Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

Gates of the Arctic National Park was established in northern Alaska’s Brooks Range in 1980. It’s the second-largest national park in the U.S., protecting a vast wilderness outpost for backcountry adventurers and wildlife. The ecosystem’s magnificent rivers, mountains, and wetlands are largely untouched.

There are no roads, marked trails, or even a proper visitor’s center, so this park is best accessed on an organized tour with an expert guide who knows the terrain. Tour options include scenic flights, fishing at an alpine lake, camping, pack rafting, canoeing, and hiking.

• This vast wilderness is best accessed via tour for all visitors who lack expert-level wilderness survival skills.

• Delays due to weather are common, so build extra days into your trip.

• Gates of the Arctic is set in an untamed environment, so pack to protect yourself from severe weather, cold, and insects.

• There is no cellphone service inside the park.

Gates of the Arctic maintains a visitor’s center in Fairbanks, Alaska, and most trips begin with a short flight in a small bush plane from there to Bettles or Anaktuvuk Pass. Several companies offer daily flights, and most tours pick up from one of the two towns.

Gates of the Arctic experiences an extremely harsh winter that can last most of the year. Your best chance for clear, stable weather is to visit during the summer months of July and August.

Most people visit Gates of the Arctic National Park on a tour, due to the park’s remote location and lack of services. Tour options include sightseeing day trips to select areas, or scenic flights that glide over the park. There are also multi-day options. Tours are designed for visitors to see wildlife, hike to scenic spots like Finger Mountain, and learn about the region’s gold mining history.