Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
St. Lawrence Island Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area located within the Bering Sea on St. Lawrence Island, part of the Bering Sea unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Covering approximately 1,300,000 acres, this wilderness includes a broad range of Arctic tundra, coastal cliffs, and rolling hills surrounded by the frigid waters between Alaska and Russia. The island's geography is characterized by tundra vegetation, permafrost soils, and rocky shorelines, creating habitat for a wealth of wildlife including large populations of migratory birds, walrus, seals, and polar bears. Historically, the island has been inhabited for thousands of years by Siberian Yupik Eskimos, whose villages continue to maintain traditional subsistence lifestyles. Visitors to the wilderness can experience outstanding wildlife viewing, particularly birdwatching during the summer nesting seasons when species such as the spectacled eider and Steller’s eider can be observed. The island offers opportunities for remote hiking, kayaking along its rugged coastlines, and experiencing an uninhabited Arctic environment that is rich in natural beauty and cultural significance. Due to its remote location, access is typically by small plane or boat from the mainland of Alaska, requiring careful planning. The absence of developed trails or campgrounds emphasizes the primitive, untouched character of the wilderness. Its remoteness draws specialized visitors such as researchers, birders, and wilderness enthusiasts seeking solitude and encounters with northern ecosystems. The St. Lawrence Island Wilderness stands as a critical refuge for native wildlife and a living landscape for indigenous culture.
