Arctic Coast

Accessible by plane and the rugged Dalton Highway, the remote Arctic coast is the northernmost landscape in the United States. Utqiagvik (Barrow) and Prudhoe Bay/Deadhorse are the centers of activity in the area, providing visitor services and tours for the hearty travelers who arrive to view Arctic wildlife, the northern lights, Iñupiaq culture, the Arctic Ocean, and the unique landscapes above the Arctic Circle.

The town of Utqiagvik (Barrow) is the northernmost settlement in America and one of the state’s largest Iñupiat communities. As the seat of the 88,000 square-mile North Slope Borough, Utqiagvik is also the world’s largest municipality. This far north, the summer sun shines continually from May 12 - August 2 and doesn’t rise from November 19 – January 23.

Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay are located at the northernmost reaches of the Alaska road system, at the end of the famed Dalton Highway or “Haul Road.” The area was developed to support oil development and is the starting point of the 800-mile-long Trans-Alaska Pipeline that transports crude oil down to Valdez. Visitors to Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay can join tours to the Arctic Ocean, the Prudhoe Bay oil facility, and search for wildlife on the tundra.  

Arctic Coast: Cities & Towns

• Utqiaġvik (Barrow)
• Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse