Gates Of The Arctic National Park
Much like the state itself, Alaska's national parks are superlative. Within Denali National Park's protected backcountry rises North America's highest mountain. Gates of the Arctic is the country's northernmost national park, while Wrangell-St. Elias is its largest. All put together, the eight national parks in Alaska account for 65 percent of all park lands in the United States.
While each is unique, it is Gates of the Arctic National Park that encompasses the most remote, unexplored, and rarely visited landscapes in Alaska. Adventurous travelers will appreciate the solitude offered and embrace the challenge of getting there. As a true wilderness park, there are no roads or established trails within its 8.5 million acres.
What to Do in Gates of the Arctic National Park
Gates of the Arctic is a backcountry adventurer's dream. Packrafting, rock climbing, and multiday treks are made even more fun by strenuous terrain, river crossings, and cold, wet weather. Visitors must be entirely self-sufficient and have experience in wilderness navigation. There are no services in the park. For more information, visit the Gates of the Arctic National Park website.
How to Get to Gates of the Arctic National Park
Park visitors come by air taxi service from Fairbanks to the communities of Bettles, Coldfoot, or Anaktuvuk Pass. There is a small park visitor center in Anaktuvuk and all three have some limited lodging and service. From there, visitors hike into the park. Gates of the Arctic is also accessible by foot from the Dalton Highway.
Alaska Tour & Travel can coordinate transportation to, and lodging in Fairbanks, the typical jumping off point for a Gates of the Arctic trip. For more information about the area, check out our Fairbanks and Far North pages.