Backpacking and Hiking

NPS/Josh Spice

Traveling through the park on foot affords opportunities of exploration and discovery. Mountain ridges and passes reveal splendid vistas and can take you to the most remote and least traveled areas of the Park and Preserve.

Safety

Detailed route planning is not addressed on this website, because Congress set this land aside as a trail-less wilderness area, specifically so that each visitor can find their own experience here. The park does not provide route planning for several other reasons: Due to the fragile nature of the arctic groundcover, repeated use of a route tends to impact it very quickly, and it can take a long time to recover. Also, we cannot effectively evaluate the skill-level of our visitors, and the fluctuating conditions of the area will have a great effect on the route chosen. Experienced hikers in the Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve consider six miles a good day's travel. There are no established trails, and the dense vegetation, tussocks, boggy ground and frequent stream and river crossings significantly slow your progress and pose multiple safety concerns, alongside the unpredictable and diverse weather conditions.

Personal

It is recommended that visitors have at least one alternate route planned. In the event of bad weather, high or low water, or smoke from wildfires, visitors have a better chance having an enjoyable trip if there is some flexibility built into their itinerary. Risks to keep in mind when planning your trip are harsh weather, rugged terrain, wildlife, swift rivers, cold water, extreme isolation, mental/physical exhaustion, hypothermia, and giardia. Firearms are legal in the park but can only be discharged in the defense of life or property. You will be held accountable for inappropriate dischargement.

River

Crossing rivers is one of the most dangerous activities done in the park. You will find easiest walking above the tree line or in the streambeds, if the water level is low. There are so many rivers in this area that you are likely to have to cross one or more during your trip. The water levels fluctuate continuously due to weather conditions, but the highest levels are generally in the spring during the run-off. The best strategy is to take your time, wait for the river to ebb, use group crossing techniques, utilize eddies and gravel bars, and face upstream if crossing solo.

Boating

The water temperature is always cold and a swim in the river can be deadly. Highest risks when boating include sweepers, strainers, and deceptive rapids. Always wear a PFD, always carry a throw bag, always secure your boat, and never camp on an island.

Bear

Gates is home to a variety of dangerous wildlife, including both grizzly and black bears. It is important to know bear safety rules, what to do in the case of an encounter, and how to use bear spray and/or a firearm. Visit our Bear Safety page for the best tips and information in order to be fully prepared. If you have a negative encounter with a bear, fill out a Bear-Human Encounter Report Form at a visitor center. BRFCs are required in gates. Scroll down to the Reducing Impact section for more information on BRFCs.

Communication and Wayfinding

Cell phones do not work in Gates. Ground to air radios, Iridium satellite phones, and Personal Locator Beans may provide help in emergency communication. Two-way communication devices are strongly recommended. Search and Rescue (SAR) is not readily available and is not initiated until a missing person is reported. It is important to file a Backcountry Visitor Registration and leave it with a dependable person in order for your safety.

Topographic maps are essential in planning your course of travel. Carry your maps and a good compass (and a GPS unit is strongly encouraged if you have access to one) with you in the field. Aside from necessary devices, planning your route ahead is also essential. Air taxi operators should also be consulted before finalizing a route, since they have specific places that they can pick up and drop off people and gear. For visitors who are not comfortable looking at a topo map and devising a route, there are several guides and outfitters who take visitors into the park. A complete list of guides, outfitters, and air taxis is available on our website.

 

Reducing Impact

This ecosystem is extremely fragile and easily impacted. Damaged lands may never recover. It is important to:

• Travel and camp on durable surfaces including gravel bars and hardy plants like grasses and sedges, not fragile lichens and mosses
• Wear soft soled shoes around camp
• Move camp every 2-3 days
• Leave the site as you found it
• If a site is already impacted, camp there
• Leave all natural, cultural, and historical resources where you found them

When disposing of waste:

• Pack it in, pack it out
• Do not burn or bury garbage
• Check with residents before disposing of waste in rural communities
• Strain the food bits from your cooking gray water and scatter the fluid, pack out the food
• Bathe and wash dishes 100 feet from water sources
• If you use soap, use only biodegradable products
• For human waste, dig a cat hole in soil, 200 feet from any water source 6-8 inches deep
• Pack out or safely burn the toilet paper

Group size limit is 10 people, to minimize impacts to the environment. There are no official trails in Gates of the Arctic, but there are countless 'game trails' established by animals. When feasible, use game trails as much as possible, not only for minimizing your impacts on the vegetation, but also for ease of travel. When hiking where no game trails exist, walk in a fan formation, rather than a single file straight line, to avoid creating social trails. Trekking poles are very useful on the uneven and tussock-covered terrain.

Self contained camp stoves leave no trace and are often the most efficient option due to the lack of firewood (which only includes dead and down wood). Campfires are allowed only on durable surfaces, except in the case of emergency. Ensure that no sign of the fire is a lasting impact on the land.

BRFCs are required in the park. They can be purchased on your own accord or may be loaned for free on a first-come, first-serve basis at the following locations:

• Bettles Ranger Station
• Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center
• Coldfoot Arctic Intergency Visitors Center
• Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station

Ursacks are considered BRFCs and are permitted in the park but are not loaned from these locations and are not typically recommended. Multiple sizes of river barrels and backpack barrels are offered per availibility.

If you have any more questions or require more information, visit the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center or our Backcountry Trip Plan page.

Considerations

• Respect local cultures and subsistence lifestyle within the park
• Do not disturb traps, hunting camps, or private property
• Minimize noise and behavior that may conflict with others enjoyment of the resource
• Pets must be on leash or physically restrained at all times
• Leaving pets unattended is prohibited
• Do not feed or approach wildlife
• Use a telephoto lens
• Avoid encroaching on nesting, breeding, or feeding areas or activities

 

Common backpacking conditions and scenery in Gates of the Arctic

NPS/Josh Spice