Ouzinkie is located on the southwest shore of Spruce Island, 10 miles north of the city of Kodiak on Kodiak Island ., ABOUT OUZINKIE (SUGPIAQ: UUSENKAA), One of the oldest settlements of the archipelago, Ouzinkie is separated from Kodiak Island by a strait named Uskiy, which means “very narrow” in Russian., THINGS TO DO, Salmon and halibut fishing , beautiful scenery, wildlife, Alaska Native culture , and Russian history make Ouzinkie a great off-the-beaten-track experience for the adventurous traveler. Charter boat operators based in Ouzinkie offer salmon and halibut fishing and marine wildlife excursions from the village. Ouzinkie Island is wedged between Marmot and Monashka Bay, where humpback, fin, gray…, HISTORY, The Russian American Company founded Ouzinkie as a retirement community in the early 1800s. In the late 1800s, several canneries opened, reliant on the rich fishing grounds in the area. A series of disasters over the years, including fire and a tsunami, destroyed the canneries, which were never replaced.
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The spectacular scenery surrounding Port Alsworth is quintessential Alaska: tundra-covered hills, an array of mountains, glaciers, and coastline, the brilliant blue waters of Lake Clark, and two active volcanoes., ABOUT PORT ALSWORTH, Port Alsworth is community of about 130 residents, located on the east shore of Lake Clark about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage . It is the only community within the vast wilderness of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve , which makes Port Alsworth a major gateway for adventurous souls seeking a wilderness experience in the national park. The centerpiece of the area is spectacular Lake…, THINGS TO DO, Visitors who head into the vast wilderness of the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve are a mix of anglers, river runners, and experienced backpackers. There are no roads and few trails in the park but there are three federally designated National Wild and Scenic Rivers, which are popular with rafters, kayakers, and packrafters. These wild rivers feature spectacular scenery and rapids that…
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The Pribilof Islands are a four-island archipelago in the Bering Sea, 300 miles from Alaska's mainland. The islands are part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and are known for their excellent birding and resident fur seal population., ABOUT THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, St. George (Unangam Tunuu: Anĝaaxchaluxˆ) St. Paul (Unangam Tunuu: Tanaxˆ Amixˆ) While little more than treeless, tundra-covered hills, the shoreline and cliffs of St. Paul and St. George Islands are teeming with wildlife, making these two islands excellent for birding tours and wildlife viewing. Two small communities, one on each island – St. Paul, population 450, and St. George, population…, THINGS TO DO, The Pribilof Islands host the largest gathering of marine animals in the world. The islands' dizzying ocean cliffs are home to extensive bird rookeries, providing some of the best birding opportunities in Alaska. The islands are the seasonal homes for approximately 2.5 million birds representing more than 200 different species that can be viewed on cliffs, beaches, tundra, and wetlands. Species…, GETTING TO THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS, The Pribilof Islands are located in the Bering Sea, 750 miles west of Anchorage . St. Paul and St. George are the only inhabited islands and are accessible by air and sea. Most visitors reach the islands by scheduled air service from Anchorage to St. Paul., HISTORY, Although Unangax̂ people traditionally traveled to the Pribilofs seasonally for hunting, the islands were uninhabited when Russian fur trader Gavrill Pribylov arrived at St. George Island in 1786. For two years, the Russian American Company enslaved and relocated indigenous people from Siberia and the Aleutian Islands to the Pribilofs to hunt fur seals; today’s island residents are descendants…
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Vast, beautiful, and remote, this refuge is often called America's last great wilderness., The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is one of Alaska’s crown jewels in the Arctic region and encompasses 19.6 million acres in remote northeastern Alaska. The refuge straddles the eastern , Brooks Range, from the treeless Arctic Coast to the taiga of the Porcupine River Valley., THINGS TO DO, ANWR offers a variety of wilderness opportunities and horizons to be explored. There are no roads, established trails, or facilities within the refuge; preparation and self-reliance are essential due to its remote nature and extreme conditions. Most visitors bring their own food and gear and access the refuge by air taxi, personal airplane, or as part of a guided tour. Although there is no cell…, WILDLIFE, The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to some of the most diverse and spectacular wildlife in the circumpolar north. The refuge's rich pageant of wildlife includes 42 fish species, 39 land mammals, seven marine mammals, and more than 200 migratory and resident bird species that come from four continents to breed, rest, or feed from April to July. The refuge is also the most important polar…, LANDSCAPE, The majestic , Brooks Range, , with peaks and glaciers to 9,000 feet, dominates the refuge. These rugged mountains extend east to west in a band 75 miles wide, rising abruptly from a flat, tundra-covered plain. Numerous braided rivers and streams cut through this treeless expanse. South of the continental divide, rivers wind serpentine courses through broad, spruce-covered valleys dotted with lakes and sloughs. The climate…, HISTORY, The movement to protect the area began in the 1950s out of concern for the loss of wild places to development, and the destructive potential of the atomic bomb that was displayed during World War II. Led by Olaus and Margaret Murie, conservationists launched a seven-year, hard-fought campaign to establish the nation's first ecosystem-scale conservation area. In 1960, the Eisenhower administration…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, Other than Arctic Village located on the southern edge of the refuge, there are no villages, roads, facilities, or campgrounds anywhere in the preserve. Backcountry hiking and camping are permitted. The Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot provides information about ANWR and other public lands along the Dalton Highway and the Alaska Public Land Information Center in Fairbanks …, GETTING HERE, The Dalton Highway and ANWR touch briefly just north of Atigun Pass and some hike from the road into the refuge. The vast majority of visitors arrive primary by air with most flying scheduled air service from Fairbanks to Fort Yukon , Kaktovik, Coldfoot , or Deadhorse and then chartering an air taxi into the refuge. For more information, visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge website .
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This preserve protects the largest undisturbed river system remaining in the United States., The remote and vast lands of Noatak National Preserve are located far above the Arctic Circle in a wilderness area bordered almost entirely by the Brooks Range . This 6.6 million acre preserve is the nation’s fourth largest wilderness area and protects the largest undisturbed watershed in North America – the 400 mile long Noatak River. Located northeast of Kotzebue , the preserve borders Gates of…, THINGS TO DO, Noatak National Preserve is a remote jewel in Alaska’s parklands: no roads enter the preserve, and access is only by air, boat, or dogsled/snowmachine in winter. The preserve is home to the the Noatak River, a designated Wild and Scenic River. As one of the least disturbed ecosystems in the world, it provides a unique opportunity for canoe and kayak trips. Although this wilderness river can be…, WILDLIFE, The vast and open terrain along the Noatak River provides ample opportunities for viewing the preserve's wildlife. The Western Arctic caribou herd, numbering around 200,000 animals, migrates through the preserve on their spring and fall migrations. Other mammals include brown bears, moose, Arctic fox, wolves, lynx, musk ox, and Dall’s sheep. A variety of birds also call the preserve home,…, LANDSCAPE, The Noatak River travels through the broad valley of the preserve, bordered by the Baird Mountains to the north and the and De Long Mountains to the south. The river, from its source in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve to its confluence with the Kelly River in the preserve, is part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Noatak River passes through six regions on its…, HISTORY, Archaeological research has revealed the Noatak National Preserve has been home to the Iñupiat people for over 11,000 years. The area became a national monument in 1978 and a national preserve in 1980 when President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA)., FACILITIES AND CAMPING, The Noatak National Preserve is one of the finest wilderness areas in the world and has no roads, trails, designative camping areas, visitor facilities, or administrative offices within the preserve. Backcountry camping is permitted. The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue provides information on Noatak National Preserve and can provide suggestions for float trips and backcountry camping…, GETTING HERE, Access to the preserve is from Bettles or Kotzebue . In the summer, visitors may access the park by chartered flight or boat. In the winter, access is by plane, snowmachine, or dogsled. There is no road access to Noatak National Preserve. In the summer, scheduled air service is available from Anchorage to Kotzebue and Fairbanks to Bettles . Learn more about nearby Gates of the Arctic…
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Encompassing a transition zone, this refuge weaves together boreal forest, Arctic tundra, wetlands, and hot springs., Selawik National Wildlife Refuge is situated in remote northwestern Alaska on the Arctic Circle to the east of Kotzebue Sound. The 2.15-million-acre refuge encompasses an Arctic landscape rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty. The refuge is an awe-inspiring land of vast tundra, spruce forest, and birch and alder-lined foothills. Its sweeping waterways and wetlands give shelter and provide…, THINGS TO DO, The Selawik Wilderness Area has no trails or public facilities. Summer access is difficult due to the area’s remoteness and rough topography. The nearest town is Kotzebue , where visitors can arrange transportation by charter air service to remote locations in the refuge for hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, and other backcountry activities. The refuge's Wilderness adjoins…, WILDLIFE, One of the main reasons the refuge was created was for the protection of the Western Arctic caribou herd, the largest herd in Alaska at about 500,000 animals. The Western Arctic caribou migrate through the refuge on their way from calving to wintering grounds. Other large mammals on the refuge include moose, which began using the refuge in the 1940s, and occasionally muskoxen. Both black and…, LANDSCAPE, The refuge covers a transition zone, where the northernmost boreal forest gives way to Arctic tundra, lakes, wetlands, and meadows. Selawik's landscape is so diverse it even includes a set of rolling, vegetated sand dunes that were formed by the last glacial recession. These dunes are the remnant of a much larger system that once included the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes to the north. Most of this…, HISTORY, Northwest Alaska has played a key role in North American history as a travel route, a home for northern peoples, a trapping ground, and as a reindeer herding area. Historically, the Kobuk and Selawik Rivers served as important travel corridors from the coast to the more mountainous areas to the east. This is still true today, as locals access these lands via waterways by boat in the summer and by…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, There are no roads, maintained trails, campgrounds, or visitor facilities in Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. The exception is the hot springs at the headwaters of the Selawik River, where there are two rustic public cabins and a bathhouse. The Upper Kobuk Elders’ Council and the City Council of Huslia hold a special use permit for these facilities, but the public is welcome to use the cabins if…, GETTING HERE, Selawik National Wildlife Refuge is not accessible by road. Most visitors access the refuge by chartered air service from Kotzebue . Daily flights are available from Anchorage to Kotzebue . In winter, visitors can access the refuge by dogsleds or snowmobiles. Explore more things to do in Kotzebue . For more information, visit the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge website .
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Observe the impressive gathering of hundreds of bald eagles just outside of Haines in the Inside Passage . It's a remarkable sight - hundreds of birds sitting in the bare trees lining the river, often six or more birds to a branch. Every portion of this preserve is used by eagles at some time during the year, and from October to February, more than 3,000 eagles congregate here to feed on…, THINGS TO DO, As the name suggests, viewing bald eagles is the top thing to do at the preserve. The best time to view the eagles is late fall and early winter, though they can be seen in the area year-round. The preserve has several pullouts along the highway with spotting scopes that offer the great vantage points. Visitors can also take in the sights from a boardwalk viewing platform and the 2-mile-long…, WILDLIFE, Even during the summer, the preserve is one of the best places to see eagles in the Inside Passage . The Chilkat Valley is the year-round home for between 200 and 400 eagles, and more than 80 nests have been observed in the preserve itself. By the time the fall migration begins in October, the resident eagles are done raising their young, but immature eagles will often stay nearby for a year or…, LANDSCAPE, The river "flats" of the Chilkat River, located between miles 18 and 24 of the Haines Highway, are the main viewing areas for eagle watchers and are considered critical habitat in the preserve., FACILITIES AND CAMPING, Haines Highway, which extends 146 miles north to the Alaska Highway at Haines Junction, skirts the preserve and provides visitors a paved route to the eagles. The best views of the birds are from posted turnoffs between Mile 18 and Mile 22, where spotting scopes, interpretive displays, and viewing platforms have been set up along the river. There is no camping in the preserve, but lodging,…, GETTING HERE, The Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is easily accessed by the Haines Highway from Haines . The community is on the road system, connecting to the Alaska Highway, and is also accessible on the , Alaska Marine Highway, ferry system and scheduled flights from Juneau and Skagway . Fore more information, visit the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve website .
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Rich in breathtaking scenery, these state parks have something for every nature lover., Haines is not only one of the few Inside Passage communities accessible by road, but it's also one of the few to boast Alaska state parks, state recreation sites, and state marine sites. Six state-designated parks make this town of about 1,900 residents an outdoor playground for the thousands of visitors who pass through during the year., THINGS TO DO, Visitors to the Haines State Parks can enjoy sea kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and camping. The largest and most developed park is the 6,049 acre Chilkat State Park , which is 7 miles south of Haines . Chilkat State Park has a campground, a picnic area, boat launch, and a log cabin visitor center. The visitor center’s observation deck features incredible…, WILDLIFE, The Chilkat River is the most productive coho spawning and rearing area in the Inside Passage and provides excellent habitat for wild sockeye, Chinook, and chum salmon runs. The river flats provide critical habitat for the bald eagles in the area , who are attracted by the availability of spawned-out salmon and open waters in late fall and winter. In addition to eagles, birds found the parks…, LANDSCAPE, Encircled by water and mountain ranges, Haines serves as an intersection between the interior of North America and the waters of the Inside Passage . The mountain ranges in the area are the Chilkat Range, Takinsha Mountains, Takshanuk Mountains, and Coast Mountains. Rainbow and Davidson Glaciers in the Chilkat Range are visible remnants of the area’s glacier history. The Chilkat River runs…, HISTORY, Haines was named in honor of Francina Haines, a Presbyterian missionary who came to the area with the first missionaries in 1879. A few years later, in 1892, Jack Dalton established a toll road on the Tlingit trade route into the interior and charged gold-seekers to pass as they flooded into Canada. As a result, parts of the Dalton Trail are called the Haines Highway. Due to border disputes…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, Chilkat State Park has a campground located at the edge of Chilkat Inlet featuring 35 campsites, 4 ocean front walk-in tent sites, a picnic area, boat launch, a log cabin visitor center, and access to several hiking trails. The Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site features 32 campsites in a beautiful stand of Sitka spruce along with a picnic shelter and boat launch. Portage Cove State…, GETTING HERE, The parks are accessed by road from Haines , a community that is connected to the Alaska Highway as well as to other Inside Passage ports by the , Alaska Marine Highway, and regularly scheduled flights from Juneau and Skagway . The two state marine parks are accessible by boat only. Explore more things to do in the Haines area .
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Experience the golden history this epic quest for fortune the 19th century., The glacially carved valleys, streams, and stunning views that make up Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park's physical landscape provide a compelling stage for its gold rush story. Commemorating the Gold Rush of 1897-98, this 13,191-acre park encompasses a six-block historical district in the town of Skagway , the nearby ghost town of Dyea, and the famous Chilkoot and White Pass Trails., THING TO DO, Today, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is a cruise ship favorite, making it the most popular park in Alaska with 850,000 visitors annually. The park offers a unique balance of history and outdoor adventure. The streets of Skagway are lined with dozens of historic stores, saloons, and public buildings, many of which have been restored by the National Park Service. Park Rangers lead…, White Pass & Yukon Railroad, , where visitors book passage for a spectacular tour into the mountains aboard the historic railway - one of the most popular activities in Skagway . In the neighboring ghost town of Dyea , visitors can learn how a town once the size of Skagway disappeared in the years following the gold rush. Today, the ghost town still serves as the starting point for hikes on the famous 33-mile Chilkoot…, HISTORY, The park commemorates the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 – 1898. When gold was discovered in 1896 in Bonanza Creek, near Dawson City in the Yukon Territory, Skagway and Dyea became the starting places for more than 40,000 gold rush stampeders making their way to Canada’s Yukon goldfields by way of the Chilkoot Trail. The miners were required to have a year’s worth of supplies, causing them to make…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, The National Park Service operates a 22-site campground in the Dyea area at the start of the Chilkoot Trail. The site is open for both tent and RV campers. Nine developed campgrounds are located along the Chilkoot Trail for backpackers. Campground-specific permits are required for backcountry campgrounds along the Chilkoot Trail., GETTING HERE, Skagway is 96 miles north of Juneau and reached by scheduled air service or the , Alaska Marine Highway System, ferries. Skagway can also be reached by road, via the South Klondike Highway. The town is 110 miles south of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, where bus service is also available. Explore more things to do in the Skagway area. For more information, visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park website .
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This 4,000-acre wildlife refuge provides protected habitat for land and marine life., Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge stretches nine miles along the shores of Gastineau Channel adjacent to downtown Juneau and the airport. The wetlands provide a vital feeding and resting area for both resident and migrating birds traveling to and from their Arctic breeding grounds., THINGS TO DO, The refuge offers year-round recreation. Popular activities include birding, photography, boating, hunting, sightseeing, and fishing for Coho salmon, sockeye salmon, cutthroat trout, and Dolly Varden. Several pull-offs on the north side of the Gastineau Channel and the south side on Douglas Island offer scenic viewpoints, interpretive signs, boat ramps, and beach access. Airport Dike Trail is a…, WILDLIFE, Seventeen freshwater streams flow into Mendenhall Wetlands, creating estuaries that are important habitat for over 140 species of resident and migratory birds, along with fish, mammals, and other marine life. The best time to view migratory birds is in the spring and fall, when waterfowl and shorebirds stop and feed in the wetlands on their way to and from their summer nesting grounds in the …, LANDSCAPE, The wetlands are made up of estuaries formed by seventeen streams that flow into Gastineau Channel. Freshwater from the streams mixes with the saltwater of the channel to form an important wetland habitat for resident and migrating birds, fish, mammals, and marine life., HISTORY, During the 1960s, local citizens observed accelerated environmental change in this important habitat that threatened native plants and wildlife. The construction of the Egan Expressway on the north side of Gastineau Channel in the early 1970s accelerated the need to preserve the area. In 1976, the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge was established., FACILITIES, The refuge's most popular area is a scenic turnout at Mile 6 of Egan Drive with a viewing platform and interpretive signs. Multiple refuge access points are located on the north and south sides of Gastineau Channel, including scenic pullouts and beach access. There is also a public boat launch on Cove Creek at Mile 9.5 of North Douglas Highway on Douglas Island., GETTING HERE, The Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge is located along the Gastineau Channel, situated between the city of Juneau and Douglas Island. The refuge is accessible from several access points along the northern side of Gastineau Channel and the southern side on Douglas Island. Explore more things to do in Juneau . For more information, visit the Mendenall Wetlands State Game Refuge website.
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