Though extremely remote and roadless, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is open to the public year round. Most of people who visit the refuge do so as part of a commercial trip during the brief months of summer, stay an average of ten days, and see only tiny fraction of the more than 19 million acres belonging to the refuge.
Access to the Refuge by Car
There are no roads within the refuge, but the gravel road grandly named the Dalton Highway passes within a hike-able distance of the western-most extension of the refuge. The Dalton Highway is a challenging drive stretching over 400 miles from north of Fairbanks to Deadhorse. It follows the path of the Alaska Pipeline through taiga forests, over mountains and across tundra. Services along the Dalton Highway are extremely sparse, but camping is allowed all along the route. Anyone planning to reach the refuge by car should first visit the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in Fairbanks to get up-to-the-minute information about road conditions and weather forecasts.
Fly to ANWR for a Self-Guided Trip
Most visitors to ANWR arrive by air. Regularly scheduled commercial flights from Fairbanks land in the small communities of Arctic Village, Fort Yukon, Kaktovik or the oil field service area, Deadhorse. From those communities it is possible to charter a smaller bush plane to travel into the refuge. The US Fish and Wildlife Service reminds individuals entering the refuge on their own that they are visiting an untamed wilderness. Visitors need to plan carefully, be knowledgeable about all aspects of wilderness travel, and be well-equipped.
Book a Commercial Tour of ANWR
Though the US Fish and Wildlife Service concedes it is impossible to monitor an area as big as the refuge with unlimited points of entry, they believe only a small percentage of visitors enter the refuge on their own. Most come as part commercial tours. Various companies specialize in organizing specialty trips for hunters, fishermen, bird watchers, wildlife photographers, hikers, kayakers, and people with a general interest in learning more about the refuge. A list of tour guide companies approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service can be found on the USFWS website.
Permits to Enter ANWR
Individuals visiting the refuge on their own or as part of a tour group do not need permits, however anyone engaging in a commercial activity inside the refuge will need a permit. This includes hunting and fishing guides, film makers, professional photographers, pilots for hire, or researchers conducting scientific or geological studies.
Why Visit?
ANWR is the largest and most remote of all the wilderness refuges in the United States. It also supports the most diverse plant and animal populations of any Arctic park or refuge in the world. Visitors to the refuge can experience true wilderness, unimaginable solitude and the adventure of a lifetime.
