U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's NWRS offers special use permits for Big Game Guides to provide commercial guiding services on National Wildlife Refuge lands within the Alaska Region. Special use permits will be awarded for big game guiding services through a competitive selection process. For more information please visit the Alaska Region's Announcing Prospectus and Request for Proposals for Big Game Guiding Special Use Permits page.
Birds arriving in Alaska for the breeding season may be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has caused illness and death in waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, and birds of prey and some mammals. Learn more, including steps hunters can take to reduce the risk of infection and how to report observations/concerns.
Visit Us
Visiting the Refuge requires a flight or ferry ride to Cold Bay (768 miles south of the Arctic Circle and 335 miles west of Honolulu). No public use facilities exist in the refuge. Visitors should be prepared for frequently occurring wind, rain, fog, and cold temperatures. Topography varies from sea level to rugged volcanic peaks exceeding 9,000 feet. Be sure to familiarize yourself with safety in bear country.
Locations
A mini-visitor center at the refuge headquarters houses several wildlife displays; and a variety of maps and printed information is available to assist visitors. Refuge staff are always available to answer questions and provide information as needed. An interpretive display is also maintained in the Cold Bay airline terminal.
Refuge Headquarters is located in Cold Bay, Alaska approximately one-half mile northeast of the airport terminal. There is limited vehicle access to the refuge itself via five primary gravel or dirt roads, totaling about 40 miles (portions of these require 4-wheel drive). Aircraft or boats are required for access elsewhere within the refuge. For example, Izembek Lagoon can reached from the community of Cold Bay by road through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, and is also accessed by wheel-planes landing on unimproved beaches, and by boat. Off-airport air taxi operators and boat charters are limited. Contact the refuge for the latest information.