Cape Krusenstern National Monument

The magnificent scenery and rugged wilderness of Cape Krustenstern provide a truly remote experience in Arctic Alaska.

Curving in an arc 70 miles along the Chukchi Sea is Cape Krusenstern National Monument, a remote wilderness area in Alaska’s Arctic region. This coastal region provides sweeping views across the mostly treeless landscape, made up of a system of lagoons and tundra flanked by rolling hills.

THINGS TO DO

Due to the rugged environment, Cape Krusenstern is not known as a casual tourist destination. Visitors in the summer tend to be skilled backcountry explorers familiar with surviving potential harsh conditions, high winds, and rain. Winter visits are recommended only for people with experienced in Arctic camping and survival.

Those prepared for the journey can enjoy a variety of activities, including birding and wildlife viewing, learning about the area’s archaeological history, kayaking along the coast and through lagoons, or embarking on a backcountry hike along the monument’s ridgelines and mountains. Adventure tour companies offer multi-day guided hiking and backpacking itineraries that include visits to Cape Krusenstern. Flightseeing is also a popular option to experience this area, with air charter companies offering flights from Kotzebue and Bettles.

WILDLIFE

Over 150 species of migratory birds come from all over the world to Cape Krusenstern to nest, where vast wetlands provide food, water, and shelter during the summer months. Musk oxen, brown bears, caribou, and moose can also be seen in the area.

LANDSCAPE

Located only 10 miles northwest of Kotzebue, Cape Krusenstern is made up of large lagoons and many smaller lakes that dot a wide coastal plain of wet tundra. Further inland, rolling hills topped by dry tundra are connected by large areas of tussock grass. Wildflowers bloom across the hills in summer.

Visitors to the park should be prepared for extreme weather conditions. In summer, temperatures are typically in the 50s – 70s, with higher temperatures in the interior regions of the park. Summer days are long, and the midnight sun doesn’t set for nearly a month from early June through early July. Summer temperatures can dip down to near freezing temperatures and visitors should be prepared for snow, rain, and windy conditions even in summer. In winter, temperatures are often below zero and are known to drop down to -50 degrees F. Winter visitors will experience snow, very little daylight, and long periods of clouds and wind. Storms that bring high winds and snow can occur any time of year.

HISTORY

The 540,000-acre monument is an unusual archaeological site for the Arctic: 114 beach-sand ridges adjacent to Krusenstern Lagoon contain artifacts dating back more than 5000 years. Shifting sea ice, ocean currents, and waves formed the ridges, each new one used in succession by Indigenous peoples for their hunting camps.

The Inupiat continue to use this area today. Along the outer beaches, the Inupiat people hunt seals along the cape. At shoreline campsites, women trim and render the seals for their fur along with the meat and seal oil that are vital for their local subsistence-based lifestyle.

FACILITIES AND CAMPING

A road to the Red Dog Mine crosses the northern boundary of the preserve. Otherwise, the monument is roadless, with no development or permanent villages. There are no public facilities, campgrounds, or trails within the monument. The park headquarters and visitor center are in Kotzebue at the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center, where ranger staff can provide valuable information on conditions, guides, routes, and transportation for first-time travelers.

GETTING HERE

Commercial jet service is provided from Anchorage to the gateway community of Kotzebue. To continue into the monument, most visitors use an air taxi operator for an hour-long flight. Summer access may also include motorized and non-motorized watercraft while winter access is via snowmobiles, bush plane, or dog sled.

For more information, visit the Cape Krusenstern National Monument website.