Cape Krusenstern National Monument
For 5,000 years, native people have hunted and fished the shores of the Chukchi Sea, deep inside the Arctic Circle. Trapped in the layered beach ridges, anthropologists have discovered evidence of human life that pre-dates the pyramids.
Today, this remote stretch of land is home to the Inupiat, who still hunt seal for food, oil, and hides.
Cape Krusenstern National Monument encompasses 70 miles of the shifting Chukchi shoreline. This far north, the summer days are endless, as are the winter nights. In November, the sea ice begins to form, temporarily connecting the cape to the polar ice cap. In spring, the ice begins to melt and wildflowers blanket the hills. Moose, caribou, and musk oxen appear. In summer, migratory birds come to nest. In fall, they lead their offspring to the lagoons to feed, before the ice returns to cover the sea.
Experienced backcountry visitors to Cape Krusenstern can hike the beach ridges, watch waterfowl and wildlife, fish, and sea kayak.
If You Go:
There are no roads, trails, campgrounds, or other facilities within the park. Flights and airboats into the park can be chartered from the visitor center in Kotzebue. Plan your visit with care. Extreme cold and high winds are possible year-round.
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