Saint Paul Island (Alaska)

Saint Paul Island is one of the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea off western Alaska, United States. It supports a permanent Aleut community and is best known for its abundant marine wildlife, including seabirds and northern fur seals.

The island’s shoreline and nearshore waters host large seabird colonies and seal rookeries; many visitors come for wildlife observation, subsistence fishing, and remote northern landscapes. A small village provides basic services and air connections to the Alaska mainland.

Russian fur traders established regular activity on the Pribilof Islands in the 18th and 19th centuries; the islands became US territory after the 1867 Alaska purchase and later entered federal wildlife management regimes. The islands’ human population has long been centered in the island settlements that grew around the fur trade and later subsistence economies.

Saint Paul Island lies in the Bering Sea, several hundred kilometers north of the Alaska Peninsula, and is reached by scheduled flights and seasonal boat services from the Alaskan mainland.

• Wildlife seasonality: Summer months are the prime season for observing seabird colonies and seals; tour access is limited and often arranged via charter or research vessels.
• Protected status: Part of the Pribilof Islands and subject to federal wildlife protections, so landing and activities may require coordination with local authorities.

What to See#

• Village of St. Paul: A permanent settlement with several hundred residents that serves as the island’s administrative and service center; it has an airport and harbor facilities that connect the island to the Alaskan mainland.
• Wildlife rookeries and seabird colonies: Coastal and nearshore sites used by large seabird colonies and northern fur seal rookeries, many of which are managed as part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

Flown via regional carriers from Anchorage or other Alaskan hubs depending on seasonal schedules; there may also be occasional boat services. Check local carrier and community notices for current routes.

• St. Paul has regular passenger flights but schedules can be infrequent - book well in advance and be prepared for weather-related delays.
• The island is famous for seabird colonies and northern ecology; guided wildlife tours increase the odds of good sightings and reduce disturbance to sensitive areas.