Welcome to the Gates of the Arctic National Park Information.
Here you will find all you need to know about the natural history of the park.
Learn about the geology, trees, mammals, birds, or other plants and wildlife of the area.
Gates of the Arctic National Park is located in Central Brooks Range, about 200 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska
Getting There
The closest major airport is Fairbanks, located about 200 miles southeast of the park.
Local airlines fly into Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles, and Coldfoot, Alaska.
There are no roads in the park, although the Dalton Highway comes within about 5 miles of the park’s eastern boundary. Other than hiking in from the Dalton Highway, between approximately milepost 190 to milepost 276, access is generally by air.
Scheduled air taxis from Fairbanks serve Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles, and Coldfoot. Charter flights may be arranged. Contact Bettles Ranger Station for the list of licensed air taxi operators.
From the North
Drive south on the Dalton Highway (Stateroad 11) to the Coldfoot Ranger Station.
From the South
Drive north on or to the Dalton Highway (Stateroad 11) to the Coldfoot Ranger Station.
Establishment the Gates of the Arctic National Park
By establishing Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve in Alaska’s Brooks Range, Congress has reserved a vast and essentially untouched area of superlative natural beauty and exceptional scientific value – a maze of glaciated valleys and gaunt, rugged mountains covered with boreal forest and arctic tundra vegetation, cut by wild rivers, and inhabited by far-ranging populations of caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and bears (barren-ground grizzlies and black bears). Congress recognized that a special value of the Park and Preserve is its wild and undeveloped character, and the opportunities it affords for solitude, wilderness travel, and adventure. Gates of the Arctic encompasses several congressionally recognized elements, including the national park, national preserve, wilderness, six Wild Rivers and two National Natural Landmarks. The National Park Service is entrusted to manage this area to protect its physical resources and to maintain the intangible qualities of the wilderness and the opportunity it provides for people to learn and renew its values.
Size & Visitation of Gates of the Arctic National Park
National park: 7,253,888 acres
Federal: 7,281,654.48 acres
Nonfederal: 242,233.52 acres
Total Park and Preserve area: 8,202,517 acres
Wilderness area: 7,052,000 acres
Visitation
Visitation averages 4,000 recreational visits per year. One Alaska Native community is located within the boundary of the park, and its residents and those of eight other adjacent communities use the park for subsistence hunting, fishing,trapping, and gathering.
Biosphere Reserve
The entire Noatak River drainage, of which the headwaters are in Gates of the arctic is internationally recognized as a biosphere reserve in the United Nation’s “Man in the Biosphere” program.
Cultural Resources
Although a number of studies have been conducted within Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, the extent and character of the cultural resources within the park are not yet fully known. The archeological investigations undertaken within the park and preserve have produced a basic outline of prehistory, but only a small fraction area has been studied. Similarly, a systematic inventory of the historic sites within the park has only recently begun. Additionally, intangible cultural resources, notably the oral histories of past human use of park lands, are being assembled and recorded.
Accessibility
Administrative buildings in Anaktuvuk Pass, Coldfoot, Bettles and Fairbanks are accessible.
Gates of the Arctic is a remote wilderness, and travelers should be fully competent in outdoor survival skills and flexible enough to deal with common weather delays.
Visitors are reminded there are no facilities within Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and they should be fully self-sufficient and flexible at all times.
There are no roads or established trails within the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.
Hikers should practice Leave No Trace techniques, be aware of backcountry safety guidelines, and remain aware of the fragile ecosystems and private lands within the park.
Basic Visit Recommendations
Gates of the Arctic is one of several conservation units located in the Brooks Range. Many of these units were established for wilderness recreation activities such as: backpacking, river running, mountaineering, dog mushing, and others. The remote location and extreme climate of the Brooks Range requires travelers to have strong wilderness skills and flexibility to adjust plans. The Dalton Highway offers a road accessible Brooks Range experience for those not prepared for a rugged wilderness journey.
Visitors are strongly encouraged to practice minimum impact/ leave no trace camping guidelines at all times. Fires should be used only when regulations permit and if possible, kept on river bars below the high water line.
Visitors are reminded there are no facilities within the preserve and they should be self-sufficient at all times.
Bear Information
The Brooks Range is home to both black bears and grizzly bears. Black bears primarily inhabit the forested areas of the park, grizzly bears live mainly on the open tundra, but may be encountered in all areas of the park.
Biosphere Reserve
The entire Noatak River drainage, of which the headwaters are in Gates of the arctic is internationally recognized as a biosphere reserve in the United Nation’s “Man in the Biosphere” program.
Bird Information
A total of 133 species of birds have been observed in the park and preserve over the past 25-30 years. Nearly half of those recorded are normally associated with aquatic habitats.
Raptors inhabiting the park include species of eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls, three jaegers, and the northern shrike. Because of their place high in the food chain, raptors are more susceptible to environmental disturbance and population fluctuations. Arctic peregrine falcons, a threatened species only recently removed from the endangered list, nest in the area.
Camping
There are no campgrounds in the park although there is a campground managed by BLM at Dalton Highway Milepost 180 (5 miles north of Coldfoot). The campground is open from June through mid-September. It is the responsibility of the visitor to obtain all of the necessary information and avoid private property.
Fees
No admission or user fees for non-commercial users.
Fishing
Fishing is permitted in both Park and Preserve with a valid Alaska State Fishing License. Applicable sportfishing regulations can be found in the Alaska state fishing booklets where licenses are sold.
The Park encourages catch and release fishing as a means of preserving the diversity and numbers of species. Short growing seasons and long winters mean slow growth for many of the fish found in the Brooks Range. Fisherman are encouraged to use barbless hooks and be familiar with proper releasing techniques. For a pamhlet on these techniques please contact the Visitor Use Assistant at the Bettles Ranger Station. Be sure to indicate which type of fish you are seeking.
Food and Supplies
Supplies are generally not available within the Park. Visitors must plan to be self-sufficient.
Hiking
There are no roads or established trails within the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Hikers should practice Leave No Trace techniques, be aware of backcountry safety guidelines and remain aware of the fragile ecosystems and private land.
Hunting Information
A valid state license is required to hunt, fish, or trap on any Gates of the Arctic lands. All such activity must be done in accordance with state and federal laws. Additionally, bring your own hunting accessories and gear. This means you would need to bring your hunting rifle (perhaps AR-15), ammo, and hunting clothes. Needless to say, you also need proper footwear as you would be diving into the deeper ends of the forest where you might be at risk of insect bites. Good-quality boots, in such cases, could prove to be beneficial. Besides this, you can also look into hunting blinds (click for more information) that can improve your chances of getting a clear shot of an animal while keeping you effectively hidden.
Lodging
There is no commercial lodging in the park.
Local facilities are available at:
- Anaktuvuk Pass
- Bettles
- Coldfoot
- Wiseman
Permits
The park has a required backcountry orientation program for all recreational travelers. The backcountry orientation will be offered at the: Bettles Ranger Station, Coldfoot Visitor Center, and Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station. Backcountry users not passing through one of these locations should call the Bettles Ranger Station.
Programs
The Coldfoot Visitor Center offers evening programs during the summer. While in Coldfoot check out the ruins and cemetery of “Old Coldfoot” or visit the historic village of Wiseman just 13 miles up the road.
Visitor Centers
- Headquarters (Fairbanks)
Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm – Monday – Friday - Bettles Ranger Station
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm – Daily – from mid-May to mid-Sep
8:00 am – 5:00 pm – Mon – Fri – mid-Sep to mid-May - Coldfoot Visitor Center
10:00 am – 10:00 pm – Daily – Jun / Aug
The Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station, Bettles Ranger Station, and Coldfoot Visitor Center have backcountry orientation displays. Bettles Ranger Station has an interactive CD-ROM program on site. The Coldfoot Visitor Center has scheduled evening programs during the summer.
Weather of Gates of the Arctic National Park
The central Brooks Range has long severe winters and relatively short cool summers. The entire region receives continuous sunlight during the summer for at least 30 days.
The south side of the Brooks Range below 2,500 feet is generally a subarctic climate zone. Precipitation is low, averaging 12 to 18 inches in the west and 8 to 12 inches in the east. Snow falls 8 or 9 months of the year, averaging 60 to 80 inches. The average maximum and minimum July temperatures are 70 F and 46 F, respectively. Average maximum and minimum January temperatures are -10 F and -30 F. Thunderstorm activity is common during June and July, and generally June through September is the wettest time of Year. Prevailing winds are out of the north.
The north side of the Brooks Range has an arctic climate. Mean annual temperatures are colder than on the south side. Maximum and minimum February temperatures range from 33 F to -47 F. The warmest month, July, has 60 F maximum and 40 F minimum. Precipitation is extremely light, about 5 to 10 inches a year, making this essentially an “arctic desert.” Snow has been recorded in every month of the year, and the annual average is 45 inches. Prevailing winds from the east in summer and west in winter are greatly modified by local terrain.