Selawik Wilderness Area

Selawik Wilderness Area spans 242,106 acres in northwestern Alaska as a federally protected primitive landscape managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The area offers backcountry hiking and backpacking in remote, non-motorized terrain where solitude and self-reliance are essential. Access is limited and challenging; there are no roads into the wilderness, and visitors must arrange their own transportation, typically by air or water from nearby communities.

The reality of visiting Selawik demands careful planning and wilderness skills. No motorized travel, mechanized transport, or mountain bikes are permitted—travel is by foot, canoe, or kayak only. Leave No Trace principles apply strictly; pack out everything you pack in, camp only where permitted, and minimize your footprint. The brief summer season and extreme isolation mean you must be self-sufficient and prepared for sudden weather changes, limited daylight transition periods, and the genuine remoteness that defines Alaskan wilderness travel.