South West-Alaska

The panorama of Southwest Alaska ranges from the windy grasslands of the Aleutian Islands, the longest archipelago in the world sweeping 1,000 miles westward into the Pacific Ocean, to the surreal volcanic landscape of the Katmai National Park to the emerald green island of Kodiak to the unsurpassed bird populations of the Pribilof Islands. Southwest is rich with culture, history and wildlife.

Both Yupik Eskimo and Aleut traditions blanket Southwest communities. Visual displays of the Russian era can be found as well as World War II historical landmarks. Southwest Alaska boasts wildlife opportunities for the true naturalist. The Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea are home to 230 species of birds. Kodiak Island is home to a healthy population of Kodiak brown bears, the world’s largest carnivorous land mammals. On the mainland, thousands of brown and black bears congregate at McNeil River and Brooks River falls to gorge on summer salmon.

Bethel, Alaska

Bethel is the transportation center for dozens of Native villages in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Delta and home to the Kuskokwim campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Surrounding the town is the 20-million-acre Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. It is one of the largest waterfowl breeding areas in North America.

To learn about the area and its inhabitants, visit Bethel’s visitor center and the Fish and Wildlife Service’s visitor center. Other activities include bird watching, river trips, walking tours, winter dog sledding and shopping for Native arts and crafts.

Dillingham, Alaska

Dillingham on Alaska’s Bristol Bay is the Gateway to the Wood River and Tikchik River Systems. This area is great for sport fishing, exploring, photography, camping, and did we mention the fishing? Reds (Sockeye Salmon) peak from June 25th to July 10th; Kings (Chinook Salmon) peak from June 20th to July 15th; Silvers (Coho Salmon) peak from July 25th to August 15th. A variety of trout and other fish can also be caught in these waters.

The beautiful windswept Aleutian Islands sweep 1500 miles toward Asia. Numerous national wildlife refuges dot the isles where a 19-day battle between Japanese and American troops raged in May 1943 (the only enemy engagement fought on U.S. soil during World War II. The Aleutian Islands make a memorable addition to your Alaska vacation itinerary. Scheduled jet flights will take you to Dutch Harbor/Unalaska, a major fishing port with comfortable hotels. Or, take a summer ferry sailing from Kodiak.

Alaskan Bird Watching

Whenever you’re near water, you can bet that bald eagles are nearby. They’re most commonly seen perched in the tops of spruce trees near shore, scanning the area for their next meal. Look for their prominent white heads-they often look like golf balls stuck in the green treetops.

One of Alaska’s most noteworthy wildlife spectacles is the annual autumn convergence of thousands of eagles on the Chilkat River flats near Haines. From October through December, with nearly 3,000 eagles having been seen at a given time, this is the greatest concentration of eagles in the world. They gather to feed on a late salmon run, and the chance to see eagles in these numbers is not to be missed.

For a truly “far out” birding and wildlife experience, you can visit St. Paul Island in the Pribilof Islands. Visitors can view northern fur seals at their rookeries, and some truly exotic bird species. Observation blinds are constructed so visitors can watch without disturbing the animals. Local Aleut naturalists lead guided tours, and travel and accommodation packages for multi-day trips are available.

Unalaska, Alaska

Unalaska is the transportation center for dozens of Native villages in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Delta and home to the Kuskokwim campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Surrounding the town is the 20-million-acre Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. It is one of the largest waterfowl breeding areas in North America.

To learn about the area and its inhabitants, visit Unalaska’s visitor center and the Fish and Wildlife Service’s visitor center. Other activities include bird watching, river trips, walking tours, winter dog sledding and shopping for Native arts and crafts.