The 3,700 Year Old Volcanic Crater In Alaska That's A National Natural Landmark
By Catherine Armstrong|Published April 10, 2017
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
One of Alaska’s most vast and untouched places, Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve contains a massive volcanic crater that’s 3,700 years old. Check this out!
The Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve is one of the least-visited places in all of the national parks. It's located on the peninsula, 450 miles from Anchorage.
One of the few ways to reach the 601,294-acre preserve is by floatplane. Difficult weather prevents visitation any time other than during summer months.
Experienced river runners can attempt the Aniakchak river, which starts at the lake and ends 37 miles later at Aniakchak Bay. Class IV whitewater is common throughout the river, which should only be attempted in July.
Bears are common throughout the national preserve. The foraging is plentiful, and the bears have access to lots of salmon. You'll want to take extra precautions to avoid bear encounters while visiting this wild place.
