Gates of the Arctic
Roadless Brooks Range wilderness above the Arctic Circle, reached only by air or on foot
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- Free entry
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 8,472,506 acres (park and preserve)
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Gates of the Arctic is the northernmost national park in the US and lies entirely above the Arctic Circle in Alaska's central Brooks Range. It is the second-largest national park and has no roads, no trails and no visitor services inside its boundaries. Glaciated valleys, tundra, rugged peaks and six Wild and Scenic Rivers make up a landscape that has changed little since the last ice age. It was proclaimed a national monument in 1978 and became a national park and preserve in 1980.
It is one of the least-visited parks in the country, often seeing only a few thousand people a year. Most visitors fly in by bush plane and spend a week or more backpacking or floating a river, completely self-sufficient. Nunamiut and other Alaska Native people still live in and around the park and use it for subsistence hunting and fishing. In summer the sun barely sets, while winter brings weeks of darkness and temperatures far below zero.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- Mid-June to late August brings snow-free tundra and nearly round-the-clock daylight, while late August and early September offer fall color and fewer bugs before freeze-up.
- How long to stay
- Plan at least 5 to 7 days in the backcountry, plus weather days, or a single day for a flightseeing trip.
- Getting there
- Fly into Fairbanks (FAI), then take a scheduled flight to Bettles (BTT) or Anaktuvuk Pass (AKP), or drive about 6 to 7 hours up the Dalton Highway to Coldfoot, where air taxis fly into the park.
- Wildlife
- Look for caribou of the Western Arctic herd, grizzly and black bears, wolves, moose, Dall sheep, wolverines and Arctic grayling in the rivers.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Bettles (opens in a new tab)Alaska
- Hotels in Coldfoot (opens in a new tab)Alaska
- Hotels in Fairbanks (opens in a new tab)Alaska
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Gates of the Arctic
- Bear sprayGrizzlies roam throughout the park and help is days away.
- Mosquito head netMosquitoes on the tundra can be overwhelming in June and July.
- Four-season backpacking tentWind, rain and even summer snow are common in the Brooks Range.
- Satellite messengerThere is no cell service, and a satellite device lets you call for help or update your pickup.
- Waterproof rain gearLong days of rain and wet tussock tundra are normal.
A first day, start to finish
- Backcountry orientation in Bettles or Coldfoot
- Air taxi flight over the Brooks Range
- Landing on a lake or gravel bar
- Short off-trail tundra hike
- Camp under the midnight sun
Don't miss
- Arrigetch PeaksA cluster of sheer granite spires in the western Brooks Range whose Inupiaq name means fingers of a hand outstretched.
- Frigid Crags and Boreal MountainThe two peaks flanking the North Fork of the Koyukuk River that Bob Marshall called the gates of the Arctic in the 1930s.
- Noatak and Alatna RiversTwo of the park's six National Wild and Scenic Rivers, popular for multi-week float trips through open tundra valleys.
- Anaktuvuk PassA Nunamiut village and ranger station in a broad pass on the Continental Divide, reachable by scheduled flight and a starting point for hikes.
- Walk-in from the Dalton HighwayThe park's eastern boundary lies a few miles west of the highway near Wiseman, so strong hikers can enter on foot without flying.
Know before you go
Do
- Stop for a backcountry orientation in Fairbanks, Coldfoot, Bettles or Anaktuvuk Pass before you head out.
- Pack extra food and days, since weather often delays air taxi pickups.
- Consider a guided trip or experienced outfitter if this is your first Arctic wilderness trip.
Don't
- Expect trails, signs, bridges or cell service anywhere in the park.
- Camp or cross private Native lands without permission.
- Skip the head net and bug spray in June and July, when mosquitoes are intense.
The park and preserve are open 24 hours a day, year-round, with no gates or roads. The Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center is open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from about July 1 to September 25, and the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot is open daily from late May to early September and closed in winter. Fall freeze-up and winter darkness make October through April suitable only for experienced winter travelers.
For a taste of the park without a backcountry expedition, book a flightseeing trip from Bettles or Coldfoot that includes a landing on a lake or gravel bar.Trekker's tip