Mollie Beattie Wilderness

The Mollie Beattie Wilderness is a vast protected area in northeastern Alaska within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Covering about 8,000,000 acres, it is the second-largest designated wilderness in the United States and comprises more than 40 percent of the refuge. Centered on part of the Brooks Range, it brings together arctic, subarctic, and alpine ecosystems that support wildlife including brown bears, moose, caribou, and musk oxen, while nearby offshore waters are tied to polar bears, whales, and seals. It is named for conservationist Mollie Beattie, the first woman to lead the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, linking this immense landscape to a major figure in wildlife protection and public conservation lands.

Kaktovik, Alaska · United States