July 4th, 38 degrees, 31 water temp - GO Ahead, DO the Polar Plunge, and 28 degree wind chill. Not 100 yards off shore are massive ice floats. This "beach" is all pebbles not sand. Put a couple in your pocket as mementos. You ARE at the "Top of the World"
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Barrow is the most far point that you can go to in the United States which lies on the Artic Ocean.
It is mostly Alaska native population but they will make you feel welcome. The best time of the year to go is during July and the first part of August during the midnight sun. The sun never sets and is daylight 24 hours a day but make sure that you wear or take cold weather gear with you or a bathing suite if you are one of the not so smart one's that want to take the plunge into the artic ocean. They do have a post office and it is worth a stop to mail yourself something back home to show where you have been. I do not recommend an overnight trip unless you have made some kind of arrangements far in advance, The cost of everything is extremely high a cup of coffee can cost you much more than $2. and that is with no refills. The water in Barrow is shipped in just like all of their other goods as well milk is more than $14. a gallon so make sure you go by the grocery store so you can get the shock of your life. The best part of Barrow is there is a bus system that will take you near the most far point and pick you up in about 15 minutes, sometimes they will wait but most of the time the bus will come back and pick you up in the next round which is about 15 minutes and it is one thing that is affordable to do is ride the bus.
If I had a bucket list, it would be to put my feet in the Arctic Ocean, that enigmatic, massive body of water that's all but out of reach for most. The beaches at Barrow are as beautiful as most in warmer climes, and frolicking in the shallow waters was a real treat. Indeed, all of us on the tour were like a bunch of 8 year olds, thrilled (and chilled) no end! If you go, don't just look at the Ocean...experience it!
This is not your normal beach - but we didn't come to Barrow to sunbathe! The beach did have a lot of rubbish on it but we saw past that to look at the amazing ARCTIC OCEAN.
Soft pebble beach makes getting into the freezing water a little easier. We descended from the whale bones to the barren beach and took a dip. Watch out for the jellyfish on the beach. Didn't see any in the water. Very scenic with the ice pack 100m from shore.
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