Togiak Wilderness

In 1980 the Togiak Wilderness became part of the now over 110 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. At 4.2 million acres, Togiak National Wildlife Refuge covers about the same amount of land as Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, a region important to Eskimo and Native American hunter-gatherers for more than 5,000 years. Over half of the refuge, the northern section, has been designated Wilderness. To the north of Togiak Wilderness stretches the vast Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Three major river systems, comprising over 1,500 miles of water, lie within Togiak Refuge (Togiak, Kanektok, and Goodnews). More than one million salmon return to these waters each year to spawn. Fishing draws many visitors to Togiak, both humans and brown bears. Floaters often run the rivers, fishing along the way for salmon, trout, char, grayling, and pike. The Togiak River flows wide and easily. The Kanektok and Goodnews are faster, more twisted rivers with a greater variety of fish. None of the rivers contain white water. The Ahklun Mountains encompass about 80 percent of Togiak National Wildlife Refuge and give way to tundra and coastal plains at lower elevations. The mountains of the Wilderness hide many large lakes. Sea cliffs provide nesting places for approximately one million marine birds, including murres, puffins, auklets, kittiwakes, and cormorants. Beaches provide haul-outs for walrus, sea lions, and harbor seals. Seven species of whales have been identified cruising the coastline during migratory seasons. You'll find no trails, just millions of mosquitoes in summer, severe winters, few trees, and fewer fellow humans.