National park · United States
Gates of the Arctic National ParkGates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
No road, no trail, no fee: go only if you will fly in by air taxi and backpack 5+ days, June–August; otherwise take a Dalton Highway day stop at Coldfoot or a Bettles fly-over and skip the interior.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
34,287 km² (13,238 sq mi)13,238 sq mi (34,287 km²)
approximate
Established
1980
Best months
Jun–Aug
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 34,287 km² (13,238 sq mi)13,238 sq mi (34,287 km²)
- About 13,238 sq mi (34,287 km²) of park; the preserve adds roughly 7,167 sq mi (18,562 km²) (check).
- Established
- 1980
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Gates of the Arctic is the northernmost US national park and the second largest, all of it north of the Arctic Circle and none of it reachable by road. There are no trails, no signs, no campgrounds and no entrance station. Visitors arrive by air taxi to gravel strips at Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles or Coldfoot, or walk in from the Dalton Highway, then travel on foot or by raft along six Wild and Scenic Rivers. This is a trip you plan for months, not a stop you add to a road trip.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1978First protected as a national monument; upgraded to national park and preserve in 1980.
Size and age
34,287 km² (13,238 sq mi)13,238 sq mi (34,287 km²) · national park since 1980
About 13,238 sq mi (34,287 km²) of park; the preserve adds roughly 7,167 sq mi (18,562 km²) (check).
Why go
- One of the last roadless places in the US: the Brooks Range, glacier-carved valleys and Arctic tundra with no infrastructure at all.
- The Arrigetch Peaks, granite spires above Arrigetch Creek, are the classic objective for a fly-in backpacking trip.
- Six Wild and Scenic Rivers — Alatna, John, Kobuk, North Fork of the Koyukuk, Tinayguk and part of the Noatak — are rafted and paddled in summer.
- Caribou, grizzly, wolves, Dall sheep and muskox move through the park; the Anaktuvuk Pass area is a long-used crossing.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepCaution
- OctAvoid
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanPolar night; −35°C (−31°F) and belowPolar night; −31°F (−35°C) and below
- FebExtreme cold; no services
- MarCold, but light returns
- AprBearable for experienced winter travellers only
- MaySnow, breakup, slush; travel hard
- JunMidnight sun; tundra dries late in the month
- JulWarmest and greenest; mosquitoes peak
- AugGood walking; berries; nights darken
- SepSnow possible any day; flights weather-dependent
- OctWinter sets in; no visitor services
- NovDark and cold
- DecPolar night
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caribou herds crossing the Brooks RangeMar–Oct · Movements shift year to year; ask rangers for current positions. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Grizzly and black bearsMay–Sep · Active through the light months; store food properly. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Dall sheep and muskoxAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Migratory birds, including loons, terns and raptorsMay–Aug · About 145 species recorded in the park and preserve. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| MosquitoesJun–Aug · Severe in July; head nets are normal here. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Fairbanks
Air taxi to Anaktuvuk Pass or Bettles, then a bush plane or on foot; some operators fly from the east side of the airport.
1.5–3 h flight
From Coldfoot (Dalton Highway)
Drive or take the Dalton Highway Express bus; the NPS visitor centre opens late May to early September. The park boundary is about 8 km (5 mi) west of the highway.Drive or take the Dalton Highway Express bus; the NPS visitor centre opens late May to early September. The park boundary is about 5 mi (8 km) west of the highway.
6–8 h drive from Fairbanks
From Bettles
Wheeled plane to a river sandbar, or float plane to Summit Lake or Circle Lake for the Arrigetch Peaks.
30–60 min flight
From Anchorage
Fly or drive to Fairbanks first, then air taxi; most outfitters are based in Fairbanks or Anchorage.
1 day
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Anaktuvuk Pass | Inupiat village inside the park with the busiest gravel strip, an NPS office and a small store. | Air taxi from Fairbanks; village lands are private. |
| Bettles and the Alatna corridor | Historic trading post with a dirt strip, lodging and float-plane access to the Arrigetch Peaks. | Scheduled air taxi; river travel onward. |
| Dalton Highway edge and Coldfoot | The only road approach; walk in from the highway across tundra. | Open; NPS visitor centre late May–early September. |
| Noatak and Kobuk headwaters | Far north-west rivers running to Noatak National Preserve and Kobuk Valley. | Charter only; multi-week trips. |
Sketch map
- 1Anaktuvuk Pass · Village≈68.143, -151.736Map ↗
- 2Bettles · Ranger station≈66.914, -151.516Map ↗
- 3Coldfoot · Town≈67.253, -150.177Map ↗
- 4Arrigetch Peaks · Summit≈67.408, -154.050Map ↗
- 5Frigid Crags and Boreal Mountain · Viewpoint≈67.700, -152.500The 'gates' on the North Fork Koyukuk; approximate.Map ↗
- 6Summit Lake · Beach≈67.733, -150.583Float-plane landing for Koyukuk trips; approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Park centre from the official coordinates; village, strip and peak positions are approximate, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance | Free | person | No entrance fee and no gate; there is nothing to pay on arrival. |
| Air taxi, Fairbanks to Anaktuvuk Pass or Bettles | US$700–1,200 | person round trip | 2026 estimate; scheduled seats, varies by operator and season (check). |
| Bush plane drop-off and pick-up on a lake or river bar | US$2,500–6,000 | group | 2026 estimate; charter by aircraft hours, so party size and distance drive the price (check). |
| Dalton Highway Express, Fairbanks to Coldfoot | US$200–300 | person one way | 2026 estimate; the cheapest way to touch the park edge (check). |
| Camping | Free | night | Free anywhere; no designated sites. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Backcountry trip plan no permit
Sport hunting and fishing licences permit or guide
Anaktuvuk Pass village lands permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$700–1,200
- US$2,500–6,000
- US$200–300
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on NPS — Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve before you go.
Park rules
- No trails, no signs
- Navigation is your responsibility; carry a map, compass and satellite messenger.
- Food storage
- Keep food in bear-resistant containers or hang it well away from camp; this is bear country.
- Pack it out
- No bins, no toilets, no water taps. Bury human waste and carry out all rubbish, including food scraps.
- Fires
- Dead wood is scarce; use a stove. Check for any seasonal fire restrictions before you fly.
- Drones
- Not allowed to launch or land in the park without NPS permission (check).check
- Hunting
- Allowed in the preserve with an Alaska licence and in season; not in the park itself.
Where to stay
Near the park
Bettles Lodge
Historic lodging and a store by the airstrip, used as a staging night before a bush-plane drop-off.
In the park
Anaktuvuk Pass
A small store and limited lodging in the village; most visitors camp or move straight on.
Near the park
Coldfoot
Dalton Highway camp with rooms and fuel, the base for a road-edge visit.
In the park
Backcountry camping
Allowed anywhere, free, with no facilities; the standard way to sleep in the park.
Safety
Remoteness and no rescue infrastructure high
Bears high
River crossings and cold water high
Weather swings medium
Flights grounded by weather medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- There are no accessible facilities, trails or transport in the park; the terrain is tundra, talus and river bar.
- The Coldfoot visitor centre and the Bettles airstrip area are the only places with step-free, vehicle-accessible ground.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out everything, including food waste and used toilet paper; nothing decomposes quickly here.
- Camp on durable gravel or tundra that has already been used, and move camp rather than wearing one spot bare.
- Keep group sizes small and spread out; the park's value is that it shows no sign of visitors.
- Buy supplies and fuel in Fairbanks, Bettles or Coldfoot so remote communities benefit from your trip.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Gates of the Arctic National Park?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and no gate — the park has no road in and no entrance station. Your real costs are the air taxi (roughly US$700–1,200 per person round trip to Anaktuvuk Pass or Bettles, 2026 estimate) or a bush-plane charter (roughly US$2,500–6,000 per group), plus food, fuel and gear.
What are the best hikes in Gates of the Arctic National Park?
There are no maintained trails. The classic route is the Arrigetch Peaks approach: a float plane to Circle Lake, then about 13 km (8 mi) up Arrigetch Creek gaining roughly 600 m (2,000 ft) through brush, tussocks and rockfall — plan two days each way. Other options are tundra walking from Anaktuvuk Pass or a walk-in from the Dalton Highway near Coldfoot.
When is the best time to visit Gates of the Arctic National Park?
June to August, when temperatures average around 10°C (50°F) and the midnight sun keeps it light. July is warmest but the mosquitoes are severe. April–May and September suit experienced travellers; October to March is polar night and extreme cold, with the Dalton Highway visitor centre closed.
Can I drive to Gates of the Arctic National Park?
No. No road enters the park. The Dalton Highway passes about 8 km (5 mi) from the eastern boundary, and the NPS visitor centre at Coldfoot is open late May to early September. Everyone else arrives by air taxi to Anaktuvuk Pass or Bettles, then by bush plane, boat or on foot.
Do I need a permit or a guide?
No permit or guide is required for backpacking. Rangers ask you to file a trip plan, and hunting or fishing in the preserve needs an Alaska state licence. Walking on village lands around Anaktuvuk Pass needs the community's permission.
Where can I stay near Gates of the Arctic National Park?
There is no lodging inside the park; camping is free and unrestricted. Outside, Bettles Lodge and Coldfoot have rooms, and Anaktuvuk Pass has limited lodging and a small store. Most people stage one night in Fairbanks before the air taxi.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go