Gates of the Arctic

7. & 8. Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve

Oohla Valley NP and near the Preserve - courtesy of Tristan 2011

General - Gates of the Arctic National Park

Fly-In with charters out of Bettles and Kotzebue. Scheduled flight from Fairbanks to Bettles and from Anchorage and Fairbanks to Kotzebue and from Fairbanks to Anaktuvuk Pass for Flightseeing. Hike from Anaktuvuk Pass but would likely need to stay overnight at Anaktuvuk and limited lodging. VC with stamp at Bettles and Anaktuvuk. Charter landings from planes out of Bettles - Impressive Flightseeing over Arrigetch Peaks on a Bettles / Notak run. Two Preserve areas. One northeast and one south.

There are no designated hiking trails in Gates of the Arctic. Most is wilderness. It is probably possible to hike into the park from the Anaktuvuk Pass airport along the Continental Divide but there is no marked trail but a good possible future trail could be from the Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station up to the Continental Divide north of town and then northwest several miles to the NPS park boundary. (future club project?)

Maps - Gates of the Arctic National Park

Maps of the Gates of the Arctic are given on the NPS unigrid and at the Gates of the Arctic web site. The maps show the location of the two Preserve sections. One is in the Northeast and one in the southwest section of this large park. National Geographic Map for Gates of the Arctic for sale

Google Maps - Anaktuvuk Pass airport - Walker Lake (NP)

Note: The EN stamping stations at the Bettles Ranger Station and the Coldfoot Arctic Interagency VC on the Dalton Highway are not within the boundaries of the Park or Preserve units. However, a flight from Bettles to Anaktuvuk Pass can offer spectacular Flight seeing opportunities.

NPTC boundaries definition for Gates of the Arctic

"Anaktuvuk Pass is the only Visitor Center located within the designated National Park - although it is entirely surrounded by privately-held land within the National Park boundaries. There are no visitor centers located within Gates of the Arctic National Preserve. Both Fairbanks and Bettles are located outside the boundaries of both the Park and the Preserve. Gates of the Arctic National Preserve consists of a North Unit and a South Unit, located in the far northeastern corner and far southeastern corners of Gates of the Arctic. In general, you must fly-in to Gates of the Arctic NP&PRES, although the Dalton Highway does pass within 2.5 miles of the National Park boundaries." - NPTC

Air Taxis authorized by NPS - Gates of the Arctic National Park

Air Taxis used by NPTC Members - Gates of the Arctic NP

NPTC member Trip Reports - Gates of the Arctic NP

(Note: You must be registered at the NPTC web site as a guest or member to view the Member Trip Reports)

General - Gates of the Arctic National Preserve

Fly-In with charters out of Bettles and Kotzebue. Scheduled flight from Fairbanks to Bettles and from Anchorage and Fairbanks to Kotzebue and from Fairbanks to Anaktuvuk Pass for Flightseeing. Hike from Anaktuvuk Pass but would likely need to stay overnight at Anaktuvuk and limited lodging. VC with stamp at Bettles and Anaktuvuk. Charter landings from planes out of Bettles - Impressive Flightseeing over Arrigetch Peaks on a Bettles / Noatak run. Two Preserve areas. One northeast and one south.

Float plane landings are common at Nutuvukti Lake in the Southwest near a Ranger cabin.

Peace of Selby Wilderness Lodge - Fishing, hiking, boating

There are no designated hiking trails in Gates of the Arctic. Most of the park designated as wilderness area. It is probably possible to hike into the park from the Anaktuvuk Pass airport along the Continental Divide but there is no marked trail but a good possible future trail could be from the Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station up to the Continental Divide north of town and then northwest several miles to the NPS park boundary. (future club project?)

Maps - Gates of the Arctic National Preserve

Maps of the Gates of the Arctic are given on the NPS unigrid and at the Gates of the Arctic web site. The maps show the location of the two Preserve sections. One is in the Northeast and one in the southwest section of this large park. National Geographic map for Gates of the Arctic for sale.

Google Maps -Anaktuvuk Pass airport

North Gates of the Arctic Preserve unit

As can be seen here while the Ranger Station at Anaktuvuk pass is enclosed within the boundaries of the National Park, but it is actually not on Federal land. The Ranger Station there is however an EN stamping location.

Google Maps - Nutuvukti Lake (NPres)

South Gates of the Arctic Preserve unit

Air Taxis authorized by NPS - Gates of the Arctic National Preserve

Air Taxis used by NPTC Members - Gates of the Arctic NPres

NPTC member Trip Reports - Gates of the Arctic NP & Preserve

(Note: You must be registered at the NPTC web site as a guest or member to view the Member Trip Reports)

2007 - Bruce and Letty Johnson (BruceandLetty) and Anatuvuk Pass RS - Flickr Photos