ANWR
Refuge of the Far North

ANWR or Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a 19-million acre Alaskan park which borders Canada on the east and the Beaufort Sea on the north. The western boundary is near Canning River, which is east of the Prudhoe Bay drilling area.



This Alaskan wildlife refuge is under the control of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who monitors activities there. There are no fees to enter the refuge and it is open year around to visitors.

Because there are no roads, there are no entrance stations. However, it is asked that you go through one of the two villages that are located in the region for information and education about the refuge and park. Kaktovik is on Barter Island, at the north end, and Arctic Village in the south of the refuge.

The Native Alaskans in these places can give you lots of information about the area and how to find what you are looking for. They have been the inhabitants here for thousands of years and know the land as if it were their own backyard. In fact, it is! They were the only ones in this area and utilized it for their survival needs, without doing any damage to it. So it's wise to listen to what they have to say.

Physical Description of the Refuge:

The Brooks Mountain Range cuts through the middle of this refuge park, running east and west. Though it makes up a significant portion of the refuge (approximately 75 miles wide), the tallest mountain is only around 9,000 feet. And the mountainous area is broken up with many valleys and rivers.

From the mountains to the Beaufort Sea, the terrain is covered with tundra - low growing plants on hilly ground to the coastal plain lowlands, with permanent ice, also known as permafrost, a short distance below the surface. On the south side of the Brooks Range are evergreen forests mostly of spruce, which also grow over permafrost.

ANWR Wildlife:

Inhabited by at least 45 species of land/marine animals, 180 species of birds and 36 species of fish, this Arctic refuge has abundant and varied wildlife. The large wildlife that really symbolize the area are the bowhead whales, polar bears, caribou. Of course, there are also grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, wolverine, Dall sheep, moose, muskox and many others.

Birds that are seen in the refuge, either year around or temporary residents, include: ducks, geese, swans, grouse, ptarmigan, loons, grebes, eagles, hawks, falcons, cranes, gulls, terns, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, flycatchers, ravens, jays, larks, swallows, nuthatches, chickadees, warblers, thrush, robins, bluebirds, waxwings, sparrows, buntings, blackbirds, cowbirds, finches, redpolls and endless numbers of shorebirds. And this is just a partial list.

Preparation for a Visit to ANWR

Because there are no buildings or structures of any kind, no roads and no trails outside of the two villages, it is important that you are prepared for such as visit.

Cell phones do not work in this area and satellite phones are unlikely to work in the mountainous areas, so those are mostly useless. Unless you have a guide with you, you are totally on your own, so be prepared for any emergency.

If you are going fishing, hunting, rafting, hiking, climbing, camping, bird-watching, watching or photographing wildlife or scenery, it is best to go in small groups (not over 7 to prevent damage) and with a guide.

No matter where and how you go, pick up some Alaska USGS topographical maps of the area you want to explore. Along with a GPS, these will help you find your way around and keep from getting lost.

How to Get to the Refuge:

1 - Drive the Dalton Highway to Deadhorse and take an air taxi charter from there.

2 - Take commercial flight from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, Fort Yukon, or one of the two entry villages, Arctic Village in the south or Kaktovik in the north. Then take an air taxi charter into the refuge.

Commercial Flights are available on:

There are a limited number of recreational and educational guides and air taxis that are allowed to operate in ANWR. Here is a printable list of authorized ANWR guides and air taxi services.

Pick up more information about this refuge in Fairbanks at: ANWR Headquarters and Information Center, 101 12th Avenue, Room 236, Fairbanks. Phone: 907-456-0250. Open year-round.

As with all Alaskan parks, you are expected to removed all traces of your visit and do as little damage as possible. After all, ANWR has been preserved in its natural state by the native inhabitants for thousands of years. I think we should be able to do the same. Now, if you came here looking for the ANWAR controversy, here's your chance to say something....

Return to Top of ANWR Page

Return To Alaska Parks Page

Return To Tips for Backwoods Alaska Vacations Home Page