Southwest Region

Stretching over 1,000 miles into the Pacific Ocean, the southwest region offers volcanic islands, mountains, countless lakes, and is a birder's paradise. Off the road system, part of the thrill of the adventure is getting to your destination, whether it be by air or sea. When planning your adventure, be mindful that the Aleutian Islands are known to produce some of the most dismal weather conditions in the world. This weather can range from high winds to rough waters and heavy rain. Don’t let the weather discourage you, the southwest region is home to Becharof and Izembek National Wildlife Refuges, Katmai National Park, McNeil River State Game Sanctuary, among many other natural splendors. For those wanting to stay closer to the comforts of home, Bethel, the hub of over forty Alaska Native villages on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, houses the largest rural community in Alaska with over 5,500 residents.

map of the southwest Alaskan region

Showing 1 - 15 of 26 results

Afognak Island State Park Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Afognak Island is in the southwest region of Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
Kodiak
Activities:
Backcountry
Fishing
Hiking
Hunting
Sightseeing
Identified in 1892 as one of the nation's first conservation areas, Afognak Island was originally designated as the Afognak Forest and Fish Culture Reserve because of its outstanding wildlife and salmon habitat value. Today the park is known for its rugged topography, dense old-growth Sitka spruce forests, and salmon spawning habitat. Kodiak brown bear, Sitka black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, and the endangered marbled murrelet inhabit the park. Visitors can fish, hunt, hike, or just enjoy the pristine, natural environment.
1400 Abercrombie Drive
Kodiak District Office
Kodiak, AK 99615
Contact
Phone:
(907) 486-6339
Email:
dnr.pkskodiak@alaska.gov
Web:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/kodiak/afognak.htm
Visit the Afognak Island State Park website for more information
Alagnak Wild and Scenic River National Park Service
Alagnak Wild and Scenic River is in the southwest region of Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
King Salmon
Activities:
Backcountry
Fishing
Floating & Boating
Hiking
Hunting
Sightseeing
The headwaters of Alagnak Wild River lie within the rugged Aleutian Range of neighboring Katmai National Park and Preserve. Meandering west towards Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea, the Alagnak traverses the beautiful Alaska Peninsula, providing an unparalleled opportunity to experience the unique wilderness, wildlife, and the cultural heritage of southwest Alaska.
1000 Silver St., Bldg. 603
PO Box 7
King Salmon, AK 99613
Contact
Phone:
(907) 246-3305
Web:
https://www.nps.gov/alag/index.htm
Visit the Alagnak Wild and Scenic River website for more information
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is in the southcentral region of Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Southcentral Region
Cities Nearby:
Homer
Activities:
Backcountry
Beach Combing
Birding
Floating & Boating
Hiking
Hunting
Sightseeing
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge was established to conserve marine mammals, seabirds and other migratory birds, and the marine resources upon which they rely. The Refuge's 3.4 million acres include the spectacular volcanic islands of the Aleutian chain, the seabird cliffs of the remote Pribilofs, and icebound lands washed by the Chukchi Sea, providing essential habitat for some 40 million seabirds, of more than 30 species.
95 Sterling Highway #1
Homer, AK 99603
Contact
Phone:
907-235-6546
Email:
alaskamaritime@fws.gov
Web:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/alaska_maritime/
Visit the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge website for more information
Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge is in the southwest region of Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
King Salmon
Activities:
Backcountry
Fishing
Hunting
Sightseeing
Sandwiched between Becharof National Wildlife Refuge to the north and Izembek NWR to the south, Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge presents a breathtakingly dramatic landscape made up of active volcanoes, towering mountain peaks, rolling tundra and rugged, wave-battered coastlines. As is the case with most of Alaska's coastal refuges, salmon provide the principal "nutrient engine" for Alaska Peninsula, supporting the species that prey upon them and enriching the rivers and surrounding lands after they spawn and die.
4 Bear Rd
PO Box 277
King Salmon, AK 99613
Contact
Phone:
(907) 246-3339
Web:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Alaska_Peninsula/
Visit the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge website for more information
Aleutian WWII National Historic Area National Park Service
The Aleutian WWII National Historic Area is in the southwest region of Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
Unalaska
Activities:
Backcountry
Hiking
Sightseeing
During World War II the remote Aleutian Islands became a fiercely contested battleground in the Pacific Theater. This thousand-mile-long archipelago saw the mass relocation of Alaska Native civilians, the bombing of U.S. bases, invasion and occupation of two islands by Japanese forces, and one of the deadliest battles in the Pacific. Some sites still remain, standing the test of time in this harsh, exposed environment.
240 West 5th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Contact
Phone:
907-644-3472
Web:
https://www.nps.gov/aleu/index.htm
Visit the Aleutian WWII National Historic Area website for more information
Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve National Park Service
The Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve is in the southwest region of Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
King Salmon
Activities:
Backcountry
Fishing
Hiking
Hunting
Given its remote location and challenging weather conditions, Aniakchak is one of the most wild and least visited in places in the National Park System. This landscape is a vibrant reminder of Alaska's location in the volcanically active "Ring of Fire" as it is home to an impressive six mile wide, 2,500 ft deep caldera formed during a massive volcanic eruption 3,500 years ago.
1000 Silver St., Bldg. 603
PO Box 7
King Salmon, AK 99613
Contact
Phone:
(907) 246-3305
Web:
https://www.nps.gov/ania/index.htm
Visit the Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve website for more information
Becharof National Wildlife Refuge United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Becharof National Wildlife Refuge is in Southwest Alaska.
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
King Salmon
Activities:
Backcountry
Birding
Fishing
Hunting
Sightseeing
Becharof National Wildlife Refuge embraces the largest lake in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Becharof Lake nurtures one of Bristol Bay’s largest sockeye salmon runs, part of the foundation for the regional economy. The Refuge, protecting 1,157,000 acres, also includes an active volcano, unusual geological features, historically significant landmarks, and a federally designated Wilderness.
4 Bear Rd.
PO Box 277
King Salmon, AK 99613
Contact
Phone:
907-246-3339
Web:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/becharof/
Visit the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge website for more information
Cape Newenham State Game Refuge Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Cape Newenham State Game Refuge is in Southwest Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
Bethel
Activities:
Backcountry
Birding
Fishing
Floating & Boating
Hunting
Sightseeing
Snowmachining
Each spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese, and shorebirds stop at Chagvan Bay to rest and feed on their way to and from nesting grounds located further north. The bay is especially critical to black brant that stop in the spring to feed on eelgrass. Large numbers of emperor geese, Taverner's Canada geese, and northern pintails also stop over during migration. Sea lions, harbor seals, and walrus frequent the waters of Chagvan Bay, as well as gray and beluga whales. Brown bears scavenge the beaches and, occasionally, caribou seek wind-cleared grazing along the breezy coast in winter. Smaller mammals, including river otters, mink, red fox, and wolverine can often be spotted hunting along the coast.
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518-1599
Contact
Phone:
(907) 267-2189
Web:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=capenewenham.main
Visit the Cape Newenham State Game Refuge website for more information
Cinder River Critical Habitat Area Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Cinder River Critical Habitat Area is in Southwest Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
King Salmon
Activities:
Backcountry
Birding
Fishing
Floating & Boating
Hiking
Hunting
Sightseeing
Skiing & Snowboarding
Snowmachining
Snowshoeing
The Cinder River Critical Habitat Area is an important area for cackling Canada geese, tundra swans, marbled godwits, and other abundant species such as rock sandpipers, dunlin, bartailed godwits, and western sandpipers. No public access to the areas has been developed, and public use facilities do not exist in these critical habitat areas. Access is by small plane or boat.
333 Raspberry Road
Suite 2068
Anchorage, AK 99518
Contact
Phone:
(907) 267-2541
Web:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=bristolbay.main
Visit the Cinder River Critical Habitat Area website for more information
Egegik Critical Habitat Area Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Egegik Critical Habitat Area is in Southwest Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
King Salmon
Activities:
Backcountry
Birding
Fishing
Floating & Boating
Hiking
Hunting
Sightseeing
Skiing & Snowboarding
Snowmachining
Snowshoeing
The Egegik Critical Habitat Area is one of five critical habitats in the Bristol Bay area. These critical habitat areas protect habitat for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, as well as sea and land mammal habitat. No public access to the areas has been developed, and public use facilities do not exist in these critical habitat areas. Access is by small plane or boat.
333 Raspberry Road
Suite 2068
Anchorage, AK 99518-1599
Contact
Phone:
(907) 267-2541
Web:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=bristolbay.main
Visit the Egegik Critical Habitat Area website for more information
Fort Abercrombie State Historic Park Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Fort Abercrombie State Historic Park is in Southwest Alaska
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
Kodiak
Activities:
Backcountry
Fishing
Hiking
Sightseeing
Few other units of the Alaska State Park System, that are comparable in size, possess the cultural and natural resources found in Fort Abercrombie. The historic ruins of a World War II coastal defense installation coupled with the steep surf-pounded cliffs, deep spruce forests, wildflower-laden meadows, and a lake containing trout, offer visitors a unique opportunity to learn of the events of World War II while enjoying the natural beauty of the park.
1400 Abercrombie Drive
Kodiak, AK 99615
Contact
Phone:
(907) 486-6339
Email:
dnr.pkskodiak@alaska.gov
Web:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kodiak/fortabercrombieshp.htm
Visit the Fort Abercrombie State Historic Park website for more information
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is in the southwest region.
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
Cold Bay
Activities:
Backcountry
Birding
Fishing
Floating & Boating
Hunting
Sightseeing
The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is the smallest and one of the most ecologically unique of Alaska's refuges. This diverse wilderness protects a wide variety of fish and wildlife species and their habitats. These include five species of salmon; furbearers such as wolf, fox and wolverine; large mammals such as caribou, moose and brown bears; shorebirds; seabirds; and an incredible array of waterfowl, to name just a few.
P.O. Box 127 MS 515
Cold Bay, AK 99571-0127
Contact
Phone:
877-837-6332
Email:
izembek@fws.gov
Web:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/izembek/
Visit the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge website for more information
Izembek State Game Refuge Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Izembek State Game Refuge is in the southwest region.
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
Cold Bay
Activities:
Backcountry
Birding
Fishing
Floating & Boating
Hunting
Sightseeing
Snowmachining
Izembek State Game Refuge serves as a major migratory staging area for most of the world's population of black brant, emperor geese and Steller's eiders, and plays host to thousands of northern pintails, mallards, long-tailed ducks, and multiple species of scoters. The area has received worldwide recognition as a "Wetland of International Importance." After the geese and dabbling ducks depart for southern wintering grounds, Steller's, king, and common eiders, black and white-winged scoters, and red-breasted mergansers remain to winter in the ice-free waters of the lagoon. Shorebirds are most numerous in the fall when they probe vast intertidal expanses of mud and sand for food at low tide. Rock sandpipers are among the most common and can be seen year-round. Bald eagles are also regularly viewed along the shore.
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99518
Contact
Phone:
(907) 267-2189
Web:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=izembek.main
Visit the Izembek State Game Refuge website for more information
Katmai National Park and Preserve National Park Service
Katmai National Park and Preserve is in the southwest region.
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
King Salmon
Activities:
Backcountry
Beach Combing
Birding
Clamming
Cycling
Fishing
Floating & Boating
Hiking
Hunting
Sightseeing
Skiing & Snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Katmai National Monument was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Mount Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve remains an active volcanic landscape, but it also protects important habitat for salmon, thousands of brown bears, and 9,000 years of human history.
PO Box 7
1000 Silver St., Bldg. 603
King Salmon, AK 99613
Contact
Phone:
(907) 246-3305
Web:
https://www.nps.gov/katm/index.htm
Visit the Katmai National Park and Preserve website for more information
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is in the southwest region.
Region:
Southwest Region
Cities Nearby:
Kodiak
Activities:
Backcountry
Birding
Fishing
Floating & Boating
Hiking
Hunting
Sightseeing
Kodiak: the “Island of the Great Bear.” In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in order to protect the genetically distinct Kodiak bears and their habitat. Today, the refuge has a global conservation role - to instill regard for bears, salmon, and other wildlife; to protect interdependent species of fish, wildlife and plants within the largest intact, pristine island ecosystem in North America; and to ensure compatible management of wildlife, subsistence, recreation, and economic uses of refuge resources.
402 Center Ave
Kodiak, AK 99615
Contact
Phone:
888-592-6942
Web:
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kodiak/
Visit the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge website for more information

Showing 1 - 15 of 26 results