Contact Information

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
P.O. Box 220
Nome, AK 99762
www.nps.gov/bela/index.htm

Telephone: (907) 443-2522
Fax: 907-443-6139

Email: WEAR_Webmail@nps.gov

Access

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is one of the most remote and least-visited national park areas. It sprawls across 2.7 million acres of the northern Seward Peninsula in northwestern Alaska. Its western boundary lies 42 miles from the Bering Strait and the U.S.Russia fishing boundary. No roads connect northwestern Alaska with other regions. From the towns of Nome and Kotzebue, served daily by flights from Anchorage, bush planes and small boats provide most summer access into the preserve. Winter access is mostly by small planes on skis, snow machines, or dog sleds.

Facilities

Facilities in this wildlands park are extremely limited and there are few trails. Six shelter cabins widely scattered in the preserve are primarily for emergency winter use. A bunkhouse-style cabin at Serpentine Hot Springs sleeps 15 to 20 people in two sections. A wooden tub for bathing there is enclosed in a small bathhouse. All cabins are unreserved and bush etiquette may require sharing space with strangers. Camping is relatively unrestricted, with no formal campsites and no developed water, power, or sanitation facilities.

In Nome and Kotzebue: The visitor center is located at 240 Front Street in Nome, Alaska, and offers information and limited displays on park themes. The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nome and Kotzebue provide services expected in small towns — hospital, restaurants, hotels, and grocery and hardware stores. Camping gear and sporting goods are often limited in variety, quantity, and availability. Air taxi services provide scheduled flights to neighboring villages or charter flights into the preserve.

In neighboring villages: In nearby villages small stores offer limited clothing, food, and supplies. As tourism develops some villages also offer meals, lodging, and village tours.

Climate and Weather

Weather is a central concern in visiting the park. Summer temperatures on the coast are usually in the low 50s degrees F, with mid 60s to 70s and an occasional 60 or 90 in the interior. Average January lows are -15 on the coast and -50 in the interior. Winds average 8 to 12 mph, but 50 to 70 mph winds commonly accompany storms and produce extremely low and dangerous chill factors. Averages can be meaningless: Summer can see snow, near freezing temperatures, and long periods of clouds, wind, and rain. Exposure and hypothermia are real threats. Summer days are long, almost without darkness; winter days are short, with only a few hours of light.

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