Cape Krusenstern National Monument
Designation: National Monument
Location: Alaska
📘 Park Overview
A bridge to the past and a land for the future, Cape Krusenstern National Monument protects approximately 560,000 acres of diverse Arctic coastal, and upland ecosystems. Inhabited by the Iñupiaq people since time-immemorial, over 5,000 years of sequential human use is documented in the 114 successive beach ridges. Rich connections to the land and waters are preserved through subsistence practices.
🌤 Weather Information
Snow, rain, and freezing temperatures can occur any time of the year. Always travel with good quality rain gear and warm layers. Be especially careful to stay dry. Hypothermia can set in on a windy, wet day, even when it doesn't feel that cold.
🚗 Directions
Cape Krusenstern National Monument lies within a remote area of northwest Alaska and is bordered by the Arctic Ocean and Chukchi Sea. Visitors generally access the monument via the regional hub in Kotzebue. Commercial airlines provide daily service from Anchorage to Kotzebue. Chartered flights with licensed air taxi services, booked in advance, can take backcountry travelers to remote destinations within the monument.
Images
Muskox and Greater White-fronted Geese on vegetated beach ridges in front of the Igichuk Hills.
Credit: NPS Photo
January light and a bright moon at 2 pm over the Igichuk Hills in Cape Krusenstern National Monument.
Credit: NPS Photo
Beach ridges created by years of wave action during storms can be seen as parallel lines in the fall vegetation covering the old gravel.
Credit: NPS Photo
Pike (left and right) and trout (middle) dry on a rack at a subsistence camp. The slash marks allow more air to circulate and dry the meat more quickly.
Credit: NPS Photo
A University of Washington archeology crew conducts research on an old semi-subterranean house along the beach ridges of Cape Krusenstern. Old house timbers are slowly revealed about 4 feet down
Credit: NPS Photo
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
No entrance fees listed.
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Monday, Apr 6
Sunny
High: 17.6°F | Low: -10.5°F
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 4.7 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.6
Sunrise: 07:40 AM
Sunset: 10:11 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (86%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 0.4°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Tuesday, Apr 7
Partly Cloudy
High: 22.3°F | Low: -2°F
Humidity: 85%
Wind: 5.4 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.6
Sunrise: 07:36 AM
Sunset: 10:15 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (79%)
Visibility: 5 mi
Dew Point: 5.4°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Wednesday, Apr 8
Sunny
High: 21.5°F | Low: -5.1°F
Humidity: 89%
Wind: 4.9 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.5
Sunrise: 07:32 AM
Sunset: 10:18 PM
Moon: Waning Gibbous (70%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 5°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Park Alerts
Park Events
Winter Subsistence Resource Commission
Cape Krusenstern National Monument SRC will meet in person and via teleconference from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday March 11, 2026, or until business is completed. If business is completed on March 10, 2026, the meeting will adjourn, and no meeting will take place on March 11, 2026. You can learn more about the Cape Krusenstern SRCs and view the upcoming meeting agenda on the park’s website.
In Person: Northwest Arctic Heritage Center, 171 Third Ave Kotzebue AK 99752
Phone: 866-764-6523 code: 4321954#
Members of the public are welcome at the meetings, and there will be time for Tribal, local entity, agency, and public comment.
Date: Mar 10, 2026 12:00am to Mar 10, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Winter Subsistence Resource Commission
Cape Krusenstern National Monument SRC will meet in person and via teleconference from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday March 11, 2026, or until business is completed. If business is completed on March 10, 2026, the meeting will adjourn, and no meeting will take place on March 11, 2026. You can learn more about the Cape Krusenstern SRCs and view the upcoming meeting agenda on the park’s website.
In Person: Northwest Arctic Heritage Center, 171 Third Ave Kotzebue AK 99752
Phone: 866-764-6523 code: 4321954#
Members of the public are welcome at the meetings, and there will be time for Tribal, local entity, agency, and public comment.
Date: Mar 11, 2026 12:00am to Mar 11, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
171 3rd Ave
Kotzebue, AK 99752
🏤 Mailing Address:
PO Box 1029
Kotzebue, AK 99752
📞 Voice Phone: 9074423890
📞 Fax Phone: 9074428316
✉️ Email: wear_webmail@nps.gov