Delta
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Anchorage =
340 mi / 544 km
Fairbanks = 100 m / 160 km
Valdez = 266 mi / 425 km
Tok = 108 m / 173 km
Population = 657
Elevation = 1,180 feet / 360 meters
Location = 100 miles east of Fairbanks
The official end of the Alaska Highway, Delta Junction is where the Richardson and Alaska Highways come together. The Richardson Highway predates the Alaska Highway by over 20 years. In 1910 it was a wagon trail, and in the 1920s the Richardson was updated by the Alaska Road Commission, to accommodate automobiles.
The community had its start as a construction camp for the Richardson Highway in 1919. At one time the community was known as Buffalo Center for the American Bison that were transplanted here in 1920's. Today, Delta has the largest free roaming herd in America, and may be viewed from the bison sanctuary located 4 miles up Clearwater Rd. (7 miles toward Tok). The Bison have done so well, that for many farmers they have become costly pests. Because of
this, a 90,000 acre Delta Bison Sanctuary was created in 1980. Keeping the Bison on the refuge and out of the barley fields is still a problem however.
Today, the town today is named after the Delta River located nearby. The Delta area is home to over 40,000 acres of agriculture including land used to grow barley, oats, wheat, and potatoes.. The barley fields in particular are a popular stop for thousands of Sandhill Cranes.
T he Visitor Information Center is located at the junction of the Alaska and Richardson Highways and may be reached at (907) 895-5068. This is a schedules stop on the Parks Highway Express to Fairbanks, Tok, and Dawson City.
Three state campgrounds are located nearby. Delta State Recreation Site and Clearwater state campground on Remington Road are closer to the town. Quartz Lake Campground is located 10 miles toward Fairbanks on the Richardson and is the top sport fishery in the Tanana River drainage system. Here you will find recently renovated campsites and day-use areas. Campsites are $8 per night and cabins for rental. The recreation area offer excellent opportunities for hiking, camping, biking, canoeing and fishing.
Delta Junction offers a spectacular view of the trans-Alaska pipeline suspension bridge over the Tanana River. If you are traveling from Fairbanks to Dawson this is the only view of the pipeline you will have. You can visit Pump Station No. 9 located 8 miles (12 km) south of town along the Richardson Highway. They have 1-hour tours from June to August and reservations are recommended.
FISHING: There are over 40 lakes stocked by Alaska Department of Fish and Game in the Delta-Tok areas. Most of the stock is rainbow trout, arctic grayling, lake trout, arctic char, and king salmon. Grayling, whitefish, silver salmon all spawn in the Delta Clearwater River in October. Access is via Clearwater Road or Jack Warren Road. Other good fishing opportunities are the Goodpaster River accessible by boat via the Clearwater and Tanana Rivers. Many of the stocked lakes are located near the road system. Quartz Lake just north of the town on the Richardson is probably the most popular fishing lake in the area. Here you my catch arctic char, rainbow trout, or silver salmon. Get in touch with the local Alaska Department of Fish & Game for more information and other locations. (907) 895-4632.