Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve
This vast landscape does not contain any roads or trails. Visitors discover intact ecosystems where people have lived with the land for thousands of years. Wild rivers meander through glacier-carved valleys, caribou migrate along age-old trails, endless summer light fades into aurora-lit night skies of winter. It remains virtually unchanged except by the forces of nature.
Gates of the Arctic is a wilderness park, with no roads or trails into the park lands, so visitors must fly or hike into the park. Access begins in Fairbanks, Alaska & there are several small airlines that provide daily flights into the communities of Bettles, Anaktuvuk Pass, and Coldfoot. Most visitors access the park by air taxi or hike in from the Dalton Highway or from the village of Anaktuvuk Pass. River crossings are necessary from both locations.
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Whitewater Rafting
- Archeology
- Arts
- Explorers and Expeditions
- Military
- Native American Heritage
- Westward Expansion
- The Gold Rush
- Arctic
- Tundra
- Climate Change
- Fire
- River and Riparian
- Trails
- Water Trails
- Wilderness
Alatna River
Aerial view of the Alatna River as it winds through a valley
Arrigetch Peaks
A spring alpenglow brightens the granite walls of the Arrigetch Peaks
Entering Oolah Valley
A hiker crosses a stream and enters Oolah Valley.
Blueberries
Pausing to pick blueberries can result in a handful of delicious snacks.
Hikers crossing a mountain pass
Hikers choose river valleys as corridors when hiking over mountain passes.