An austere landscape at first glance, time spent on the Arctic Coast reveals it to be a region of stunning beauty and richness. Kasegaluk Lagoon is where the coastal tundra melts into the Chukchi Sea. Fed by five major rivers, the land and water mix in an infinite variety of lakes, bays and inlets. The diversity of wildlife and habitats is astounding.

Fresh water lagoons and river mouths wind far inland with ideal nesting habitat for both waterfowl and upland species. Kasegaluk Lagoon itself is brackish and in addition to pods of beluga whales, hosts ringed, spotted, and bearded seals along with the resident and migratory fish and birds.  Numerous lakes and ponds provide habitat for nesting loons, swans, and more.   Scores of waterfowl, including Black Brant, King, Common and Spectacled Eider, collect in the lagoons and river deltas to breed and molt.  Tens of thousands of sea ducks migrate along this coast in July.   The coastal tundra is thick with shorebirds and other nesting birds from the world over.

Between the lagoon and the Chukchi Sea are a series of barrier islands. These long gravelly spits are full of driftwood, whale bones, duck nests, and all manner of gifts from the sea. We will split our time among these many habitats, paddling far inland to experience the tundra for a few days, then heading seaward to beach comb on the barrier islands the next.  In many years, the Western Arctic caribou herd stampedes to the coast to avoid insects further inland, and foxes search the driftwood for eider nests while the sun refuses to set over the northern ocean. It is a magical landscape, suddenly vibrant and teeming with life during the short summer.

This arctic canoe trip will explore this rich and interesting area for a week in July. This stretch of the coast is protected by barrier islands and the nearby sea ice, making the canoeing relatively safe and easy. The area is known for high-winds which might make preclude paddling some days, but with ample time and endless daylight, we can roam the tundra and coast watching wildlife, gaze for hours at the changing light, and learn about the resilient creatures that make their homes on this rugged coast. This is an ideal trip for birders, photographers or anyone wanting to see this enchanting area.