Discover Southeast Fairbanks Census Area

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area combines vast river landscapes, alpine expanses, and the history of gold mining into a destination offering many different experiences. You can focus on water and nature, explore historic sites, or choose a travel season in which summer or winter activities take center stage. When searching for a vacation rental, it is therefore especially important to consider what kind of days you would like to plan.

Rivers, Lakes, and Trails Through the Landscape

Clearwater State Recreation Site provides access to the Delta Clearwater River via a boat ramp. There are opportunities to fish for Arctic grayling, whitefish, and salmon. The Delta Clearwater River also provides access to the Tanana and Goodpaster Rivers and offers opportunities for river trips. A nature trail along the river complements these activities. In spring or fall, sandhill cranes, swans, geese, and other migratory birds can be observed there.

Quartz Lake State Recreation Area also opens up a range of travel ideas. In summer, popular activities include swimming and water skiing. In winter, the focus shifts to ice fishing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, and skijoring. Five hiking trails offer views of the Tanana River Valley, the Alaska Range, the Shaw Creek Flats, Quartz Lake, Lost Lake, and Moose Pond.

Alaska Range and Wilderness

Fielding Lake State Recreation Site is located in the Alaska Range at an elevation of 2,973 feet and above the tree line. A public-use cabin is available there by advance reservation. Fielding Lake is home to naturally occurring Arctic grayling, lake trout, and burbot; the fish population is not stocked. Delta State Recreation Site offers a different landscape: from there, you can see the Delta River across the highway and the Alaska Range beyond it. In clear weather, 13,832-foot Mount Hayes is also visible.

The Fortymile Wild and Scenic River is an extensive network of creeks and rivers in east-central Alaska. Of this network, 392 miles are designated as wild, scenic, or recreational segments of the National Wild and Scenic River System. River trips through deep, forest-lined canyons can last anywhere from one day to several weeks. The corridor provides habitat for caribou, moose, Dall sheep, grizzly or black bears, waterfowl, and birds of prey, including the peregrine falcon. For trip planning, this creates a clear distinction between short nature experiences and longer, remote river journeys.

History Among Roadhouses and Gold Mining

At Big Delta State Historical Park, Rika's Roadhouse served travelers from 1913 to 1947 on the historic Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail. The Delta Historical Society Museum displays locally collected artifacts from the period between 1900 and 1950, as well as historic photographs. The Sullivan Roadhouse Historical Museum conveys the history of its roadhouse, built in 1905, with artifacts, information about the original owners, and insights into life in Alaska.

Chicken also represents the history of the Fortymile Mining District. The Chicken Historic District comprises fifteen historic buildings and one additional historic structure. The Pedro Dredge is a National Historic Site in Chicken; it was originally used for gold mining in the Fairbanks area and moved to Chicken in 1959. Visitors can also try recreational gold panning and take guided tours of the dredging equipment. F.E. Company Dredge No. 4 is an outstanding example of mechanized gold-mining machinery used in Alaska's Interior in the mid-20th century.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Style

For a vacation rental in Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, it is worth deciding before booking what mix of nature, water, culture, and quiet you want. Travelers who place river trips or lakes at the center of their plans will plan differently from those who want to combine historic roadhouses, dredging equipment, and gold-mining sites. Delta Junction is the official end of the Alaska Highway and is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks. From Tok, Fort Egbert can be reached by turning north from the Alaska Highway onto the Taylor Highway at Tetlin Junction and driving 163 miles to Eagle. Fort Egbert has five restored buildings that are managed together. The Eagle Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 2, 1978.

For particularly remote experiences, Yukon-Charley Rivers Preserve on the Canadian border in eastern Alaska can be reached via two long gravel roads, the Yukon River, or by plane. Seven public-use cabins are available there on a first-come, first-served basis. On the Yukon River, trips by raft, canoe, or motorboat are possible; the Charley River requires advanced skills and offers a wilderness experience. You can also include the pages for Tok, Delta Junction, and Deltana in your further trip planning.

Additional Destinations for Trip Planning

If you would like to extend your trip beyond Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, you can find additional information on Nome Census Area, Kenai Peninsula, Sitka, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and Fairbanks North Star Borough.

For the overarching travel overview: Alaska.