul out on exposed, rocky beaches to stake out their territory for the upcoming mating season. Other wildlife is also plentiful in the sanctuary, including Steller sea lions, migrating whales, orcas, puffins and thousands of other seabirds. Camping is available on Round Island, but the number of campers is limited to ensure the walruses are not disturbed, so make arrangements first with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Dillingham is also the hub for many of the air taxis that operate within Togiak National Wildlife Refuge. The 4.7-million-acre refuge features pristine rivers, clear mountain lakes and steep sloped mountains and stretches from the Bering Sea to the treeless tundra uplands of the Ahklun and Wood River mountains. The main activities in the refuge are float trips and sport fishing. The refuge offers some of the finest salmon and trout fishing in Alaska; all five species of Pacific salmon can be found there. The refuge also provides habitat for at least 201 staging, migrating or breeding bird species while brown bear, moose and caribou attract sport hunters to the area. Along the refuge’s coastline, up to 12,000 male walruses may haul out on Cape Pierce at one time.

Dillingham

Dillingham is located at the extreme northern end of Nushagak Bay in northern Bristol Bay. There is no road access to Dillingham. The community is reached by scheduled jet service from Anchorage and air taxi service from smaller communities.

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Dillingham

Nearby Parks

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Attractions

Beaver Round-Up Festival +

This five day festival in late Marsh is centered around the Western Alaska Championship Sled Dog Races but includes a variety of other events ranging from the Biggest Beaver Pelt Contest and snowmobile races to an outhouse race.
Cannery Tours +

Tours of Dillingham's Peter Pan Cannery, one of the country's oldest operating canneries, are offered in the summer. Tours focus on the historical portions and the long history of the cannery that was established in 1901.
Lake Aleknagik State Recreation Site +

Lake Aleknagik State Recreation Site is the Gateway to Wood-Tikchik State Park. The site provides the departure point for visitors to Lake Aleknagik and Wood-Tikchik State Park. Limited accommodations are available for boat and float planes. Gasoline and aviation fuel is available in Aleknagik. The Wood-Tikchik Park ranger station is located here.
Samuel K Fox Museum +

The Samuel K. Museum features permanent displays that focuses on the history of Dillingham, from exploration of Bristol Bay and the fishing industry to trapping, as well as a number of temporary and traveling exhibits.