Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve protects mountain valleys, tundra, and wild rivers in Alaska's central Brooks Range. There is no road entrance or network of marked hiking trails. Most visitors arrange an air taxi, then travel with the equipment and skills needed for a remote wilderness trip. Flightseeing offers another way to experience the landscape if an independent expedition does not fit your plans.

Highlights of Gates of the Arctic

• Brooks Range wilderness: Explore mountain country where your route depends on terrain, river levels, and the landing sites your pilot can use.
• Wild rivers: The Alatna, Noatak, and North Fork Koyukuk are among the park's six designated Wild Rivers.
• Arrigetch Peaks: Granite pinnacles rise above surrounding valleys. Reaching this area requires backcountry planning and attention to its bear advisory.
• Flightseeing: Local air taxis offer scenic flights and some short visits, as well as transport for longer expeditions.

Know before you go into the Brooks Range

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for isolation, cold water, and bears

Leave a detailed trip plan with a dependable person. Give a copy to your pilot. Include your route, return arrangements, and what to do if you are overdue. Weather can delay a pickup, so carry several extra days of food. NPS recommends two communication methods, such as a satellite phone and a satellite messenger. A cell phone is not a reliable means of communication here.

River crossings can be more consequential than the walking distance suggests. Cold water, changing levels, and difficult terrain can prevent progress. Plan an alternative route. Wear a personal flotation device while boating. Review the park's wilderness safety guidance before departure.

Bear-resistant food containers are required for overnight visits. NPS lends them without charge, subject to availability. In the Arrigetch Peaks area, the park strongly recommends hard-sided containers after a bear obtained food from a soft-sided container on August 13, 2026. Check the Arrigetch Peaks advisory when planning a trip there.

Camp lightly and respect local communities

Choose a durable campsite, such as suitable gravel above the current water level. Allow for rising rivers. Avoid fragile lichens and mosses, and do not dig tent trenches or cut branches for bedding. A camping stove reduces dependence on scarce wood. Keep food and scented items secured, and follow the bear-camping instructions given at your orientation.

Pack out your trash. Leave cultural objects where you find them. Respect hunting camps, private property, and local subsistence activities. Pets must remain on a leash or otherwise physically restrained, and must not be left unattended. Drone operation is prohibited.

Entry permission and transport bookings

Ordinary independent visits do not require a park entry permit or reservation. Attend a backcountry orientation before setting out. Organized groups should contact NPS several months ahead to discuss permits and group limits.

Arrange your air taxi or guide separately. Agree on landing locations, equipment limits, and pickup plans before finalizing a route. Use authorized commercial providers. The park's permit and reservation guidance explains the distinction between general access and activities that need advance approval.

Maps, location, and access

Fairbanks is a common starting point for travel to Bettles, Anaktuvuk Pass, or Coldfoot. Bettles and Anaktuvuk Pass have no road access. Coldfoot is reached along the Dalton Highway or by air. Air taxis continue into the backcountry from gateway communities.

Experienced visitors can also hike from the Dalton Highway or Anaktuvuk Pass. These approaches have no established trails and require river crossings. Native land surrounds the Anaktuvuk Pass airstrip; ask permission before camping on that land. Do not use the park's Fairbanks mailing address as a wilderness arrival point.

Start with the official map resources, including land-status information. NPS recommends detailed USGS topographic maps at 1:63,360 scale for route planning. Carry maps and a compass in the field. A general park pin on a phone cannot identify a suitable landing site or a safe river crossing.

Parks near the Fairbanks departure gateway

There is no direct road connection from Gates of the Arctic to another park. These two Alaska State Parks stops are near Fairbanks, for before your flight or after your return:

• Chena River State Recreation Site: A riverside day-use park on Geraghty Avenue in Fairbanks, reached from Airport Way via Washington Drive.
• Chena River State Recreation Area: A larger area for hiking and camping along Chena Hot Springs Road, reached from the Steese Highway.

Choose an expedition or a shorter visit

Backpacking requires route finding across vegetation, wet ground, and streams. Build the itinerary around your group's abilities and the pilot's access options. There is no standard short-loop trail list to follow.

River trips offer another way through the valleys. Inflatable or collapsible boats are commonly used because they are easier to carry in small aircraft. Arrange rentals before arrival. Read the NPS river-planning information and discuss the specific river with your outfitter. A mild rapid classification does not remove the risks of cold water, obstructions, or isolation.

Flightseeing and guided visits can suit travelers who do not have the time or skills for an independent expedition. Ask whether a proposed trip includes a landing, how much walking is involved, and what equipment you must bring. Choose the activity around the least experienced person in your group.

Visitor centers and wilderness facilities

There are no designated backcountry campsites or developed trail facilities. Plan to carry the supplies needed for your wilderness stay. Gateway communities and visitor centers serve a different purpose: they are places to prepare before entering the backcountry.

Orientation locations include the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center, the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot, and the Bettles Ranger Station. The Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station is the staffed facility within park boundaries. Arrange contact ahead if your trip depends on staff assistance.

Bettles has a ramped entrance and accessible restrooms, with a gravel approach from the airstrip. Discuss aircraft boarding and any remote landing with your operator. The park's accessibility information explains visitor-center access and ways to plan around individual needs.

About Gates of the Arctic

A landscape with a continuing human history

People have lived in the Brooks Range for thousands of years. Archaeological sites record long connections to this land, and Athapaskan and Inupiat communities continue to live in the region. Subsistence activities remain part of life within and around the park. The lack of roads should not be mistaken for an absence of people or history.

Wildlife across the mountains and tundra

The park protects habitat for caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, wolves, and birds of prey. Encounters depend on where you travel and the conditions you find. Watch from a distance, avoid feeding or approaching animals, and keep nesting and feeding areas undisturbed.

Contact the park

National Park Service: 907-459-3730.
Mailing address: 101 Dunkel St., Suite 110, Fairbanks, AK 99701.

Contact NPS for orientation arrangements, current advisories, organized-group requirements, and questions about your planned area. Ask your air taxi or guide about transport availability and pickup arrangements.