Elim AlaskaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Elim, Alaska.
1. Elim Moravian Mission
HISTORIC CULTURAL SITE
The Elim Moravian Mission stands as a testament to the religious heritage of this small Inupiat village. Visitors can learn about the significant role the mission played in the community's history and development. The site offers insights into the blending of traditional Inupiat culture with Moravian religious practices.
2. Elim Native Store
LOCAL PROVISIONS SHOP
Elim Native Store serves as the main shopping venue for this coastal community of around 300 residents. The store offers essential supplies, local crafts, and traditional Inupiat items made by village artisans. Visitors can experience authentic Alaska Native commerce while supporting the local economy.
3. Moses Point
SCENIC COASTAL AREA
Moses Point offers stunning views of Norton Sound and serves as an important subsistence fishing area for Elim residents. The point provides opportunities for wildlife viewing, including migratory birds and marine mammals. Visitors can experience the natural beauty that has sustained the Inupiat people of Elim for generations.
4. Iditarod Trail Checkpoint
LEGENDARY RACE LANDMARK
The Iditarod Trail Checkpoint in Elim marks an important stop along the famous 1,000-mile sled dog race. During the annual event, visitors can witness mushers and their dog teams arriving at this coastal checkpoint approximately 123 miles from the Nome finish line. The checkpoint offers a unique opportunity to experience Alaska's most famous sporting tradition in an authentic Inupiat village setting.
5. Elim Cultural Center
INDIGENOUS HERITAGE HUB
Elim Cultural Center showcases the rich traditions and history of the local Inupiat people. Visitors can explore displays of traditional tools, clothing, and artwork that highlight indigenous knowledge and practices. The center serves as a gathering place for cultural events and educational activities that preserve Elim's heritage.
6. Norton Sound Seafood Products
FRESH LOCAL CATCH
Norton Sound Seafood Products provides visitors with access to some of Alaska's finest wild-caught seafood harvested by local fishermen. The facility processes salmon, crab, halibut, and other marine delicacies that represent the bounty of Norton Sound. Visitors can purchase fresh or processed seafood while learning about sustainable fishing practices important to the community.
7. Kwik'pak Fisheries
SUSTAINABLE FISHING OPERATION
Kwik'pak Fisheries operates as a fair-trade certified fishery supporting indigenous fishing communities in the Norton Sound region. The facility processes and distributes wild Yukon River salmon and other seafood harvested using traditional methods. Visitors can tour the operation to learn about sustainable fishing practices and sample fresh local catches.
8. Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum
REGIONAL HISTORY COLLECTION
The Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum preserves the history of Nome and the surrounding Bering Strait region, including Elim. Exhibits showcase gold rush artifacts, indigenous cultural items, and natural history specimens that tell the story of this unique part of Alaska. Visitors can explore comprehensive displays that connect the past to present-day life in Norton Sound communities.
9. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
ANCIENT MIGRATION ROUTE
The Bering Land Bridge National Preserve protects a portion of the ancient land connection that once joined Asia and North America. This remote wilderness area features unique geological formations, hot springs, and archaeological sites dating back thousands of years. Visitors can experience landscapes that witnessed the first human migration to the Americas and continue to support traditional subsistence activities of native communities like Elim.
10. Anvil Mountain
SCENIC HIKING DESTINATION
Anvil Mountain stands as a prominent landmark near Nome with panoramic views of the Bering Sea and surrounding tundra accessible to visitors from Elim. The mountain features the iconic White Alice Communications System antennas, Cold War relics that create a distinctive silhouette against the Arctic sky. Hikers can follow established trails to the summit for wildlife viewing opportunities and spectacular vistas of the region.
11. Cape Nome
HISTORIC COASTAL POINT
Cape Nome juts into the Bering Sea as a historic landmark that gave Nome its name through a cartographer's misinterpretation. The cape offers excellent beachcombing opportunities and views of marine life including seals, whales, and seabirds. Visitors can explore this rugged coastline while learning about the indigenous communities, including Elim, that have utilized these waters for millennia.
12. Pilgrim Hot Springs
NATURAL THERMAL BATHS
Pilgrim Hot Springs provides a natural geothermal oasis in the otherwise cold climate of the Seward Peninsula, accessible as a day trip from communities like Elim. The hot springs complex includes historic buildings from its past as a Catholic mission and later a resort during the gold rush era. Visitors can soak in the healing mineral waters while surrounded by beautiful Arctic wilderness.
13. King Island
ABANDONED NATIVE VILLAGE
King Island houses an abandoned Inupiat village of remarkable stilt houses clinging to the steep slopes of this remote Bering Sea island. Though no longer inhabited year-round, the island represents an important cultural heritage site for the region's indigenous peoples, including connections to Elim residents. Visitors can arrange boat tours from Nome to view the unique architecture and learn about the traditional lifestyle of the King Island people.
14. Safety Sound Birding Area
PREMIER BIRD WATCHING
Safety Sound Birding Area attracts birdwatchers from around the world to observe Arctic and migratory species in their natural habitat. The protected wetlands and coastal areas provide critical nesting and feeding grounds for dozens of bird species, including rare Asian visitors. Visitors from Elim and beyond can photograph and document birds against the backdrop of stunning tundra landscapes and the Bering Sea.
15. Teller Road
SCENIC WILDERNESS DRIVE
Teller Road offers one of the few opportunities for road exploration in the region, extending from Nome toward the small village of Teller. The 72-mile gravel road traverses spectacular Arctic landscapes, crossing rivers and rolling tundra with opportunities to spot musk oxen, reindeer, bears, and other wildlife. Travelers from Elim can experience the remarkable interior of the Seward Peninsula, with interpretive sites explaining the natural and cultural history of the area.