Photo: Paxson Woelber, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Gates of the Arctic has no roads, no trails and no campgrounds, just more than eight million acres of the Brooks Range north of the Arctic Circle. Caribou cross wide valleys, wild rivers run north and south from the divide, and the sun barely sets in June. You get here by bush plane or on foot from a remote highway or village, and every trip is measured in days, not hours. It asks a lot of you. In return, it gives you a kind of solitude that is almost gone from the world.
TRAILS
1 OF 6
Arrigetch Peaks
Difficulty
Strenuous
Length
Varies (multi-day)
Elevation gain
Varies
Alatna River valley — Sharp granite spires rise thousands of feet above the valley here, and their Iñupiaq name means fingers of an outstretched hand. Most trips fly to a lake near the Alatna River, then bushwhack up a creek valley into the heart of the peaks. The walk in is brushy and slow, but the cirques above are some of the most striking terrain in Alaska. Use durable surfaces and spread out camps; this fragile area sees more use than most of the park.
⚠︎ No trails. Bear-resistant food containers are required overnight. Expect cold, wet weather and river crossings.
Photo: AlaskaNPS, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 6
Float the Alatna River
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
Varies
Elevation gain
None
Central Brooks Range — A gentle wild river that winds south through forest and tundra, with the Arrigetch Peaks rising to the west. Floatplanes drop paddlers at lakes along the upper valley, and most trips mix days on the water with a hiking side trip into the peaks. The current is easygoing for much of the way, which leaves time to watch for moose, bears and wolves. Pack a repair kit; help is a long way off.
⚠︎ Remote, self-supported trip. Water is cold and levels change quickly after rain.
Photo: Sean Tevebaugh, National Park Service, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 6
Float the Noatak River
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
Varies
Elevation gain
None
Western Brooks Range — The Noatak starts high in the park and flows west all the way to the Chukchi Sea, one of the longest wild rivers in Alaska and entirely north of the Arctic Circle. The upper river runs through a broad glacial valley with peaks on both sides and good odds of seeing caribou, bears and wolves. Most floats on easy to moderate water take one to three weeks. Plan for strong upstream winds that can slow you down.
⚠︎ Fly-in, fly-out trip with no services. Go with a guide unless you have Arctic river experience.
Photo: National Park Service, Alaska Region, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 6
Walk In from Anaktuvuk Pass
Difficulty
Hard
Length
Varies
Elevation gain
Varies
Anaktuvuk Pass — Anaktuvuk Pass is a Nunamiut village in the middle of the park, with scheduled flights from Fairbanks. That makes it one of the few places you can start a wilderness trek without chartering a plane. Wide, open valleys lead out in several directions, and caribou move through in spring and fall. Visit the village museum before you go, and ask permission before camping on nearby Native land.
⚠︎ No marked routes. Expect river crossings, tussocks and fast-changing weather.
Photo: Paxson Woelber, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 6
Walker Lake
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
Varies
Elevation gain
Varies
Southern Brooks Range — A 14-mile lake ringed by forested slopes and bare peaks, at the headwaters of the Kobuk River. Floatplanes land right on the water, making it one of the easier places in the park to set up a base camp. From there you can hike open ridges for long views, fish for lake trout or simply sit and listen. Bring a good tent; wind can sweep down the lake without warning.
⚠︎ Floatplane access only. Store food in a bear-resistant container.
Photo: National Park Service, Alaska Region, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 6
Flightseeing the Gates
Difficulty
Easy
Length
Varies
Elevation gain
None
North Fork Koyukuk River — The park takes its name from two mountains, Frigid Crags and Boreal Mountain, that stand like a gateway on either side of the North Fork Koyukuk River. A flight from Bettles or Coldfoot is the simplest way to see them, along with miles of untouched valleys and rivers. Some operators can land so you can stand on the tundra. It is the best option if you have only a day.
⚠︎ Weather can ground flights for days. Leave slack in your schedule.
Photo: Cacophony, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Gates of the Arctic trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.