Galena: Best for Outdoor Winter Activities
Galena, Alaska is located in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area and is recognized as a Koyukon Athabascan village. This city experiences extreme temperatures which can sometimes go over 90 degrees during the summer and minus 40 degrees during winter. This small community can be reached through the Yukon River and via the Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport (GAL).
Best Time to Visit
Visitors who want to avoid the cold harsh weather should schedule their trip between May to mid-October. During the winter season, you can expect Yukon to be an icy frozen road. Galena hosts the Iron Dog Snowmobile Race and is one of the checkpoints of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, which is one of the most popular events in Alaska. This event takes place in March and draws in huge crowds from all over the state. Hence, tourists should secure their Galena, AK hotels in advance.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Tourists will have to travel a bit further to get to some of the most popular attractions in Alaska. One of the landmarks visitors often head to is the Presentation of Our Lord Chapel, a historic chapel located in Nikolai. This old church is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Another popular attraction is the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve located in Bettles. This national park is considered the northernmost national park in the US.
Visitors arriving in Galena, AK will find limited accommodations. The Borealis Bed & Breakfast and Yukon Inn are both located in Galena, which makes it convenient for visitors who do not want to travel too far to book their hotels.