Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, River delta in western Alaska, United States
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is a vast lowland area in western Alaska where the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers empty into the Bering Sea. The landscape consists of marshes, lakes, and winding waterways that thread through roughly 56 villages and settlements.
The region became a trading hub starting in the 1870s when Bethel developed as a marketplace for local communities. This commerce brought people and goods together, shaping how settlements in the delta grew and connected with one another.
The region has long been home to Yup'ik and other Alaska Native peoples who continue traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering in their daily lives. These practices shape how communities interact with the land and one another today.
Getting here requires flying from Anchorage to Bethel, then traveling by small aircraft or boat to reach individual villages in the region. Infrastructure is limited, so planning ahead and being flexible with timing is important.
During winter months the rivers and waterways freeze solid and become natural routes for travel by snowmobile between villages. These frozen pathways offer ways to reach places that would be difficult or impossible to access when the water thaws.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
