Andreafsky Wilderness

The Andreafsky Wilderness is a vast expanse of alpine and wetland tundra inside the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Flowing through it are the Andreafsky River and its East Fork, which run southwest along parallel paths and drain into the Yukon River outside the Wilderness boundaries. Large portions of both have been designated National Wild and Scenic Rivers, attracting river runners and anglers; the East Fork runs closer to the mountains and carries more trees. Moose, foxes, beavers, martens, minks, wolves, wolverines, caribou, large populations of black and brown bears, and millions of salmon are here. Fishing is excellent, and the bears know it. White spruce and balsam poplar grow along the riverbanks; near the headwaters the forests give way to alpine tundra and a relatively flat, treeless delta. Elevations run from about 50 feet above sea level to nearly 2,800 feet in the northeastern portion. Average summer temperatures range from the upper 40s to the low 60s Fahrenheit, winter temperatures average from 0 to 15 degrees, and 18.6 inches of precipitation falls annually. Designated in 1980 and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.