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,…, 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…, 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,…, 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,…, 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 .
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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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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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With a surplus of year-round activities, adventurers of all skill levels delight in this state park close to Alaska’s state capital., Juneau 's only state park is Point Bridget State Park, a 2850-acre unit overlooking Berners Bay and Lynn Canal, 39 miles north of downtown., THINGS TO DO, The park is a popular destination for birding, beachcombing, wildlife viewing, boating, and hiking. Salmon fishing is excellent off the Berners Bay beaches and in Cowee Creek. The area features several miles of trails that showcase views of meadows, cliffs, and beaches, leading to three public use cabins . In the winter, the meadows and forest are popular for cross country skiing and…, WILDLIFE AND LANDSCAPE, Point Bridget is offers a scenic combination of meadows, rocky shoreline, cliffs, and streams. Wildlife is plentiful in the area. In the spring, black bears feed on sedges in the meadow, and in late July they feast on the salmon runs in Cowee Creek. Sea lions and harbor seals are frequently seen frolicking along the shore. From April through September, humpbacks feed in the area and it's not…, HISTORY, The park stands on land once occupied by the Auks, a group of Tlingit Alaska Natives, who built summer homes and harvested the area's natural resources. Point Bridget was named by Captain George Vancouver in 1794, presumably after his mother, Bridget Berners. Cowee Creek is named after the Auk Chief who guided Joe Juneau and Dick Harris to the gold in Silver Bow Basin in 1888, which led to the…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, There is no campground at Point Bridget but there are three public use cabins located along the trail system. All are accessible on foot in the summer and on skis or snowshoes in the winter. Two of the cabins are along the beach and also accessible by kayak or canoe. Blue Mussel Cabin is the most popular due to its location along the ocean and opportunities to view marine wildlife., GETTING HERE, Point Bridget State Park is accessible by road from Juneau . The park is near the northern terminus of the Juneau road system, located at mile 39 of Glacier Highway. Explore more things to do in the Juneau area . For more information, visit the Point Bridget State Park website .
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This wildlife sanctuary near Juneau is renowned for exceptional brown bear viewing at Pack Creek., Flowing down from the high mountains on Admiralty Island's east side, Pack Creek spills into Seymour Canal at an area of extensive tidal flats 30 miles south of Juneau . Pack Creek's healthy salmon runs during the summer attract a large number of brown bears to the mouth of the creek, making the spot one of the best bear viewing areas in the Inside Passage ., THINGS TO DO, Brown bears are the main attraction to the Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area in Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary. Visitors can only access the sanctuary on a guided trip or by applying for a permit , available between June 1 and September 10. The sanctuary is located on Admiralty Island and is only accessible by chartered flight or boat from Juneau . Upon arrival, visitors receive an orientation…, WILDLIFE, In addition to brown bears, visitors might also spot Sitka black tailed deer that inhabit the old growth spruce and hemlock forests that surround Pack Creek. Other wildlife that may be spotted includes river otters, minks, martens, and harbor seals. Occasionally, orcas and humpback whales are spotted offshore. Admiralty Island also supports the highest concentration of nesting bald eagles in the…, HISTORY, Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary was named for an Alaskan woodsman who lived on a float house in the area for almost 40 years. The sanctuary includes an area that has been closed to hunting since the mid-1930s., FACILITIES AND CAMPING, There are no facilities or visitor services at Pack Creek or in the Stan Price State Wildlife Sanctuary. Camping is not allowed at Pack Creek, but a camping is allowed on nearby islands that are less than a mile away. Visitors who wish to camp must bring their own boats to travel back and forth between the islands and the bear viewing area., GETTING HERE, The Stan Prince State Wildlife Sanctuary and Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area are accessible only by boat or plane. Most visitors arrive as part of a one-day guided floatplane tour departing from Juneau . For more information, visit the Stan Price Wildlife Sanctuary and Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area websites.
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Get immersed in nature, art, and history through totems, skillfully carved by Tlingit and Haida artists of Alaska's Inside Passage ., Ten miles north of Ketchikan is Totem Bight State Historical Park, an 11-acre park that is packed with restored and re-carved totems as well as a colorful Clan House. Providing a stunning backdrop to the totems is park's lush rainforest setting and the rocky coastline along Tongass Narrows., THINGS TO DO, The Clan House is the central attraction at the park, offering an inside look at Alaska Native culture and history. The stunning structure, with its intricate carvings and vibrant artwork, is an example of living quarters that would have been shared by 30 to 50 family members of the same lineage, led by a house chief. Inside the house is one large room with a central fireplace surrounded by a…, LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE, Totem Bight State Historical Park is nestled in dense temperate rainforest. The vast majority of Alaska’s coastal temperate rainforests are old growth, consisting primarily of western hemlock, Sitka spruce, mountain hemlock, and Alaska yellow cedar. Mature coastal temperate rainforests are extraordinarily complex and stable habitats. Wildlife in the area includes brown bears, black bears, wolves…, HISTORY, When many of Alaska's indigenous peoples left villages to seek work in the early 1900s, the villages and totem poles they left behind were soon overgrown by forests and eroded by weather. In 1938, the U.S. Forest Service began a program designed to salvage these large cedar monuments by hiring skilled Tlingit and Haida carvers to restore or replicate them. The project grew into the construction…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, There is no camping at Totem Bight State Historical Park. Visitor facilities include interpretive displays, a bookshop, and a viewing deck overlooking the Tongass Narrows., GETTING HERE, Totem Bight is ten miles northwest of Ketchikan along North Tongass Highway. The Blue Line city bus connects downtown Ketchikan to Totem Bight State Historical Park. Explore more things to do in Ketchikan . For more information, visit the Totem Bight State Historical Park website .
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Experience the history of Alaska's territorial days at the House of Wickersham in Juneau ., Explore the first large Victorian home built on Juneau’s “Chicken Ridge,” home to one of the most influential Alaskans of the early 1900s., THINGS TO DO, Chicken Ridge is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Juneau , perched on a hill overlooking downtown. Today, the Chicken Ridge Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to some of the oldest homes in Juneau, including the House of Wickersham. Visitors can step back in time as they tour the House of Wickersham, which displays historical photographs, Alaska relics…, Alaska Railroad, , the University of Alaska, and , Denali National Park and Preserve, ., HISTORY, With the gold discoveries of the Klondike and Nome , hordes of prospectors arrived, and corruption was rampant and claim jumping increased. By 1900, new criminal and civil codes, as well as the expansion of the U.S. District Court system brought the first law and order to the Interior. The 3rd Judicial Division, comprised of 300,000 square miles, was the responsibility of the new District Court…, Denali National Park and Preserve, . In 1903, District Court headquarters were moved to the new hub of Fairbanks and Wickersham moved with it. He rounded out his career as a delegate to Congress from 1909-1920 and from 1931-1933. Judge Wickersham finally settled in Juneau and purchased the Wickersham house in 1928. The house was built on the ridge overlooking downtown Juneau in 1898 and the judge lived in it with his wife…, GETTING HERE, House of Wickersham is located on 213 7th Street in downtown Juneau . For those walking from downtown, the house is accessible by a ten minute walk that includes walking up a moderate hill and ascending the Seward Street Stairs. Explore more things to do in Juneau . For more information, visit the Wickersham State Historic Site website .
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