This is a birdwatchers paradise. Rafts regularly float all 168 miles of the Wild and Scenic but gentle Selawik River which runs from the Purcell Mountains in the far eastern refuge to broad shallow Selawik Lake. A list of guide services for the river are available from the refuge manager. Winds may be fierce on the lake. Although camping is generally unrestricted, approximately 2,000 Native Alaskans live on inholdings in the refuge, living primarily a subsistence lifestyle.
Dry campsites are few and far between.
You'll find no trails, no roads, no assistance if you need help, millions of mosquitoes in summer and severe cold in winter. From Kotzebue, Selawik is accessible by boat, plane, snowmobile, ski and dogsled. Click here to find out how. Copyright Rodale, Inc. 2001.