Southwest Community: Dillingham
Plan Your Trip
Learn More About Southwest Alaska
Dillingham is located at the extreme northern end of Nushagak Bay in northern Bristol Bay, at the confluence of the Wood and Nushagak Rivers, making it the economic and transportation hub of the Bristol Bay region. Bristol Bay is one of the richest fishing grounds in the world, so it is not surprising over 300 residents hold commercial licenses and the harbor serves more than 600 boats. It is also home to four canneries. Peter Pan Cannery offers tours of historic cannery buildings during the summer.
The area around Dillingham was long inhabited by both Eskimo and Athabascan groups. In 1818, Alexander Baranof, first governor of Russian America, ordered construction of a permanent post at the mouth of the Nushagak River.
Traditionally a Yup'ik Eskimo area, with Russian influences, Dillingham is now a highly mixed population of non-Native and Natives, with 60 percent Alaska Native or part Native. Many traditions are preserved and practiced today and Native arts and crafts abound including grass basketry, ivory carving, Eskimo dolls and masks. The Samuel K. Fox Museum features traditional and contemporary Alaskan arts, crafts and artifacts.
Dillingham offers some of the best sportfishing in the world, with many lodges in the area and numerous charters available. The village of Aleknagik, connected to Dillingham by 25 miles of road is located on Lake Aleknagik with world-class salmon, trout, grayling and arctic char.
Dillingham is also gateway to Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Wood-Tikchik State Park and Walrus Island State Game Sanctuary.
Togiak National Wildlife Refuge includes 4.7 million acres of land that encompass pristine rivers, clear mountain lakes and steep sloped mountains. The rugged Ahklun and Wood River Mountains are noteworthy for their scenic beauty. Togiak offers some of the finest salmon and trout fishing in Alaska and that is little wonder, considering the refuge protects habitat that produces nearly 3 million Chinook, sockeye, chum, pink and coho salmon along with 27 other fish species. The refuge also provides habitat for at least 201 staging, migrating or breeding bird species including land birds, shorebirds, seabirds, raptors and waterfowl. Brown bear, moose, caribou, wolves and many smaller mammals call Togiak home. In addition, 17 species of marine mammals are found along Togiak's coastline. Up to 12,000 male walrus may haul out on Cape Peirce, on the southwestern tip of the refuge at one time. Steller's sea lions, harbor and spotted seals use haulouts within the refuge as well. Dillingham is the hub for many of the air taxis that have permits to operate within Togiak Refuge.
Wood-Tikchik State Park is the largest state park in the U.S. consisting of 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 lake systems span a variety of terrain and are renowned for their diverse beauty. The waters of the park abound with all five species of Pacific salmon as well as trout, grayling, arctic char, Dolly Varden and northern pike. Moose, caribou and brown bear can be seen throughout the park and birds include waterfowl, gulls, bald and golden eagles, arctic tern, various loons, sandpipers, plovers, ptarmigan and grouse.
Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary, a group of seven craggy islands and their adjacent waters located in northern Bristol Bay, is world famous for its unique summer concentration of walruses. Best know among the Walrus Islands is Round Island, where each summer large numbers of male walruses haul out on exposed, rocky beaches. Other wildlife on and around the sanctuary include Steller's sea lions, harbor seals, gray whales, Orcas, humpback and minke whales, red foxes, and thousands of seabirds.
Details
A fisherman enjoys early morning on a still lake
Population: 2,422
Location: Dillingham is located at the extreme northern end of Nushagak Bay in northern Bristol Bay, at the confluence of the Wood and Nashagak Rivers. It lies 327 miles southwest of Anchorage, approximately 1 hr. and 10 min. by air.
Access: Scheduled jet service from Anchorage, air taxi service.
Accommodations: Two hotel/motels (90 rooms), five bed & breakfasts (20+ beds); six restaurants (seating for 200+). Food, all conveniences, supplies and a hospital.