Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge (US Fish And Wildlife Service) · Kodiak, Alaska
A refuge of about 1.9 million acres covering most of Kodiak Island and parts of neighbouring islands in the Gulf of Alaska, established in 1941 to protect the Kodiak brown bear, one of the largest bears on Earth. Around 3,500 of these bears live on the archipelago, feeding on salmon in summer in green valleys, fjords and rivers. There are no roads into the refuge: visitors fly in by float plane or arrive by boat from the town of Kodiak for bear viewing, fishing, hunting or stays in public-use cabins. Alutiiq (Sugpiaq) people have lived here for thousands of years. The refuge visitor centre in downtown Kodiak explains the islands' wildlife and history for free. In 2026 half-day fly-out bear viewing trips cost about $400-$600 per person, all-inclusive guided trips around $950, and multi-day lodge stays started near $5,600.
Refuge Visitor Center, 402 Center Street, Kodiak (refuge reached by float plane or boat), Kodiak, Alaska, 99615, United States
The refuge is open year-round. The visitor centre in downtown Kodiak is open with seasonal hours (check fws.gov/refuge/kodiak).
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