Top wilderness areas
Wilderness AreaInnoko Wilderness
Wilderness AreaGates of the Arctic Wilderness
Wilderness AreaChamisso Wilderness
Wilderness AreaTogiak Wilderness
Wilderness AreaWrangell – Saint Elias Wilderness
Wilderness AreaBecharof Wilderness
Wilderness AreaBogoslof Wilderness
Wilderness AreaForrester Island Wilderness
Wilderness AreaIzembek Wilderness
Wilderness AreaHazy Islands Wilderness
Wilderness AreaNoatak Wilderness
Wilderness AreaGlacier Bay Wilderness
Wilderness Areas by county
All wilderness areas (20)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innoko Wilderness | Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Gates of the Arctic Wilderness | North Slope Borough | — | 1 | |
| Chamisso Wilderness | Northwest Arctic Borough | — | 1 | |
| Togiak Wilderness | Dillingham Census Area | — | Bethel | 1 |
| Wrangell – Saint Elias Wilderness | Copper River Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Becharof Wilderness | Kodiak Island Borough | — | Kodiak | 1 |
| Bogoslof Wilderness | Aleutians West Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Forrester Island Wilderness | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | — | Ketchikan | 1 |
| Izembek Wilderness | Aleutians East Borough | — | King Cove | 1 |
| Hazy Islands Wilderness | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | — | Sitka | 1 |
| Noatak Wilderness | North Slope Borough | — | 1 | |
| Glacier Bay Wilderness | Haines Borough | — | Juneau | 1 |
| Mollie Beattie Wilderness | North Slope Borough | — | 1 | |
| Kootznoowoo Wilderness | Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | — | Juneau | 1 |
| South Etolin Wilderness | City and Borough of Wrangell | — | Wrangell | 1 |
| Andreafsky Wilderness | Kusilvak Census Area | — | Bethel | 1 |
| Chuck River Wilderness | Petersburg Borough | — | Juneau | 1 |
| Coronation Island Wilderness | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | — | Sitka | 1 |
| Aleutian Islands Wilderness | Aleutians West Census Area | — | 1 | |
| Karta River Wilderness | Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | — | Craig | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph wilderness areas
Wilderness areas reward those who camp: being on location at sunrise and in the dark is the main advantage over day visitors.
- Motorized and mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in designated wilderness.
- Group size limits and permits may apply; check with the managing agency.
- Practice Leave No Trace — camp on durable surfaces away from lakes and streams.
- Pack weight matters: a single zoom and a light tripod cover most situations.
- Night skies are often among the darkest in the country.
Season: Most high wilderness is snow-free from July to September; lower deserts are best in spring and autumn.