Steese National Conservation Area encompasses 1.2 million acres of public land about 100 miles northeast of Fairbanks along the Steese Highway. It was established by Congress through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA, PL 96-487) of 1980.

Special values of the area include Birch Creek and wildlife habitat including crucial caribou calving grounds and home range, and Dall sheep habitat.

Two of the primary uses of the Steese National Conservation Area are recreation and mineral development. Diverse recreational opportunities exist ranging from backcountry non-motorized uses within the primitive areas to off-road vehicle uses within the semi-primitive areas.