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Alaska's Regions

Alaska has several distinct regions. The geography, climate, and weather are very different in each region. Of course the things to see and do, activities, wildlife, peoples, and cultures are different in each region as well.

Here is a very brief overview of each region.

 Inside Passage Region, Alaska

Shaped by the staggering force of massive glaciers millions of years ago, Alaska’s Inside Passage boasts wildlife-filled fjords and lush island scenery–habitat for whales, porpoises, sea lions, bald eagles, and other wildlife. Its mountains are carpeted with majestic forests. Inside Passage Alaska is home to Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian Indians whose history is reflected in towering totem poles. Russian settlers left a legacy of onion-domed churches gleaming with icons.

Juneau—Alaska’s Capital City and Gateway to Glacier Bay

Juneau (population 30,711), Alaska’s capital and the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park, is nestled between towering mountains and the tidewaters of Gastineau Channel. The downtown district is a lively mix of modern architecture and quaint Victorian homes. Popular attractions include St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (1897), Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, local museums and the famous Mendenhall Glacier.

Flightsee over the magnificent Juneau icefield, birthing ground to more than 40 glaciers or take a scenic boat tour to spectacular Tracy Arm Fjord to view birds, seals and whales. Near to Juneau is Admiralty Island National Monument, home of the largest brown bear population in Southeast Alaska. Angoon, a Tlingit village, shares the island with the highest concentration of nesting bald eagles in North America.

Southcentral Region, Alaska

The Southcentral region is Alaska’s international gateway, with Anchorage international airport linked to Taipei by direct China Airlines flights. The region has the largest road network in Alaska and the Alaska Railroad, providing easy access to Alaska’s natural wonders that include a multitude of glaciers, massive icefields, majestic mountains, alpine lakes and rivers, and deep fjords. The region is home to a wide variety of land and marine wildlife and birds.

Interior Alaska

Experience winter’s magical northern lights, play in summer’s midnight sun, and enjoy the healing waters of Chena Hot Springs Resort year-round. In Alaska’s heartland, you’ll see North America’s tallest peak, Mt. McKinley, and wide expanses of beautiful forest teeming with wildlife and bird life such as grizzly and brown bears, herds of caribou, and a variety of birds. You can learn about Alaska’s Athabascan Indians and the heritage of Alaska’s gold miners, farmers and fur trappers.

Southwest Region, Alaska

For those with a naturalist streak, few places on earth compare with the wonders of Southwest Alaska. You can view a multitude of wildlife including over 240 bird species, brown bears, and numerous maritime and acquatic species. The region’s terrain ranges from a landscape of volcanoes in Katmai National Park, to the windswept Aleutian Islands that make a 1,000-mile sweep toward Asia.

Alaska Peninsula

The Alaska Peninsula extends 550 miles into the Pacific Ocean. In the west, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve offers a wilderness of seacoast, mountains, glaciers and lakes filled with trophy-sized rainbow trout. The community of King Salmon is the gateway to the exciting Katmai National Park and Preserve, one of the world’s top places to view brown bears. There are many fishing camps and lodges located throughout the area, featuring guided fishing tours.
Bear Viewing at Brooks Camp, Katmai N.P.

Katmai National Park and Preserve

Katmai is famous for its brown bears, pristine waterways with abundant fish, wilderness, rugged coastline, and volcanoes. Katmai is one of the premier brown bear viewing areas in the world. There are over 2,000 brown bears in the park. Special bear viewing facilities and platforms are at Brooks Camp, where brown bear congregate to feed on salmon at the Brooks River. The Park was created to preserve the volcanic Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

Far North Region, Alaska

Visiting Alaska’s Far North is the most accessible way to visit the Arctic Circle–a truly unique land. The communities of Alaska’s Far North are accessible from Anchorage or Fairbanks via aircraft. This is one of Alaska’s most diverse regions, with a landscape ranging from coastal plains to mountain ranges, offering the opportunity to experience unique wildlife and cultural opportunities. The Far North is filled with natural wonders such as the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.

Coldfoot

Accessible by road, Coldfoot is a perfect base camp for exploring the Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve or the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Hiker, Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic N.P.

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

Gates of the Arctic is one of the last truly wild places on earth. Here you can take a journey of adventure, discovery and solitude through vast valleys and gaunt mountains of rugged beauty and experience nature on it own terms. Visitors to the park must have the knowledge and skills to be truly self sufficient in the remote location and demanding climate of the Brooks Range. Those who come will find that opportunities for recreation and for natural quiet, solitude and wilderness enjoyment abound.

Barrow

America’s most northern town. During the summer months tour operators offer package tours of the area that can include polar bear watching, photographing snowy owls or watching Inupiat Eskimos pull bowhead whales up the beach. Barrow has one of the largest Eskimo communities, and the Inupiat Heritage Museum. Visitors also may see the Eskimos heading for whale camps in April and May. Barrow also boasts 24-hour daylight when the sun rises on May 10 and does not set again until August 2. On the flip side, the sun sets on November 18 and does not rise again until January 24.

Hubbard Glacier, Wrangell St. Elias National Park

Wrangell Mountains

Wrangell St. Elias National Park is known as “The Mountain Kingdom” and is the largest park in the U.S. national park system with over 13 million acres. This wilderness area has North America’s largest number of glaciers and the most mountain peaks over 16,000 feet including the towering Mt. St. Elias at 18,008 feet - the second highest peak in the USA, after Denali - Mt. McKinley in Alaska’s Denali National Park. 

 Access

Access to the park is available by road and air taxi. The northwestern border of the park is bounded by a main road which leads to Valdez, with two good roads into the park itself. The McCarthy Road leads from Chitina into the heart of the park near the Kennecott Visitor Center. Many visitors fly by air taxi to access backcountry areas of the park.

Park Headquarters and Visitor Center

This new visitor center facility is located along the Richardson Highway at mile 106 about 10 miles south of the town of Glennallen. The visitor center has a movie theater, exhibits, local paths, and a viewing area offering panoramic views of the mountains.

Park Service Facilities, Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve

• Park Headquarters and Visitor Center, Richardson Highway mile 106
• Kennecott Visitor Center near historic min
• Chitina Ranger Station, Chitina
• Slana Ranger Station, Nabesna Road mile 0.5
• McCarthy Road Information Station, McCarthy Road end near Kennecott Visitor Center

When to Visit

The primary time for visiting the park is early June through mid-September. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve has no entrance stations or gates, and never actually closes. Winter arrives early in this area and by September 15th there are few available services and facilities.

If you’ve got a few days consider a drive into the park. Here are some highlights of things to do on a drive into the park on the McCarthy Road.

Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark

Kennecott Powerplant

The Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark includes the land and mining claims of the Kennecott Copper Corporation, later named the Kennecott Minerals Company.  From 1911 to 1938, nearly $200 million worth of copper was processed with up to 300 people working in the mill town and 300 in the mines. Kennecott was a company town that included a hospital, general store, school, skating rink, tennis court, recreation hall, and dairy. Today there are many historic buildings to photograph and explore. Work is going on to develop a visitor center and other areas for public use. 

Root Glacier, Wrangell St. Elias National Park

Root Glacier is located near the Kennecott mines. A short easy hike takes visitors right to the Root Glacier. Half day and full day guided hikes are available, and some get out on the glacier itself.

Hiking

The park is very popular for hiking. There are many trails located near roads that lead to some spectacular scenery. Many of the trails are easy or not difficult. 

River Rafting

There are many wild rivers flowing from the Wrangell Mountains that make this a very popular area for multi-day river rafting adventures.

River Rafting Floats, Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve

• Nizina Glacier to Chitina Float. Nizina, Kennicott, Chitina Rivers. 4-5 days.
• Chitina River Float. Hubert’s Landing to Chitina. 5-10 days, 125 miles.
• Copper River Float. Chitina to Million Dollar Bridge near Cordova. 4-6 days.
• Copper River Float. Tazlina to Million Dollar Bridge. 5-10 days.
• Nabesna River Float. Orange Hill to Northway. 3-4 days.

Backcountry

There are incredible backcountry adventures available in Wrangell St. Elias NP. Many glaciers, wild rivers, mountains, and forests await the backcountry adventurer. Experienced air taxis and guides are available to get adventurers in and out of the park. There are many public use airstrips and cabins throughout the park available for use.

Download: Map of Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve

External Link: Wrangell St. Elias National Park official website.

Image Credits: National Park Service.

Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park

Caribou

Gates of the Arctic is one of the last truly wild places on earth. Here you can take a journey of adventure, discovery and solitude through vast valleys and gaunt mountains of rugged beauty and experience nature on it own terms.

The mighty Brooks Range is the backbone of this expansive wilderness. Wild rivers flow from these mountains south to the Yukon River and north to the Beaufort Sea. Herds of caribou graze and wander about on their migrations.

Airplane Tours

Airplane tours are a great way to experience this vast wilderness area. Tours are available flying out of Fairbanks. This is one way to get a unique perspective on this seemingly limitless expanse, the mountains that stretch across the horizon, the mighty rivers, and the great herds of caribou.

Tours and Lodges

Airplane tours are one popular way to experience this huge wilderness. Overnight stays are available at lodges near the Park. Tour operators can arrange all the details to make this a very enjoyable experience.

Backcountry Experience

Backcountry tours and travel are available. Backcountry visitors to the park must have the knowledge and skills to be truly self sufficient in the remote location and demanding climate of the Brooks Range. Those who come will find that opportunities for recreation and for natural quiet, solitude and wilderness enjoyment abound.

Bird Viewing

Migratory birds flock to this area to feed in the summertime. Over 133 species of birds have been observed in the Park. Aquatic birds, raptors, song birds, and many others can be seen and heard in the area. There are also many species that live in the area year-round, such as the ptarmigan.

External Link: Gates of the Arctic NP official website.

Alaska Fireweed

An understand of Alaska’s distinct seasons, weather, and climate, good trip planning, and proper clothing can help visitors enjoy their visit to The Great Land.

Peak Season - Summer Season

The summer time is the peak travel season in Alaska, from mid-May to Mid-September. The days are longest and the temperatures warmest.  This season is ideal for outdoor activities. Visitors must plan ahead and book early to reserve hotels and tours. Sunsets are long, with spectacular colors. This is when Alaska is truly “The Land of the Midnight Sun”.

Shoulder Seasons

The shoulder season is in early May and late September and October. There are often discounts and special on activities and accomodations during the shoulder season. The shoulder seasons roughly correspond to the spring and autumn seasons. The weather is cool and comfortable and most summer activities are available. The spring and autumn seasons are short compared to more southern locations. The Alaskan spring and autumn are brief explosions of color and change which happen very quickly.

Spring  in Alaska

Springtime is in May. First comes “Breakup” when the ice that covers the rivers, lakes, and land thaws, breaks up, and melts. As spring gets underway there are blooming wildflowers everywhere and all of the land comes alive. The wildlife is active as young are born and new families raised. Millions of migrating birds come to Alaska, stopping in the coastal wetlands on their way to the tundra feeding grounds of northern Alaska. The spring season usually starts in late April in Anchorage and the Inside Passage and a bit later in the Fairbanks and northern areas. These great migrations are great times for wildlife viewing.

Spring Wildlife Events

• Whale Fest Kodiak, April
• Eagle viewing at Garnet Festival, Wrangell, April
• Shorebird Festival, Homer, May
• Shorebird Festival, Cordova, May 

Autumn in Alaska

Autumn is in mid to late September. In the fall the trees are beautiful gold and yellow colors, the tundra covers the northern lands in a carpet of red and the nights are getting longer. This is really a great time to visit with such incredibly colorful scenery, but the season is usually a short few weeks long. This is a great time for aurora viewing, offering the chance to view lakeside aurora reflections. October is a transition to winter, with the weather usually mild but often wet, and the autumn colors already finished.

Autumn Wildlife Events

• Whalefest, Sitka, November
• Eagle Festival, Haines, November

Winter Season

From late November to April visitors enjoy the beautiful and fun winter season in Alaska. February and March are the very best times for enjoying fun winter snow activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and dog sled and snowmachine rides.  Aurora viewing is great in the winter with the long nights, and best in February and March when the weather is more clear and dry. The Yukon Quest International Dog Sled Race is in February in the Fairbanks area. The Iditarod Trail Great Dog Sled Race is in early March with the route going from Anchorage-Nome.

Seasonal Activities and Accomodations

Many activities and accomodations are only available during the summer, so please check availability when planning a trip during the shoulder or winter seasons.

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Seward Highway near Moose Pass

The Seward Highway offers some of the most beautiful scenic views in the U.S.A. and is recognized as a United States All American Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation. There are numerous pullouts for viewing the scenery and wildlife. Dall Sheep, moose, eagles and other birds, and even Beluga whales are often seen.

The Seward Highway offers an incredible diversity of scenic landscapes and unique natural features in one area. This 127-mile road (203 km) links Anchorage with Seward and passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The landscape includes the mountains and sea of Turnagain Arm, wet marshes that are home to multitudes of birds, deep forests, alpine meadows and lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers. In the springtime wildflowers brighten every corner of the road. Only Alaska’s Seward Highway can offer this particular mix created by climate, geography, and geology.

Wildlife Viewing on the Seward Highway

Wildlife abounds near the Seward Highway. Just south of Anchorage is Potters Marsh, a haven for birds with a boardwalk area for bird viewing. The cliff areas south of Potters Marsh are home to many Dall Sheep that can often be seen. The waters of Turnagain Arm are home to Beluga Whales. Moose are common everywhere! There are many lakes, ponds, and marshes along the route and these are favorite places for wildlife.

Scenery on the Seward Highway

This road winds through a land of remarkable beauty for 203 km. From the reflective waters of Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage travelers rapidly ascend 300 meters above sea level to an alpine meadow. After passing through a region of alpine rivers and lakes they find themselves back by the sea at the harbor town of Seward, surrounded by rugged fjords. This is Alaska’s Seward Highway.

Seward Highway Map

Highlights of the Seward Highway

• Anchorage (Mile 118 to Mile 127)
• Potter Marsh (Mile 117)
• Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Mile 79)
• Portage Glacier Road (Mile 79)
• Summit Lake (Mile 45)
• Trail Lake (Mile 31)
• Moose Pass (Mile 29)
• Exit Glacier Road (Mile 3.5)
• Seward (Mile 0)

External Link: Seward Highway official webpage.

Alaska SeaLife Center

The Alaska SeaLife Center offers up-close and personal experiences with Alaska marine wildlife in realistic habitats. See a huge Steller sea lion gliding past underwater viewing windows, puffins diving from cliffs, harbor seals resting on rocky beaches, Alaskan king crab, sea stars, the Giant Pacific octopus, and more.

The SeaLife Center is a modern facility dedicated to education, research, and rehabilitation of marine wildlife.

There are both self-guided tours and organized tours available.

Salmon Exhibit

This closer look into the life of Pacific salmon offers an experience unlike any other at the center. As visitors walk through a collection of four new habitat displays, they will get up-close with live salmon in each stage of their life cycle– from egg stage all the way through schooling in the open ocean and return to spawn.

Mammal Encounter

Encounter Special Tours. The SeaLife Center offers several special experience programs allowing visitors to interact with marine wildlife.

Mammal Encounter Tour. A trainer will guide visitors to get up close and interact with the Harbor Seal or Stellar Sea Lion.

Puffin Encouner. A trainer will guide visitors into the Puffin habitat to get up close with these remarkable birds.

Behind the Scenes Tour. Visitors will be guided behind the scenes and learn about what is involved caring for the animals, their habitats, and the aquariums. 

Octopus Encounter

Octopus Encounter. A trainer will introduce visitors to the mysterious Great Pacific Octopus. This is a great experience, as visitors can take turns reaching into the octopus tank to really get up close to this creature.

It is fun! …Really!

 Resurrection Bay, Alaska

The SeaLife Center is located right on the waterfront in Seward on beautiful Resurrection Bay. There are indoor and outdoor viewing areas of Resurrection Bay.  Marine wildlife such as porpoises, seals, and even whales are often visible. There are spectacular views of the magnificent mountains overlooking this rugged fjord.

Authentic Handicraft Symbol

Shoppers can find unique keepsakes that will be treasured remembrances of an Alaska visit. There are many genuine Alaskan goods and handicrafts available including jewelry, carvings in wood and ivory, clothes, and more. The ivory carvings of Alaskan Native craftsmen are prized around the world. The Alaskan Qiviut wool of the Musk Ox is a treasured fiber used to make the warmest garments in the world. Fur trapping and garment making are thriving industries in Alaska, with many fine products available.

Authentic Native Handicrafts

Look for the “Silver Hand” mark (pictured above) that identifies authentic Native Alaskan handicrafts. This is a special controlled mark authorized by the State of Alaska only to identify authentic Native Alaskan handicrafts.

Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage

The gift shop at the Alaska Native Heritage Center has a great collection of Alaska Native products. There is also an area at the Center where native artisans practice their crafts onsite with products for sale. It is definitely a special experience to meet the artists themselves. Craftspeople are often at work here on traditional jewelry, clothing items, and ceremonial drums.

Alaska Native Arts Foundation Gallery, Anchorage

Visit the Alaska Native Arts Foundation Gallery in Anchorage to purchase beautiful authentic Native handicrafts and art and support the Foundation, which is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing the Native arts and educating and training the next generation of Native artists. Go to www.AlaskaNativeArts.org to shop online.

The Museum of the North, Fairbanks

The gift shop at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks has a great collection of Alaska Native crafts and art. The Museum itself has extensive collections of Native arts and crafts in the gallery.

Made in Alaska Symbol

Made in Alaska

 

 

 

 Look for the “Made in Alaska” mark (see picture to left) that identifes genuine goods made in Alaska. This is a special controlled mark authorized by the State of Alaska to identify articles manufactured in Alaska.

Alaska Grown

Look for the Alaska Grown logo for the highest quality authentic Alaska agricultural products. This is a special controlled mark authorized by the State of Alaska to identify high quality agricultural products grown in Alaska. Go to www.AlaskaGrown.org for information.

Customs Duties

Visitors are advised to fully understand and comply with the customs regulations of all countries they are travelling through.

A variety of souvenirs and memorabilia are available as well to help visitors remember their exciting visit to Alaska.

Visitors will find quality shopping opportunities throughout their visit to Alaska including museum gift shops, shopping malls, specialty shops, and souvenir shops.