Cheap Flights to Nikolai Airport

Nikolai Airport is a public airport in the U.S. state of Alaska. The airport, owned by the State of Alaska DOT&PF, is located 1.85 km northeast of the central business district of Nikolai. The airport covers a total area of 76 acres and resides at an elevation of 411 ft (134 m) above mean sea level. It has a runway designated 4/22, paved with gravel. The runway measures 4,003 ft x 75 ft (1,220 m x 23 m).

Nikolai is a small city in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, occupying a total area of 12.6 km2. According to the 2010 census, Nikolai's population was 94 people. This is a very small percentage of the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area's total population, which as 5,588 as of the 2010 census. Yukon-Koyukuk has the largest area of any county (or county-equivalent) in the country. As part of the unorganized borough of Alaska, it has no borough seat. It does, however, have many national-protected areas.

What to see & do

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, also referred to as Arctic Refuge or ANWR for short, is a national wildlife refugee located in northeastern Alaska. It encompasses 78,050.59 km2 in the Alaska North Slope region and is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country. The refuge is known for its wildlife, with 45 species of land and marine mammals present, among them being the wolf, wolverine, moose, muskox, free-foaming caribou, and the polar, grizzly, and black bear. In the Arctic Refuge waters are a recorded 36 species of fish, and at least 180 species of bird have been seen in the area. Recreation and education opportunities include fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, and photography.

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve - The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is the northernmost U.S. national park, and the second largest. Though not accessible by road, the park is still visited by travellers by walking on or by taking air taxis. It is still the least visited in the US National Park system due to its lack of supportive infrastructure, and of course, its remoteness. Camping is allowed in the park.

Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge - Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge occupies 6,600 km2 and offers a prime example of Alaska's boreal ecosystem. Present in the boreal forest are about 37 species of mammals, including wolverine, beavers, moose, mink, wolf packs, and brown and black bears.

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race checkpoint - Nikolai serves as one of the checkpoints for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the annual long-distance sled dog race. The race starts in early March from Anchorage to Nome. Nikolai is the first Native American village used as a checkpoint.

How to get around within Nikolai

There is a winter trail from Nikolai that leads to McGrath.

How to get there

There are flights to Nikolai Airport from McGrath Airport. It is located in the city of McGrath, also in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. Tanana Air Service links the two airports together. Most travellers will need to take a flight first to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, then to McGrath Airport, before finally arriving at Nikolai Airport.