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Home , Denali Highway, Fortymile River, Kobuk River, Steese Highway, Taylor Highway, Unalakleet River

AL YESKA means "The Great Land" in a Native •Circle Map Locatron Wh ite Mountains I language. And great it is, with a continent's National Recreation Area ;"' variety of climate, vegetation, wildlife and natural ,.-';' resources. I , I ____ ... ~'• is a place where caribou outwit wolves ------,,.. . • and weather to follow ancient migration routes; ', . / --- 'm Circre. Hot Springs where bears grow 12 feet tall as they feast on ...., . millions of spawning salmon; where the sun .• doesn't set in the summer and doesn't rise in the ••••••••• • winter; and where lush rainforests grow as the • • • ••• • glaciers retreat before your very eyes. •• • • • •• Bir t Cree Legend If you could see one million acres of Alaska I J I ") r I Wild RI 'I every day (an area about the size of Delaware), it would take you the entire year to see the whole state. So take your time instead and DBDDC!:ll explore it at your leisure. BLM Alaska BLM Trailhead Point of lnlerest Office Public Lands Campground Information You can obtain additional information about recrea­ Center tional opportunities in Alaska. Call, write, or visit any of these BLM offices: Map Key

1. • • • • • Ii< ' Anchorage: Glennallen: • • Cripple Creek Campground Alaska State Office Glennallen District Office •• • • • • • MP 60 , open 222 West 7th Avenue, #13 P.O. Box 147 •Nenana • ••• • June to November, Anchorage, AK 99513 Glennallen, AK 99588 12 si tes, well , Cripple Creek (907) 271 -5960 (g07) 822-3217 •• • • • • • • Cabin (reservations/fee) •• • • • ·····-: •• • • •• •• • Ancl1orog D1n1nct 0 11 1 Tok: •• •• • • 2. Italian cycli sts p dal !he Dallon Hi ghway 881 Abboll I oop BLM Tok 1uld Ollie • •• • •• •• • • Eagle Campground Anchorage, AK 99 07 P.O. Box 30 ...... ! .•• MP 160 T ylor H1 gi1w y. open (907) 267-1204 Tok, AK g /BO F yl'l I Nat onal !• • '• .., May to Soplombor, t 5 sites, (90 7) 883 5 1:>1 stream, t. gbort N::itional Fairbanks: W md 111 River • • • • 3 •, •.., ·--~ DAW . N c,11v • illl'• ...... I Mill & ~ Historic 11 12. District Office Nome: Ch~~Ire i,·---· w '-.;;----+- Colorado Creek Trail 1150 University Avenue BLM N0m •. ,' .. .. . ,, 3. MP 7 11 1011 H1 911way, open Fairbanks, AK 99709 P.O. Box . , . Walker Fork Campground Oclob r to April . t milo wint r • / • Unlled Sl•lea/Caned• (907) 474-2302 Nome , AK 7 MP 82 Taylor H1 gi1w::iy, opon 1r Ii to 8 v r Cr k National (907) 44 3 2117 j •. Border Croaalng ' May to Septem ber. 35 siles, Wild Riv r. v1 w ot Whil e Kobuk District Office '4> . well, nature trail. hiking, Moun tain s 1150 University Av nu Kotzebue: fishing, gold panning Fairbanks, AK g 709 BLM Ko1z buo F1 Id Off1 c 13. (907) 474-2332 P.O. Box 2 6. 4 . White Mountains Summit Kolzebuo, AK 9 7!:>2 . West Fork Campground Trail Slee o/Wi1i1e Mounto1ns (907) 44 2-3430 ,,. ~ MP 48.5 , open ,...... '• I MP 28 , open Di slrict Office :i- 1 I (? I May to September, 25 sites, year round, access to Beaver I 1150 Unive rsity Av nu I J:' I fishing Creek National Wild River, I • Fairbanks, AK 9 709 l o"'•' views of and (907) 474-2352 >.~· I 5. White Mountains '\, ?I'>-?-:_':/...... ~o ----' ~: Brushkana Campground ...... , .. ---- ,•' MP 104.5 Denali Highway. 14. ... -.. -- .. ... _,, I Delta National I op n Juno to Octob r, 17 Wickersham Creek Trail Ta n across ;"' sites. well, group picnic 11elt r Wild and Scenic River .. MP 28 Elliott Highway, open • .• October to May, cross-country 5 • skiing, snowmobiling, dog BLM Tok mushing, excellent views from Recreation om Wickersham Dome 15.and16. Guide Pinnell Mountain Trail MP 85.6 and 107 Steese Highw y. open June to pl mber. views of the z •• g m1dnigl1t sun and numerous •• 0 wildflo wers in June ••• a: ~ •• .. (.) 17 . a: .s U.S. Creek Road • MP 57.3 Steese Highway, road • • • • • • • travel in summer, snowmach ­ • • Siana 6. ine travel in wint er, views of ...... •• Tangle Lakes Campground Mt. Prind le from summit • United Stales/Canada MP 21.5 D na il I ilghway, open •• • Border Crossing \ Ju ne to Oc1ob r, 7 11 s. w II, 16. \ I bo 1 ramp, pul 1n tor D It I Lower Nome Creek Winter I National Wild und c nic Riv r I Trail ______trips, fi shin MP 43 Steese Highway, open ··.... October to May, access 10 Talk eetna 7. headwaters of Beave r Creek Boaters at Tang le Lakes get ready to float the Tangle River Campground Della Na ti onal Wild River MP 21.7 Denali Highway, open 19. June to October, well, Maclaren Pass 7 si tes, boat ramp, fishing, pul-in for Delta National Wild 20. and Scenic River float trips Thompson Pass

6. The White Mountains Paxson Lake Campground National Recreation Area has Center MP 175 , an extensive network of trails. open June to October, 40 See reverse side under sites, well, boat launch, put-in "Conservation Areas." Contact ______,,,., GLENN for Gulkana National Wild the BLM's Steese-White River trips, fishing Mountains District Office for I I detailed information. 9. Sourdough Campground Off-road vehicle users: •Tonsina MP 147.5 Richardson Some BLM lands have Highway, open May to designated roads and trails for October, 20 sites, stream, ,...... Me e4Rr your use. Other areas have '• ity R put-in for lower , restrictions. Contact your local 0 ·----- McCarthy,• take-out for upper Gulkana BLM office for additional ' ...., -- River, fishing information . ...., , ____ .. ~ - - --- .... , --- 10. Salmon Lake Campground ANCHORAGE MP 40 Nome-Taylor Highway, SCALE ... open June to October, 6 sites, N 0 20 40 60 SO Miles boat ramp, fishing

0 50 100 Kilometers 11. A AR A PRO J ECTION 1:1 000.000 Ft. Egbert National Historic Rainbow " p Site Eagle, Alaska, open May to September, tours of historic buildings

"' U. S. GOV ERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE l990 - 793- 968 ------BLM Recreation Guide to Alaska------

BLM maintains number of public recreation cabins in Alaska. Most of these cabins are in Designated by Co ngress in 1978, the lditarod National Historic Trail is actually a network the scenic Whit Mountains Na tional Recreation Area. They include the Colorado Creek of more than 2,000 miles of tra il s used for transportatio b geAerations of Alaskans. The Cabin , the Bore lis-LeFevre Cabin , the Tra il Creek Cabin , the Windy Gap Cabin and others. trail's heyday was during the go ld rush at the turn of the cen ury. fhe famed serum run by dog Cripple Creek C- mpground has the only road-accessible cabin. teams during the 1925 diptheria epidemic in Nome is now comm~ morated by the modern day 1,000-mi le sled dog race fro m An ch orage to Nome every arcti These are only a few of the These cabins ar designed primarily for winter use by skiers, snowmobilers and dog mushers , adventures that have created the legend of the lditarod. and are reached by a network of winter tra ils. A few cabins can be reached by trail in the summer. Other cabins may be built in the futu re as demand dictates. Fort Egbert, at Ea gle, is an historic; military post established in 1899. Located on the River 12 miles downstream from the Canadian border, the fort was established to help prevent Due to the high demand, RESERVATIONS AND A PERMIT ARE NECESSARY. There is a problems among miners during the gold rush. However, Fort Egbert saw its heyday in t 903 nightly user fee, and permits will be issued for up to three consecutive nights per visit. when, under the directi on of Lt. William "B illy" Mitchell, it served as a base for the construction Information on current user fees can be obtained from: of the Washington-Alaska Military Telegraph System which first provided direct communica­ tions between Alaska and the outside world. Today, Fort Egbert is partially reco nstructed, and BLM Fairbanks Support Center Public Room tours are offered daily during the summer by the local historical society. 1150 University Avenue Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 (907) 474-2250 (left) Trail Creek Cabin, Wh ite Mountains NRA (right) Fort Egbert at the turn of the century Photo courtesy Erskine Collection, Alaska and Polar Regions Dept., University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

In Alaska, there 1s no shortage of ri •ers that offer leisurely floating or whitewater chal lenge. The Gulkana River system offers popular trips through rollin uplands and flat, marshy Congress has designa ed 26 r" ers 1n Alas a as components of the National Wild and Scenic lowlands dotted with interconnected la es. Canoeists and rafters can begin their trips at either Rivers System. Of hese, six are adminis ered by the BLM. Paxson Lake or the Tangle Lakes and con inue to the Sourdough Campground at Milepost 147 .5 of the Richardson Highway. Beaver Creek passes through the ro lling hills and jagged limestone peaks of the White Mountains National Recreation Area and the marshy lowlands oi the Yukon Fl ats. The most The originates in the Nu la o Hills and fl ows Into near the popular trip is about 127 miles. Beaver Creek is noted for itsexcellentgrayling fis hing. Access village of Unalakleet. Th is slow-moving rivers offers adventur th roug h a true wilderness is by trail from the Steese and Elliott highways or by plane. settin g. Allow about si x days for the 80 -mile journey. Acce ss is by plane.

Nearby Birch Creek flows th rough upland plateaus, forested valleys and marshy lowl ands on The Squirrel River is under study for inclusion in th e Wil d and Scen ic Rivers System and is its 344-mile journey to the . A popular 126-mile float trip beg ins at Milepost 94.5 located near Kotzebue. It originates i the Baird Mountains and flows for about 95 miles on the Steese Highway and ends at Milepost 147_ through a broad, mountain-flan ed vall e before entering the near the village of Kiana. There is some wh itewater and there is excellent fi shing for salmon , grayl ing, pike and The run beg ins in he Tangle Lakes region along the Denali Highway. Grayli ng char. People who take th is rip will see a ide va ie o see ery and vegetation typical of th is fishing is excellen . River adventurers usu ally take out three days and 35 miles later at the part o Alaska. Richardson Highway . Cana e BL or more de a 'ed 1nfor'Tlato on· ese r e•-running opportunities. The o traveled. Trips orig :e om Recreationists can fOUme a or continue on to Eag e

(le and ngh ) Gulkana Wild and Scenic R1 er

Since settlements are far apart, thorough planning and extra caution must be practiced when The Dalton Highway, formerly known as the Haul Road, is maintained by the state of Alaska driving in Alaska. Be confident of your vehicle's condition before venturing away from a main and serves primarily as a supply route for the Pr udhoe Bay oilfield s. It is the only highway in highway. Carry tools, spare parts and extra tires . Items such as a fan belt, oil, transmission Alaska where you can cross the Arctic Circle and access he scen ic . The fluid, tow chain, shovel, first aid kit and bumper jack can save you time, money and possibly highway is open to recre ational travel as far as a ch ec point operated by the state of Alaska. your life. Drivers should be alert fo r truck traffic on the narrow road . Th e only service facilities are at the Yukon River {1 30 miles north of Fairbanks) and at Coldfoo (120 miles north of the Yukon Warm clothing, portable shelter, a heat source and extra food are essential for winter travel. River bridge ). Recreationists are urged to contact th e Alaska De~a rtmen t of Transportation, 2301 Peger Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99707, to obtain current road conditions and other Owners of self-contained campers should note that sanitary dump stations are few and far information before attempting th is tri p. between. Remember, dumping of holding tanks at unauthorized locations is illegal and can cause serious ht;l Ith problems. The scenic Taylor Highway begins at Tetlin Junction on the and extends 162 mil es north to Eag le on the Yukon River. The highway winds its way through the ro ll ing hills Three scenic highways cross BLM-administered Public Lands. All are gravel roads, and of the Fortymile country, a reg ion noted for its colorful min ing hi§tory. travelers should drive at reduced speeds for safety and to avoid windshield damage from flying rocks and gravel.

The Denali Highway was the original travel route to Denali National Park before construction of the Parks Highway. This 135-mile highway connects Paxson with Cantwell an d offers outstanding views of the Alaska Range, Mt. McKinley, the Susitna River and the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District. This road us ually is not passable until mid- to late May and closes in mid-October. The highway provides access to the Delta National Wild and Scenic River. (l eft) Bicyclmg along the scenic Denali Highway (right) Fall f1shmg along the Taylor Highway

Unless posted otherwise, all BLM Public Lands are open to camping. BLM maintains The White Mountains National Recreation Area (NRA), 60 mi les north of Fairbanks, is designated camping areas shown on the chart and maps on the reverse side. All are on a first­ named for the unusual limestone cliffs of the White Mountains, an area distinctly different from come first-served basis; no reservations are accepted. the rest of . Beaver Creek National Wild River and severa l winter and summer trails offer access to the area's attractions. This rugged, remote, one-million-acre area is Facilities seldom visited, yet outstand ing opportunities for canoeing, hunting, fishing and hiking abound. Facilities vary by location. You can usually expect to find picnic tables, fire rings, litter barrels The area is most popular and most accessible in winter when cro -country skiers, snowmo­ and a vaulttoilet <1tcampgrounds. Showers, laundry facilities, hot water and dumping stations bil ers and dog mushers take advantage of the winter solitude. ThEl BLM maintains a number for self-contained campers are not available at BLM camping areas. Plan your travel route of public recreation cabins in the NRA. The White Mountains NRA was established in 1980 to obtain these s rvices at communities along the Alaska road system . as the first an d only ·national recreation area in Alaska.

Water The 1 .2-milli on-acre Steese National Conservation Area (NCA) was also established in All streams, lakes and ponds, no matter how remote 1he location , should be treated as if they 1980. Th e Steese Highway divides the NCA into northern and sou thern units, both of which contain the parasitic cyst Giardia. Water obtained from a stream or lake should be boiled or are located 60 miles east of Fairbanks. Birc h Creek National Wi ld River is th e primary chemically treated before drinking. Giardiasis symptoms include nausea, severe stomach recrea ional attraction. The 27-mile Pinnell Mountain National Recreati on Trail provides cramps and diarrhea; reatmen shou ld be received from a doc or. excellen vistas of the surrounding terrai alo g ig a'o'ne · getops. The Steese NCA is home to caribou , Dall sheep, bears. o es e es • rbearers and raptors. Firewood

(l e ) Tangle La es campground (right) White Mountains NRA

Alaska is as big as some countries and offers the hike r a choice of cool forests, majestic rivers, Camping in undeveloped areas open ridges, vast expanses of tundra and a never-ending panorama of scenery to enjoy on When camping in an undeveloped area, you have a special obligation to keep these areas any trip, whether it is an hour or a month in duration. clean and safe for others. Garbage and Ii er should be disposed of properly; the sim ple rule "pack it in , pack it out" should always be observed. In add1 on o rui ning the area for the ne xt Summer trails camper, sea ered or buried garbage is a samta ion p oblem and can attract bears or other The 27-mile Pinnell Mountain National Recreation Trail is a maintained hiking trail located animals. Eat, cook and store you r food away rom sleeping areas. Human waste should be between Mileposts 86 and 107 on th e Steese Highway. Th e 19-mile White Mountains buried a1 least six inch es deep and well away ro camps es, r ils and water. Summit Trail begins at Mil e 28 on the Elliott Highway. Both trails traverse arctic tundra and the tops of high scenic alpine ridges that offer outstanding vistas of the surrounding area. Confine you r campfire to areas of rocky ground or mineral soil. Keep your fire small and in a rock-lined fire ring . Keep fires away from all vegeta ion mcl dt g logs, tre es an d overhanging Winter trails branches. Be ore you leave an area , drown the coals with wa er nd stir. Th e fire is out only In many areas of Alaska, winter is the preferred season of travel. The Wh ite Mountains when the ashes are cold to the touch. Break up your fire ring and scatter the rocks. National Recreation Area has an established network of .winter trails for use by winter recreationists. Wild animals and you Bears and moo se are common throughout much of Alaska. These and other wild animals are Backcountry hiking completely unpredictable. Never approach them, particularly if 1heir young are present. The SLM-administered Public Lands in Alaska o ·er many backcountry hiking opportunities Always keep a clean camp. Food should be ep inside eh cles between meals. Take steps as well. For example, th e Kigluaik Mountains near Nome offer outstanding opportunities or to educate yoursel in bear sa ety and preca o s_ solitude and adventure. Popular routes for th is and other areas can be researched a your local bookstore or through inquiry to local hiking cl ubs, conservation organizations and BLM offices. Be sure to le o he s know your plans. Weather in Alaska can change quickly, so be fully prepared with prope clo mg and equipment that will enable you to stay out longer than (left) Limestone Gulch. 1 e oun ams RA you had planned. (right) Obse 1t e along he Denali Highway

Information centers Land .. . public or private? The Alaska Public Lands In orma mn Centers have a wealth of i forma ion m the form of At one ime, the federal government administered mo re than 99 percent of Alaska's land. exhibits, publications, audio- 1sual programs and trained staff, all o 1h1ch will help you enjoy Howe er, as a result of recent legislation, millions of acres of federal land have been Alaska's outdoor recreational opportunities. transferred to thti state of Alaska and Nati ve corporations. Many places where people recreated in the past are now private property. Sometimes publ ic lands are surrounded by USE * SHARE * APPRECIATE FAIRBANKS: TOK : ANCHORAGE: private property. Most maps of Alaska do not reflect recent land ownership changes and 250 Cushman, Suite 1A MP 131 4 Alaska Hwy. Old Federal Building easements. Fairbanks , AK 9970 1 Box 335 Fourth an d G Streets For fu rthe r information contact: Tok, AK 99780 Anchorage , AK 99501 The BLM has reserved publi c easements across pr iv ate land wher necessary to reach public land. You are encouraged to visit the BLM offices in Alaska o learn if the land you wish to visit Bureau of Land Management BLM publications is public or private and to get in formation on easements. Alaska State Office Other BLM publications give more detailed information on the topics covered in this brochure Office of Public Affairs and can be obtained by writing BLM or by visiting one of the Alaska Public Lands Information 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13 Centers. All publications are subject to availability. Some of the current titles include: Anchorage, Alaska 99513

Topographic maps can be obtained from U.S. Geological Survey offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks and at many outfitting stores.

(left) Alaska Public Lands Information Center, Fairbanks

BLM-AK-G l-90-028-4333-912