National Parks Journal
Photo: NPS Photo / Sean Tevebaugh · Public domain
Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve
This vast landscape does not contain any roads or trails. Visitors discover intact ecosystems where people have lived with the land for over ten thousand years. Wild rivers meander through glacier-carved valleys, caribou migrate along age-old trails, endless summer light fades into aurora-lit night skies of winter. Virtually unchanged, except by the forces of nature.
Entrance Fees
No entrance fee. Other fees may apply for tours, camping, or transportation.
Getting There
Roads and entrances can close temporarily. Check current conditions on nps.gov (opens in a new tab) before you go.
Entrances & departure points
- Directions to Bettles (Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center) (opens in a new tab)
Bettles (Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center)Main
Bettles, AK · Scheduled airlines from Fairbanks; local air taxi operators · Air taxis mainly June–September; ranger station hours vary
- Directions to Coldfoot (Arctic Interagency Visitor Center) (opens in a new tab)
Coldfoot (Arctic Interagency Visitor Center)Main
Coldfoot, AK · Air taxis from Coldfoot airstrip · Visitor center open late May to early September; air taxis summer
- Directions to Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station (opens in a new tab)
Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station
Anaktuvuk Pass, AK · Scheduled flights from Fairbanks · Hours vary; staffed mainly in summer
Airports
- FAI
Fairbanks International Airport · Fairbanks, AK
ClosestMid-size airport - ANC
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport · Anchorage, AK
Major airport
No roads enter the park: small airlines fly from Fairbanks to Bettles, Anaktuvuk Pass and Coldfoot, where visitors take an air taxi or hike in (Coldfoot is also reachable on the Dalton Highway).
Towns to stay in
Coldfoot, AKDalton Highway town
Wiseman, AKDalton Highway town
Activities
Top Hikes
0 mi · 0 ft gain · out & back
The Arrigetch Peaks are dramatic granite spires rising from the Brooks Range, accessible via bush plane to Circle Lake or Arrigetch Creek. The Inupiat name means 'fingers of the hand extended.' A premier wilderness backpacking destination.
Starts at: Bush plane to Circle Lake or Arrigetch Creek
0 mi · 0 ft gain · out & back
The park's namesake landmark — Frigid Crags and Boreal Mountain flanking the North Fork Koyukuk River. Bob Marshall named these formations the 'Gates of the Arctic' in 1929. River travel and off-trail hiking through the valley.
Starts at: Bush plane to North Fork Koyukuk River
0 mi · 0 ft gain · point to point
The John River is one of six designated Wild and Scenic Rivers in the park. The broad valley offers relatively open hiking terrain through boreal forest and tundra with wildlife viewing opportunities including caribou, wolves, and grizzly bears.
Starts at: Bush plane to upper John River
0 mi · 0 ft gain · point to point
The Alatna River flows south from the Brooks Range through spruce forests and wide gravel bars. A popular float trip that can be combined with overland hiking to access the Arrigetch Peaks.
Starts at: Bush plane to headwaters or Takahula Lake
Upcoming Events
No upcoming events scheduled for Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve. Events are updated daily — check back soon or visit nps.gov for the latest.
Best Time to Visit Gates of the Arctic
Best time to visit: June–August
The best time to visit Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve is June–August. Rivers are ice-free from about mid-June, and the brief, mild summer is the window for float trips and backpacking in this roadless park.
In those months, average highs are 54–62°F at Anaktuvuk Pass. Fewer than 10,000 people visit even in the busiest month, so crowds are rarely a concern.
Monthly averages at Anaktuvuk Pass (2,120 ft). Climate normals (1981–2010): PRISM Group, Oregon State University.
Weather & Climate
The climate of Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve is generally classified as arctic and sub-arctic, with exceptionally cold winters, relatively mild summers, low annual precipitation, and generally high winds. The weather is influenced by many different systems, and can change rapidly.!!
