Unimak Island Wilderness Area

Unimak Island Wilderness Area encompasses over 921,000 acres of remote Alaskan backcountry in the far southwestern reaches of the state. This federally protected wilderness offers rugged, undeveloped terrain for experienced backcountry travelers seeking genuine solitude and self-reliance.

Visitors come here to backpack, hike, and explore one of Alaska's most isolated wild areas. The landscape is primitive and untrammeled—there are no roads, no motorized access, and no mechanized travel of any kind. This is true backcountry: you navigate and travel by foot, and all use must follow Leave No Trace principles. The wilderness is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve its undisturbed character.

Access is challenging and expensive; this is not a drive-to trailhead destination. Most visitors arrive by aircraft or boat. The brief summer window (roughly June through September) offers the only practical window for travel, though conditions remain unpredictable. Winter is severe and impassable for most users. Anyone considering a visit should be equipped with navigation skills, wilderness experience, and proper preparation for extreme isolation.