Southwest Region
For those with a sense of adventure and a naturalist streak, few places on earth compare with the wonders of Southwest Alaska. Brown bears gather in large numbers to feed on salmon and more than 240 bird species inhabit the area’s wetlands and coastline. The region’s terrain ranges from a landscape of volcanoes in Katmai National Park and Preserve, created by the 1912 eruption of the Novarupta volcano, to the windswept Aleutian Islands that make a 1,200-mile sweep toward Asia. The Yup'ik, Cup'ik, Unangax̂, and Sugpiaq (Alutiiq) peoples have called this area home for thousands of years.
The landscapes in Southwest Alaska are as diverse as the as the experiences that await visitors to this fascinating region, home to World War II history in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, the verdant landscape of Kodiak Island, world-famous brown bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve, rich salmon runs in Bristol Bay, large concentrations of birds in the Pribilof Islands and Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, and so much more.
Southwest Alaska is not on the road system and access to most communities is by air taxi, though larger towns like Kodiak, Bethel, King Salmon, Dillingham, and Dutch Harbor are accessible by scheduled air service. Many of the coastal communities are also accessibly by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry.
Map of Southwest Alaska
Plan Your Trip
Infinite Adventures is a small family owned business offering active small group adventures in a converted American school bus throughout Alaska...
Join us for a day of fly-in bear viewing, safely observing grizzlies foraging sedge grass, salmon, and more (depending on the season) in remote...
Our premier summer offerings are our bear viewing tours at Lake Clark National Park or Katmai National Park. We leave Homer in the mornings and...
Katmai Wilderness Lodge is one of the few lodges in Alaska where the primary activity is bear viewing. There are no viewing platforms or timed...
Is there anything more iconic to Alaska than the mighty brown bear? Here's your chance to see these amazing creatures in the wild. Through Alaska...
Join us for a day of fly-in bear viewing, safely observing grizzlies foraging sedge grass, salmon, and more (depending on the season) in remote...
Get active and experience the real Alaska on one of our 'Active, Informative, Fun!' (c), Alaska multi-sport/hiking or family adventure tours...
Start your day with a fantastic scenic flight over the Alaskan backcountry and fly directly into the heart of bear viewing country. Once there...
Alaska Wildland Adventures operates vacation packages and wilderness lodges on the Kenai Peninsula and in Denali National Park. Our Alaska...
Discovery Voyages is Alaska's original small ship cruise. We offer the finest guided small group sea and land tours, featuring photography...
Sustainable tourism may be defined as travel to natural areas that is beneficial to local economies, respectful of the environment and sensitive...
Experience the authentic Alaska with Alaskans.
We offer fully escorted, customized land tours for small groups and families with a maximum...
If you’re looking for authentic experiences, total wilderness immersion, small group adventures, and incredible customer service all wrapped up...
Local Climate & Weather
For Alaska's day-to-day weather, it’s best to plan for a bit of everything. Learn more about weather in this area.
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