Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge

The 1.6-million-acre preserve contains rolling forested plains, intersected by the Kanuti and Koyukuk Rivers along the Arctic Circle boundary.

Congress established Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge in 1980 through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, creating 16 protected areas across Alaska.

The name Kanuti originates from the Athabascan word Kk'toonootne, referring to a river frequently traveled by humans and wildlife throughout generations.

Visitors must arrive by aircraft from Fairbanks to Bettles, followed by charter flights to access the lakes, rivers, and wilderness areas within the refuge.

The refuge houses 130 bird species and provides winter grounds for the Western Arctic caribou herd, with natural wildfires creating diverse wildlife habitats.

Location: Alaska

Inception: December 2, 1980

Website: https://fws.gov/refuge/kanuti

GPS coordinates: 66.41670,-151.83300

Latest update: March 4, 2025 07:00