ANWR Caribou Calving

About this spectacle

Each spring, tens of thousands of caribou converge on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to give birth to their calves. Visitors who make it to this remote corner of northeastern Alaska witness one of North America's great wildlife migrations: cows and newborns moving across open tundra, with the Brooks Range as a backdrop and Arctic light filling the sky around the clock. The air fills with the sound of hooves and the grunting calls between mothers and calves. Wolves, grizzly bears, golden eagles, and snowy owls may also appear, drawn by the calving activity. The landscape itself — low tundra stretching to the Beaufort Sea — offers an almost otherworldly sense of scale and wildness. Access requires significant logistical planning, typically involving chartered bush flights, and visits reward those willing to commit with scenes of raw, unmediated wilderness.

When to go

Jun — Aug, peak Jun

Getting there

Nearest airport: FAI. Nearest city: Fairbanks.

Booking options

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