The Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve in Alaska’s Brooks Range reserves 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. In setting aside this land, the Park and Preserve was recognized for its wild and undeveloped character and the opportunities it affords for solitude, wilderness travel and adventure. When Congress established Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in 1980 it protected a vast and undeveloped area of superlative natural beauty and intact ecosystems. These parklands represent a variety of ecotypes ranging from the lowland lakes and rivers of the forested south slopes across the gaunt spine of the continent to the rolling, treeless tundra of the northern foothills of the Arctic Slope.
The wilderness values of this area are of paramount importance. Robert Marshall first extolled the qualities of the unmapped Central Brooks Range and the diverse inhabitants of Wiseman in the 1930’s and it has become a landscape of inspiration for people around the world. For untold centuries it has been the homeland of Athapaskan and Inupiat people who used resources and occupied the land in a manner that preserved its integrity for the benefit of all Americans now and in the future.
The boundary of the National Park and Preserve includes about 8.2 million acres of public land with approximately 7.2 million acres designated as wilderness, 6 Wild Rivers, 2 National Natural Landmarks and the Noatak Biosphere Reserve. Contiguous with the 5.6 million acres of designated wilderness in the Noatak National Preserve to the west, this rugged landscape is one of the world’s largest protected areas. Taken in a regional context, the park is a centerpiece in nearly 35 million acres of protected areas spanning the 700 mile expanse of the Brooks Range.
Nature & Science
Wind, water, temperature and glacial and tectonic action have sculpted a wildly varied landscape in this northernmost east-west trending portion of the Rocky Mountains. Southerly foothills step into waves of mountains risting to elevations of 4,000 feet. These may climax in limestone or granite peaks over 7,000 feet. At the Arctic Divide the ranks reverse as the tundra strethes to the Arctic Ocean. Six national wild rivers the Alatna, John, Kobuk, Noatak, North Fork of the Koyukuk and the Tinayguk are among the waterways transecting the park. The scene is one of remote wilderness and unpeopled distances. Sparce, black spruce forests called “taiga” from the Russian word for “land of little sticks” dot north-facing slopes and poorly drained lowlands. Boreal forests of white spruce, aspen and birch are typically found on south-facing slopes. Near treeline, the shrub thicket community of dwarf and resin birch, alder and willow appears. Heath, moss and fragile lichen make up the understory. Alpine tundra communities occur in montainaous areas and along well-drained rocky ridges.
Encompassing 8.2 million acres (2.6 times the state of Connecticut), Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve offers a unique arctic environment to study climatic shifts, geologic processes and more recently human caused factors such as air and water pollution, introduced and exotic species and the role of fire in a natural environment. In addition, because the region is so remote and inaccessible, the major routes people use for access and transportation provide opportunities to study the recovery of disturbed lands.
Recreation
Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve is one of several conservation units located in the Brooks Range. Many of these units offer the opportunity for extreme 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 exceptionally strong wilderness skills and flexibility to adjust plans. The Dalton Highway offers a road accessible Brooks Range experience for those seeking a rugged wilderness journey on a limited budget. A required backcountry orientation program for recreational travelers is offered at the Bettles Ranger Station, Coldfoot Visitor Center and Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station. Backcountry users not passing through one of these locations must contact the Bettles Ranger Station prior to their visit.
Getting There
By Plane
Scheduled air taxis from Fairbanks serve Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles and Coldfoot. Charter flights may also be arranged. Bush charters are available from Bettles and Coldfoot into the park and preserve boundaries. Travelers to Anaktuvuk Pass can hike into the park and preserve boundaries, but anticipate covering no more than one mile per hour.
By Car
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 (across one or two rivers then over the mountain passes, normally at a maximum rate of one mile per hour) access is generally by air.
Traveler Facts
Contact Information
Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve
Bettles Ranger Station
P. O. Box 26030
Bettles, AK 99726-or-
Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve
National Park Service (Fairbanks Headquarters)
201 First Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Phone: 907-692-5494 (Bettles Ranger Station)
Phone: 907-457-5752 (Fairbanks Headquarters)
Phone: 907-661-3520 (Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station)
Phone: 907-678-5209 (Coldfoot Visitor Center)
Operating Hours & Seasons
The Park and Preserve are open year round. It is best to call each office prior to arrival to confirm current operational hours.
Fairbanks Headquarters: Open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Closed on Holidays.
Bettles Ranger Station / Visitor Center: From mid-June to Labor Day: Open 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (sometimes closed noon - 1:00pm for lunch). Remainder of Year: Open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - Noon / 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed on Holidays.
Coldfoot Visitor Center: Open Memorial Day to Labor Day, 7 days a week, 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station: Year-round outside Visitor display. Call for ranger station hours.
Weather/Climate
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. Conversely, winter visitors will experience long, cold periods of darkness and twilight.
The south side of the Brooks Range below 2,500 feet is generally a sub-arctic climate zone. Precipitation is low, averaging 12-18 inches in the west and 8-12 inches in the east. Snow can fall any months of the year, averaging 60-80 inches. The average maximum and minimum July temperatures are 70 degrees F and 46F, respectively. Thunderstorm activity is common during June and July and June through September is generally the wettest time of year. Prevailing winds are out of the north. Freezing temperatures may occur at any time of the year, but particularly from mid-August on. Average minimum and maximum January temperatures are -10 degrees F and -30 degrees F but frequently reach -50 degrees F.
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 33F to -47F. The warmest month, July, has a 60 degrees F maximum and 40 degrees F minimum. Precipitation is extremely light, about 5-10 inches per 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 are greatly modified by local terrain.
