Bering Land Bridge National Preserve in Alaska, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-27. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve covers remote land on Alaska's Seward Peninsula, where a visit requires independent transport and wilderness planning. There is no road entrance to drive to. The Heritage Center in Nome is about 100 miles south of the preserve; visiting it does not mean you have reached the preserve itself.

A remote landscape, not a roadside park

• Beringia: The preserve protects a surviving part of the former land-bridge region.
• Serpentine Hot Springs: A remote destination reached with its own transport and safety plan.
• Arctic wildlife: Muskoxen, caribou, and other northern species occur in the preserve.

Arrange transport before the visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for delayed pickup and extreme water temperatures

Weather can delay pickup from remote locations for several days. Plan for self-reliance rather than a guaranteed return flight. At Serpentine, spring water can reach 170°F. The cold-water pipe can freeze in winter or lose flow when the river is shallow in summer.

NPS warns that river water contains high levels of coliform bacteria and must be treated before drinking. Do not depend solely on the filters supplied at the site. Read the facility and health-and-safety guidance as part of your trip preparation.

Protect the land and cultural resources

Helicopters, ATVs, and other off-road vehicles are prohibited in the preserve, with an exception for snowmobiles when snow cover is adequate. Do not take or disturb artifacts. At Serpentine, use the food-storage locker and pack out open food packages.

Entry and facilities are different decisions

No entry reservation is required, and NPS does not issue backcountry permits here. Serpentine facilities operate on a first-come basis. That is not a promise of shelter, space, or working water systems; coordinate your own transport, navigation, and contingency arrangements.

Preserve access and the Nome planning stop

The preserve lies on the northwestern Seward Peninsula. Nome is a planning and information base, separate from the protected area. At Serpentine, an unmaintained gravel airstrip is a short walk from the published bathhouse, bunkhouse, and outhouse location. Consult the Serpentine travel guidance when assessing a route.

Other regional parks require separate travel

Cape Krusenstern National Monument and Kobuk Valley National Park are other northwest Alaska options. Neither has road access. Kotzebue is a transport base for authorized air taxis, so these are separate wilderness trips rather than stops on a connecting park road.

Choose an achievable wilderness objective

Match the destination to your transport arrangements and the conditions you can manage. Serpentine is one established planning focus, but reaching its mapped facilities still requires self-directed navigation. Winter route stakes are not a complete navigation system; NPS recommends GPS and preparation for camping outside in extreme weather.

Do not depend on a guaranteed indoor place

NPS describes a bathhouse, bunkhouse, and outhouse at Serpentine. Their existence does not remove the need for an independent shelter and water plan. Ask the preserve about current conditions before relying on those facilities. The Nome Heritage Center remains an information stop far outside the preserve.

About the Beringia landscape

Past cultures and continuing connections

The preserve protects a remnant of Beringia for the study of past cultures and the early peopling of North America. It also supports the continuing traditional lives of Seward Peninsula residents, whose connections to the land include subsistence hunting, fishing, gathering, and cultural practices.

Animals of the north

Muskoxen, caribou, Arctic foxes, and brown bears are among the land mammals listed by NPS. Coastal wildlife includes walrus and bowhead whales, while willow ptarmigan and yellow-billed loons are among the birds. Different habitats hold different species; none is guaranteed on a particular route.

Contact the preserve before arranging travel

Call 907-759-8020. The official preserve planning page explains transport constraints and the separate Nome information stop.