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BET → EEK
Which side of the plane to sit from Bethel Airport (Bethel) to Eek Airport (Eek)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers a superior perspective of the Kuskokwim River's intricate meanders and the dramatic landscape where the Eek River meets the delta ecosystem.
Kuskokwim Meanders
Witness the hypnotic, serpentine loops of the Kuskokwim River as it carves through the soft silt of the delta.
Eek River Confluence
See where the smaller, darker waters of the Eek River merge into the larger silty flows of the delta region.
Wetland Sloughs
A complex network of tidal channels and sloughs that provide critical habitat for migratory birds.
Eek Village Descent
Get a clear view of the isolated boardwalk-linked community as the plane banks for its final approach.
Subsistence Camps
Look for small seasonal fishing camps along the riverbanks used by local Yup'ik residents.
The right side is ideal for afternoon or evening flights as the low sun reflects off the water channels, highlighting the river's path. Use a fast shutter speed on your camera to capture the intricate water patterns from the low-altitude bush plane. This side also offers the best view of the Eek runway and village layout upon arrival.
Yukon-Kuskokwim Tundra
A vast, treeless expanse of mosses and lichens that changes color dramatically with the seasons.
Glacial Kettle Lakes
Thousands of small, shimmering circular ponds created by retreating glaciers dotting the interior landscape.
Distant Kilbuck Mountains
On rare, high-visibility days, the jagged peaks of the Kilbuck range are visible far to the east.
Permafrost Patterns
View unique polygonal ground formations caused by the freezing and thawing of the arctic soil.
Sit on the left for softer lighting during morning flights. This side provides a better sense of the sheer scale of the Alaskan interior wilderness. Keep an eye out for larger land mammals like muskox which occasionally roam the drier tundra patches.
Distance: 64 km (40 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 6 min
Departure: BET (60.77980042, -161.8379974)
Arrival: EEK (60.21367264, -162.0438843)
Route Type: Domestic
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