Far North Community: Prudhoe Bay/Deadhorse
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Deadhorse is 498 miles north of Fairbanks near the Arctic Ocean and is the end of the Dalton Highway or ‘Haul Road.’ The Prudhoe Bay industrial complex on the Arctic Ocean is located a short distance from Deadhorse. Deadhorse is not a town in the traditional sense. It was established to support oil development in the surrounding area. Most buildings are modular, pre-fab-type, situated on gravel pads on tundra bog. Virtually all the businesses are engaged in oil field or pipeline support such as drilling, construction, maintenance, etc.
How Deadhorse got its name has never been authenticated, but one version says the name came from a company, Deadhorse Haulers, hired to do gravel work on the airstrip. Access to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean is restricted to oilfield workers and tour groups with special permits. For security and safety reasons, unescorted visitors are not allowed on the docks or on area roads. A number of tour agencies out of Fairbanks, Anchorage and in Deadhorse offer excursions to the Arctic Ocean as well as tours of the Prudhoe Bay oil facility.
The 424-mile Dalton Highway begins at Mile 73 on the Elliott Highway, 84 miles north of Fairbanks. The Dalton Highway is unique in its scenic beauty, wildlife and recreational opportunities, but it is also one of Alaska’s most remote and challenging roads. Mostly gravel, motorists need to watch for ruts, rocks, dust in dry weather, potholes in wet weather and trucks and road maintenance equipment at all times. The volume of truck traffic hauling materials between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay can he high and it is recommended motorists give these trucks the right-of-way. Slow down and pull over to the side of the road when meeting oncoming trucks.
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Photo By: Ernst Schneider
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Pipeline near Prudhoe Bay
Population: 25 permanent, 3,500-5,000 part-time
Location: Deadhorse is located 498 miles north of Fairbanks on the Dalton Highway. Prudhoe Bay lies offshore in the Beaufort Sea, east of Nuiqsut, in the northern waters of Alaska.
Access: Scheduled jet service from Anchorage, Fairbanks and Barrow or via the Dalton Highway.
Accommodations: Three hotels with restaurants. It is a good idea to call ahead for lodging reservations. No campgrounds, overnight parking at the Tesoro station or airport parking lot allowed.
