1. Home
  2. National Wildlife Refuges
  3. Alaska

National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska

19 national wildlife refuges in Alaska with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area has the most (6). The darkest skies are at Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Bortle 1).

Top national wildlife refuges

Arctic National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Arctic National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Yukon Delta National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Yukon Delta National Wildlife RefugeBethel Census Area
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife RefugeAleutians East Borough
Kenai National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Kenai National Wildlife RefugeKenai Peninsula Borough
Kodiak National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife RefugeLake and Peninsula Borough
Yukon Flats National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Yukon Flats National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Kanuti National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Kanuti National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Selawik National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Selawik National Wildlife RefugeNorthwest Arctic Borough
Koyukuk National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Koyukuk National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Innoko National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Innoko National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Nowitna National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Nowitna National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area

National Wildlife Refuges by county

All national wildlife refuges (19)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Arctic National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area—1
Yukon Delta National Wildlife RefugeBethel Census Area—Bethel1
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife RefugeAleutians East Borough—1
Kenai National Wildlife RefugeKenai Peninsula Borough—Funny River2
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge—Kodiak1
Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife RefugeLake and Peninsula Borough—1
Yukon Flats National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area—College1
Kanuti National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area—1
Selawik National Wildlife RefugeNorthwest Arctic Borough—1
Koyukuk National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area—1
Innoko National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area—1
Nowitna National Wildlife RefugeYukon-Koyukuk Census Area—1
Tetlin National Wildlife RefugeSoutheast Fairbanks Census Area—1
Becharof National Wildlife RefugeLake and Peninsula Borough—Kodiak1
Izembek National Wildlife RefugeAleutians East Borough—King Cove1
Togiak National Wildlife RefugeDillingham Census Area—Bethel1
Chamisso National Wildlife RefugeNorthwest Arctic Borough—1
Hazen Bay National Wildlife RefugeBethel Census Area—Bethel1
Nunivak Island National Wildlife RefugeBethel Census Area—1

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph national wildlife refuges

Wildlife is most active in the first and last two hours of daylight — exactly when the light is warmest.

  • Use auto-loop roads as mobile blinds; animals often tolerate vehicles more than people on foot.
  • Stay on designated routes and keep a respectful distance — if an animal changes behavior, you are too close.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Fast shutter speeds (1/2000 s+) freeze wingbeats; raise ISO rather than lose the shot.
  • Migration peaks bring the largest concentrations — see the birding calendar for this state.

Season: Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.