Facility Activities

If you have 15-minutes: 

Stop by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center to pick up maps and brochures for the area. Can't make it to see us in person? Take a virtual 3D tour.

If you have one hour to a half day:

The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center takes you on a dramatic journey through the refuge's past and present and surrounds you with the sights, sounds (and even the smells of a seabird colony)...and invites you to follow biologists as their research ship sails to remote islands each year. 

The Beluga Slough Trail is a roughly 1.2 mile gravel and boardwalk trail leading from the visitor center, through the slough, and down to Bishop’s Beach. Along the way you may see sandhill cranes, ducks, or shorebirds.    

If you have a full day: 

Tour boats leaving from Seward pass the Chiswell Islands and many other refuge islands with large colonies of seabirds and Steller sea lions. Smaller boats leaving from near our headquarters in Homer pass by small islets in Kachemak Bay or may go as far as the Barren Islands where millions of seabirds and marine mammals have safe harbor. 

If you are ready for a multi-day adventure: 

The Pribilof Islands are accessible via flights from Anchorage. The windswept islands have thousands of fur seals, millions of seabirds, and gorgeous scenery. St. Paul Island is home to the largest community of Unangax (Aleut) people and the native corporation offers guided tours. St. George Island has a much smaller human population but larger numbers of birds and easy birding opportunities within walking distance of lodging.  

The Alaska Marine Highway's ferries and air carriers can transport you to communities near refuge lands such as Sitka, Seldovia, Kodiak, Chignik, Adak, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, Akutan, and Unalaska. A few cruise ships visit more remote islands. 

Visit the Aleutian Islands WWII National Monument

An airplane that crashed during WWII on Atka Island, a B-24D LIberator Bomber, rests on the tundra.
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Birding

Millions of seabirds, endemic species that only nest here, and Asiatics that blow in with storms or spring and fall migration. 

More than a millions birds nest on each of these refuge islands, St. George in the Pribilofs, Kiska, Chagulak, St. Matthew, Forrester and the Semidis....

Wildlife watching

Abundant, unique and charismatic species make wildlife watching on this refuge a joy. Although access is difficult, the birds and mammals are easy to see once you get there. Cliffs swarming with seabirds, rafts of seaducks offshore in winter, otters, sea lions, birds blown in from Asia, and rare...

Wild edible foraging

Wild edible foraging, such as for mushrooms and berries, are allowed at a number of facilities and subject to area regulations.

Photography
Whether you wield a smartphone or a zoom lens, you’ll find photo-worthy subjects at national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. Wildlife photography is a priority public use on national wildlife refuges, so you’ll find wildlife drives and blinds and overlooks to help you get the images you’re after.
Hunting

In Alaska, hunting is a part of our traditions and an important source of food for many residents. All of the public lands in the refuge are open to both recreational and subsistence hunting. Hunting is an important wildlife management tool that we recognize as a healthy, traditional outdoor...

Hiking
Take your pick of 2,100 miles of refreshing trails and boardwalks. Whether you want a short, easy walk or a challenging hike, you’re likely to find what you want. Some trails are paved and universally accessible. Some trails include displays on visual arts, local history and culture or environmental education.
Fishing

The refuge has more salmon streams than any other refuge in the nation, but they are all remote, short and not suitable for boating. The best refuge stream fishing opportunities for salmon and Dolly Varden are in the Aleutians. The easiest access is by ferry or plane to Dutch Harbor/Unalaska or...