Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge

Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge is a remote, largely undeveloped protected area in central Alaska at the Arctic Circle, established in 1980 as one of the state’s national wildlife refuges. Encompassing about 1,640,000 acres, it preserves a large, intact boreal ecosystem shaped by spruce forest, wetlands, permafrost, and recurring natural fires that create varied habitat. The refuge supports 37 mammal species, nearly 130 bird species, and notable fish populations, including salmon that travel long distances through the Yukon and Koyukuk river systems and sheefish with an exceptional spawning journey. Its wetlands are especially important for migratory birds, while subsistence hunting and some Native Alaskan ownership continue within the refuge.

Allakaket, Alaska · United States