The Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is an extremely remote National Park Service location that preserves a remnant of the North American/Asian land bridge that many archeologists believe served as the entrance point for humans onto the North American continent. There are no roads into, within, or surrounding the preserve. Visitors must arrive via a bush plane or boat during summer months or by ski-planes, dog sled, or snowmobile during winter months. Intrepid visitors to this 2,697,391-acre preserve are attracted to the devastatingly beautiful mountainous terrain. Located on the Seward Peninsula, the preserve shares a colorful history with Nome, Alaska, which sits in the same general area. The preserve overlooks the Chukchi Sea with magnificently clear views extending as far as the Bering Strait, which is another reason that visitors endure the harsh climate to observe the far-reaching emptiness on land and sea.
To get to isolated regions like the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, it is best to rent an RV to get to an area from which you can access the preserve while simultaneously experiencing the wonders of the Alaskan environment. In this case, the Iditarod Trail leads directly from Anchorage to Nome, AK, near the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. To enjoy Alaska in an RV, rent one from RVshare.
Most outsiders come to the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve to witness the natural beauty that the area provides. A few come to hunt for game like seals, bears, walruses, or caribou. The primary attraction is the mountainous terrain interrupted by low lying areas where sights such as Serpentine Hot Springs defy the overwhelmingly austere environment with rising steam clouds and warm earth. Other attractions, such as Lost Jim Lava Flow and Trail Creek Caves, draw visitors to the preserve.
Hiking TrailsThere are no addresses, official trails, or designations of a hike's intensity within the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Even the lengths of walks are approximate as getting from one place to another is determined by current weather conditions. For instance, the hike to Serpentine Hot Springs may take a day on a snowmobile, two days with a dog sled, or a week on foot, depending on snow and ice conditions in the winter or the sponge-like tundra in the summer. Every hike in the preserve is challenging.
Nome, Alaska
45 miles one-way
Difficult
The hike to these lakes takes the better part of a week from its closest community. The lake is the largest “maar” in the world. The unusual formation of one lake nearly cut in two by a ribbon of lava is unique. Visitors who view this lake have passed through mountains to reach their goal, and the hike may take as long as two weeks to accomplish. But, the incredible environment, the solitude, and the picturesque panoramas make the trip worth the time spent.
Kotzebue, AK
62 miles one-way
Difficult
SightseeingThe White Alice Site is the remains of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line established in the 1960s to warn against missile or aircraft invasions from the USSR over the north pole. Though they are out of service today, a hike to the foundations hovering above Nome gives you an incredible view of the community and the seas beyond.
Anvil Mountain, Nome, AK 99762
The Noatak National Preserve is the largest mountain-ringed river basin in North America. The 400-mile river, designated a Wild and Scenic River, is unchanged from its original form despite human habitation for the last 11,000 years.
Kotzebue, AK 99752
MuseumsThe museum is dedicated to the collecting and sharing of the Nome, AK, experience. From the preservation of early photos to films about local issues, this museum interacts with visitors to demonstrate the area’s culture.
100 West 7th Avenue, Nome, AK 99762
The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center houses a museum celebrating the Inupiaq culture and the northwest Alaska ecosystem. National Geographic shares responsibility for a bookstore that provides definitive information on the region. Park Rangers present a series of informative programs for adults and children.
171 Third Avenue, Kotzebue, AK 99752
Nearby Shops and RestaurantsMaruskiya’s of Nome features Native American art depicting scenes found in the northern Alaska wilderness. Dedicated to the presentation of local artists, this gallery is one of the few in northwestern Alaska that captures its people's lives.
247 Front Street, Nome, AK 99762
Arctic Trading Post is the shop you visit when looking for unique gifts for family and friends back home. Here you find innovative products created by local artists that depict the sea, land, and air of this majestic region.
302 West Front Street, Nome, AK 99762
The Polar Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their portions are generous, delicious, and filling. Try the prime rib and prawns spread for something special.
225 West Front Street, Nome, AK 99762
The Bering Sea Bar and Grill offers American seafood delights and Japanese sushi. The bounty from the sea they prepare is purchased directly from the fishing trawlers.
305 West Front Street, Nome, AK 99762
There are no roads that lead to the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Indeed, roads in northwest Alaska between communities seem to dissolve away between seasons as the tundra freezes and thaws. The roads that do exist are mainly inside communities. The preferred method of travel to reach the preserve is through the air in a bush or ski plane. Once you reach either Nome or Kotzebue, AK, your approach to the preserve is on foot, on a dog sled, or by snowmobile.
P.O. Box 220, Nome, AK 99762
Fee: Entry Fee $0
Visiting the Bering Land Bridge is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Though you cannot reach the preserve in an RV, you can travel in an RV to Alaska's closest location that offers RV camping. That way, you get to experience camping in an RV next to Alaska's wilderness and the joy of visiting one of the most austere and beautiful environments in the world. A trip to Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is one that will stay in a family’s memory for a lifetime.
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