Alaska Official State Vacation Planner • 2024 • Southwest

Windswept islands, migrating birds, diverse cultural traditions, rich salmon fisheries, and some of the largest bears in the world define the Southwest region.

Intrepid travelers visit this region to enjoy the diversity– from the tendril of the Aleutian Islands stretching out towards Asia to the massive Kodiak Island and migratory bird populations, there’s something for everyone who makes the journey here. You’ll find snow-capped volcanoes pluming steam from their tops, massive brown bears snapping a healthy supply of salmon from waterfalls, verdant green hills to hike, blue-domed Russian Orthodox churches, and excellent birding on the Pribilof Islands, called “The Galapagos of the North.”

Four distinct Alaska Native cultural groups have called this area home for thousands of years: the Yup’ik, Cup’ik, Unangax, and Sugpiaq (Alutiiq) peoples. The Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak (Qikertaq) showcases the latter cultures, and The Museum of the Aleutians is a must-see in Unalaska.

Southwest encompasses a varied landscape, with the Aleutian Island chain stretching 1,200 miles, home to many Unangax and Sugpiaq peoples. Kodiak Island is the U.S.’ second largest island (behind Hawaii), and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is one of the world’s largest river deltas.

Communities are not connected by road in the Southwest; instead, they are accessible by air and water. Commercial jets fly to the larger towns of Kodiak, Bethel, Dutch Harbor/ Unalaska, Dillingham, and King Salmon, and air taxis service the more remote villages. The Alaska Marine Highway ferry, water taxis, and some cruise ship itineraries also sail here.

Spread far and wide, the Southwest’s cities are varied. Bethel is the Yup’ik hub of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta; Kodiak, on the namesake island, offers Russian heritage and dramatic wilderness. Unalaska/Dutch Harbor has a visible WWII history, and Dillingham is the center of Bristol Bay’s salmon fishing scene.

Pack for rain and wind, and hope for sun. The weather here is ever-changing, but you should be prepared for all conditions. The sun is up for 17 hours in summer and 8 in winter, while rain showers support the region’s wetlands and vibrant green hillsides.

SOUTHWEST HIGHLIGHTS

An important hub in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Bethel’s cultural practices are predominantly Yup’ik. Salmon fishing, gathering berries, and hunting game are important subsistence activities, and you’re just as likely to hear Yup’ik spoken as English.

It’s a 3-hour flight from Anchorage or a 3.5-day ferry ride from Homer to reach Dutch Harbor/Unalaska far out on the Aleutian Islands, and well worth the journey. It was a strategic WWII port, has a rich Unangan Alaska Native history, and is at the heart of the North Pacific and Bering Sea fisheries.

More than just the site of brown bears snapping salmon from a river at Brooks Camp, Katmai National Park & Preserve also has the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, the site of the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, in 1912. You can access Katmai by air and water taxi.

Kodiak Island is known for the Kodiak brown bear–a distinct subspecies that are the largest bears in the world. Fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, hiking, and whale watching are also popular pursuits on the island.

Only 100 air miles from Anchorage, it’s possible to visit Lake Clark National Park & Preserve on a day trip by plane. The jewel of the park is its namesake lake, which is a bright turquoise blue and stretches 42 miles. Fishing and bear viewing are also great ways to experience the area.

Alaska Official State Vacation Planner - 2024

Southwest

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SOUTHWEST HIGHLIGHTS

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