Gambell: Birdwatching and Yupik Culture

Gambell brings together nature watching, coastal finds, and a vibrant Siberian Yupik culture. Guided birdwatching tours, the annual Yupik Days, and the long history of the Gambell Sites are especially important for planning a trip.

Coastal Finds and Birdwatching

Sponges, corals, egg cases, driftwood, and crustaceans wash ashore along the shores around Gambell. For nature enthusiasts, this means distinguishing between two topics: finds along the shore and guided birdwatching tours in a named area of the island.

Birdwatching in Gambell is considered some of the best in Alaska. Most visitors come on guided, multi-day birdwatching tours organized from the town. The tours explore the northwest corner of Saint Lawrence Island on foot, by ATV, or by bicycle; the mode of transportation may vary by operator. If birdwatching is the main focus of your trip, take the multi-day duration into account when planning. In addition to the multi-day timeframe, tour planning should also take into account the mode of transportation offered by each operator, since the guided explorations cover the northwest corner of Saint Lawrence Island.

Yupik Culture and Community

Siberian Yupik culture in Gambell dates back several thousand years and remains strong and vibrant in the community. Yupik Days is an annual community event that the Gambell School helped support.

The 46th annual event took place on March 27 and 28, 2025. The program included cultural performances, Yupik dance and music, storytelling events, as well as NYO and Yupik games. If you would like to plan your trip around Yupik Days, check the dates for your travel year; activities may vary from year to year.

Local History and the Gambell Sites

Gambell was originally called Sivuqaq. In the late 19th century, the town was renamed in memory of the community’s first missionary family; their boat sank on the return trip to the island.

The Gambell Sites are located on Saint Lawrence Island near the town and include Hillside, Mayughaaq, Ayveghyaget, Old Gambell, and Seklowaghyag. They represent two thousand years of Inuit history on Saint Lawrence Island and were significant to the chronological sequence of cultures on the island and to the region’s prehistory. The town’s name history points to an event in the late 19th century; the Gambell Sites, by contrast, span a much longer period and reflect the history of the island region.

Getting There and Trip Planning

Gambell’s state-owned airport has a paved runway. There are regular flights from Nome and charter flights from Unalakleet. Check flight schedules before your trip so you can include specific connections in your plans. The island is privately owned. If you want to leave the town limits from Gambell, you must complete a land crossing permit application; a one-time fee of $50 or $100 applies. Confirm permit procedures and fees before your arrival.

Explore more destinations: Nome.

View the broader travel overview: Nome Census Area.