Gates of the Arctic National Park
Essentials
Contact Information
Email:GAAR_Visitor_Information@nps.gov
www.nps.gov/gaar/index.htm
National Park Service (Fairbanks Hqrts)
201 First Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Fairbanks office:(907) 457-5752
Fax: (907) 692-5400
Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station
P.O. Box 21102
Anaktuvuk Pass, AK 99721
Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station
(907) 661-3520
Bettles Ranger Station
P.O. Box 26030
Bettles, AK 99726
(907) 692-5494
Marion Creek Ranger Station (Coldfoot)
P.O. Box 9072
Coldfoot, AK 99701
Marion Creek Ranger Station
(700) 353-5315
Coldfoot Visitor Center
Memorial Day Through Labor Day (907) 678-5209
Getting There
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is located in the central Brooks Range, about 200 miles northwest of Fairbanks. There are no roads or established trails within in the park, although the Dalton Highway comes within about five miles of the park's eastern boundary. Other than hiking in from the Dalton Highway, between approximately milepost 190 to milepost 276, access is generally by air. Scheduled air taxis from Fairbanks serve Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles, and Coldfoot. Charter flights may be arranged. Contact Bettles Ranger Station for the list of licensed air taxi operators.
Camp on Killik River
Photo Copyright © Arctic Treks
Visitor Centers
The Park and Preserve are open year round. There are no admission or user fees for non-commercial users. The ranger stations' hours vary according to the season, and the Coldfoot Visitor Center is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Call ahead for specific hours and days. See Resources page for contact information. Gates of the Arctic is a remote wilderness, and travelers should be fully competent in outdoor skills. Administrative buildings in Fairbanks, Anaktuvuk Pass, Coldfoot and Bettles are accessible.
The Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station, Bettles Ranger Station, and Coldfoot Visitor Center have backcountry orientation displays. Bettles Ranger Station has an interactive CD-ROM program on site. The Coldfoot Visitor Center has scheduled evening programs during the summer. While in Coldfoot check out the ruins and cemetery of"Old Coldfoot" or visit the historic village of Wiseman just 13 miles up the road. See Resources for contact information on ranger stations.
Camping & Lodging
There is no commercial lodging in the park. Commercial facilities exist in Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles, Coldfoot, and Wiseman. There is also a campground managed by BLM at Dalton Highway Milepost 180 (five miles north of Coldfoot). The campground is open from June through mid-September. It is the responsibility of the visitor to obtain all of the necessary information and avoid private property.
The backcountry eco-systems of Interior Alaska are very fragile. Visitors should be aware of delicate areas when selecting campsites. Gravel and sand bars offer ideal campsites; they afford breezes which deter insects and allow optimal views, thus discouraging surprise encounters with wildlife. These sites flood during high-water each spring washing away all signs of impact.
Three areas within the park are considered wilderness concerns due to occasional levels of high use. Care must be taken in selecting a campsite in these areas. They are the Arrigetch Peaks, Noatak River, and the North Fork of the Koyukuk.
State hunting and fishing guidelines and regulations must be followed. Sport hunting is allowed in the Preserve areas of Gates of the Arctic. Collection of any artifact is prohibited.
Weather
Winter is extreme, long and cold. Snow falls eight or nine months of the year, averaging 60 to 80 inches. Average minimum and maximum January temperatures are -10F and -30F.
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.
The south side of the Brooks Range below 2,500 feet is generally a subarctic climate zone. Precipitation is low, averaging 12 to 18 inches in the west and eight to12 inches in the east. Snow falls eight or nine months of the year, averaging 60 to80 inches. The average maximum and minimum July temperatures are 700F and 460F, respectively. Average maximum and minimum January temperatures are -100F and -300F. Thunderstorm activity is common during June and July, and generally June through September is the wettest time of Year. Prevailing winds are out of the north.
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 330F to -470F. The warmest month, July, has 600F maximum and 400F minimum. Precipitation is extremely light, about five to 10 inches a 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 from the east in summer and west in winter are greatly modified by local terrain.
Food & Supplies
Supplies are generally not available within the Park. Visitors must plan to be self-sufficient.
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