Hiking And Backpacking In Gates Of The Arctic

There are no roads within Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska. It’s a wild, rugged landscape where you may not see another person for days or even weeks. Carrying what you need and traveling through the park on foot allows you to explore and discover the most remote and least-traveled parts of this national park and preserve.

You do not need to pay an entrance fee to access the park, nor do you need any backcountry permit. However, before you set off on this backpacking trip of a lifetime, however, you must do your homework to ensure a safe, enjoyable adventure into Gates of the Arctic’s hinterlands.

Know your fitness level and hiking capabilities. There are no established trails within the park. You will encounter boggy ground, dense vegetation, and will frequently cross streams and rivers, all of which will slow down your progress. Experienced hikers in the Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve consider six miles a good day's travel. You will find easiest walking above the tree line or in the streambeds, if the water level is low. Spring will produce the highest water levels during the run-off.

A topographic map is an essential part of your backpacking trip since there are no established trails to follow. There are, however, many game trails established by wildlife. Use those trails when you can, not only for minimal impact on the landscape but also because it makes for easier walking. If you are hiking with more than one person and no game trails exist, walk in a fan formation, rather than a single file straight line, to avoid creating social trails. Trekking poles are another piece of useful gear to maneuver over the uneven and tussock-covered terrain.

According to park staff:

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.

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.

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.

Outfitters And Guides

If you’d rather someone else did the planning for a backcountry hike in this national park and preserve, check out the National Park Service’s Directory of Commercial Visitor Service Providers listing names and websites of guides, outfitters, and air taxis authorized to take you into Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.

While out in the backcountry, remember the Leave No Trace principles for minimizing your impact on the park’s environment.