The White Mountains National Recreation Area, sprawling across a million acres, is just an hour’s drive from Fairbanks, Alaska. This vast area offers serene landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, and wildlife watching, making it a haven for nature lovers all year round.

Within the White Mountains lie 12 cozy log cabins, scattered throughout the area. It’s crucial to have your cabin permit handy while exploring. Additionally, there are two trail shelters available on a first-come, first-served basis. Winter draws adventurers seeking excitement through skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, fat biking, and snowmobiling. With 12 public cabins and 250 miles of maintained trails, it’s a top winter spot in Interior Alaska. Reservations are needed for cabins, while trail shelters operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Summer brings a different charm to the White Mountains, offering gold panning, fishing, hiking, and camping under the midnight sun. Nome Creek Road opens up access to campgrounds, trails, gold-panning spots, and the starting point for float trips on Beaver Creek. For trail updates and more information, contact the Fairbanks District Office. The Nome Creek Valley, accessible via US Creek Road, offers rich history and opportunities for recreational gold panning. Some trails may not be suitable for ATVs or hiking due to wet conditions.

During winter, the White Mountains transform into a magical setting with groomed trails and 14 public cabins and shelters. Activities like canoeing, hiking, and skiing are popular, with unique features like subarctic caves and disappearing streams adding to the area’s allure. Wildlife thrives here, with Dall sheep, bears, caribou, moose, wolves, and wolverines calling it home. Visitors might also encounter marmots, pikas, falcons, eagles, and various owl species, depending on the season. For details on facilities and directions, contact the BLM. Access is available via the Steese and Elliot Highways, with U.S. Creek Road leading to Nome Creek Road, a hub for trails and floating on Beaver Creek. Please contact the BLM Fairbanks District Office for details at (907)474-2200.

Photos courtesy of  BLM White Mountains National Recreation Area.