Covering much of the area between the Noatak River and the Chukchi Sea, the Cape Krusenstern National Monument is a region of diverse terrain and varied wildlife. The 650,000-acre (260,000-hectare) park was designated a national monument in 1978, but the importance of the region goes back centuries, as recognized by its national historic landmark district status. Visit the park to learn about the Thule and Kotzebue cultures that existed in the region for thousands of years and to discover the contemporary Inupiat culture that remains prevalent in this part of Alaska.
The national monument is located entirely north of the Arctic Circle and exists in a constant state of permafrost. Despite the icy conditions, the Cape Krusenstern National Monument teems with wildlife. Visit the park to see its enormous caribou population and the carnivorous mammals that hunt them. Black bear, arctic wolves and foxes inhabit the park. Gaze upward to see the large birds of prey in the park and, in coastal regions, large populations of nesting sea birds. Bring your binoculars to watch the nesting creatures or to look for whales, seals and walruses in Chukchi Sea.
While the area is largely undeveloped, a series of trails traverse the park’s beaches and mountain regions. Look for the 114 beach ridges that line the cape, containing evidence of human existence in the region as far back as 9,000 years ago.
Find park information and educational facilities at the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of the park. The heritage center doubles as the park’s visitor center and is a great place to pick up maps and bear-resistant food containers. Access to the park and region is only by air and snowmobile for much of the year, with some water access during the summer when river ice melts.
