Alaska’s Arctic Region | Switchback Travel

Alaska above the Arctic Circle is vast and unforgiving, with human existence seemingly irrelevant. The region is home to America’s largest swaths of protected land, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, and the National Petroleum Reserve. Despite the harsh conditions, the tundra and permafrost support a range of wildlife including caribou, musk oxen, wolves, bears, and countless species of migratory birds.

Access to Arctic Alaska is severely limited. Commercial flights link Anchorage and Fairbanks to the North Slope towns of Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. Air taxis out of Fairbanks are commonly used for backcountry trips. The only road access is the 414-mile Dalton Highway linking Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay. The “Haul Road,” as it was once known, is used primarily by oil field supply trucks, although ambitious tourists brave the legendary bumps and bugs for a chance to see this remote corner of the state.

Alaska’s Arctic, and in particular ANWR, often makes the national spotlight as politicians debate mining the rich natural resources. Some question the necessity of preserving this isolated region, arguing that the land should be made available for economic gain. Groups led by environmentalists and native people maintain the sanctity of the Arctic for its cultural importance, biodiversity, and rugged beauty. To be sure, it is one of the last great frontiers.
 

Things to Do in Arctic Alaska

Dalton Highway

The 414-mile Dalton Highway, running parallel to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline from Fairbanks to the massive Prudhoe Bay oil field, is the only road in Arctic Alaska. The Dalton makes it way across the Yukon River and Arctic Circle, through the Brooks Range, and over the North Slope to the Arctic Ocean (public access ends at Deadhorse, eight miles from the Arctic Ocean).

The road is rough—over 100 miles have been paved but gravel sections are notoriously bad and truckers fly by with little regard for tourists. Most rental car agreements specifically forbid driving the Dalton Highway but a handful of local companies specialize in renting vehicles for that purpose. For those who make the journey, the Dalton passes through some of Alaska’s most pristine landscapes, including Gates of the Arctic National Park, and is the only road through the Brooks Range. For more information, see the BLM’s guide to the Dalton Highway.
 

Hiking

For serious adventurers, hiking in Alaska’s rugged and remote Arctic Circle region is a lifetime trip. The highlights include the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and Gates of the Arctic National Park, both of which are home to the Brooks Range, the world’s highest mountains within the Arctic Circle. During the peak of summer the region experiences 24 hours of daylight.

Arctic Alaska is accessible via air taxi and hiking is off-trail (like the majority of the state). Passable routes mostly are along riverbeds, game trails, and elevated valleys and ridgelines. The Brooks Range and its foothills offer phenomenal hiking with rolling mountains, wide-open vistas, and abundant wildlife. Late August is prime for watching the caribou migrations.

Hiring a local hiking guide is highly recommended: they know the terrain, will arrange for transportation, and have all the equipment for a safe trip. You can see our list of guides who run trips in Arctic Alaska below the rafting section (many run both hiking and rafting trips).
 

Rafting 

The rivers of Arctic Alaska, or the “Last Frontier,” are unlike anywhere else in the state. Without large forests, the waters are mostly free of debris and views are unobstructed and continuous. The scale, remoteness, and wildlife viewing in places such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and Gates of the Arctic National Park are simply unparalleled.

Rafting is the preferred means of backcountry transport in northern Alaska. It’s easier and more relaxing than hiking as gear is carried in the boat. Without established trails, rivers are the most efficient way to travel and have the least impact on the natural surroundings.

A number of local companies offer guided rafting trips in Alaska’s Arctic region. Most trips average from 7–10 days and start in Fairbanks. In general, the Arctic rivers are calmer than in other parts of the state, best suited for those seeking a wilderness experience rather than whitewater.
 

Guiding Companies in Arctic Alaska

Alaska Alpine Adventures

• Backpacking trips in Gates of the Arctic and combination canoeing and hiking trips in ANWR
• Guides a trip down the Kongakut River in ANWR using inflatable canoes
• Nearly 20 years of Alaska adventure and expedition planning expertise
   

Alaska Ultra Sport

• Backpacking trips in the Brooks Range, either Gates of the Arctic or ANWR, depending on the time of year
• Offers a selection of rafting trips including the Kongakut and Hulahula Rivers in ANWR and the Koyukuk River in Gates of the Arctic
• Owners are the organizers of the Alaska Ultra Sport races with extensive knowledge of the Alaska backcountry
   

Arctic Treks

• Offers backpacking trips in ANWR, Western Arctic, and Gates of the Arctic
• Guides river trips on ANWR’s Kongakut, Canning, and Hulahula Rivers
• Over 30 years of guiding experience
   

Arctic Wild

• Backpacking trips in ANWR and Gates of the Arctic
• Rafting trips on the Kongakut and Hulahula Rivers and canoeing trips on the Kokolik and Noatak Rivers
• Base camp trips for photographers, naturalists, and families
   

REI

• Offers a comprehensive Arctic Alaska itinerary that includes day hiking in Gates of the Arctic and ANWR
• A highly reputable company that offers a good way to meet fellow travelers
   

Wilderness Alaska

• Runs some of the most comprehensive hiking trips in the region ranging from 6 to 15 days
• 40 years of guiding experience in Arctic Alaska
• Flexible trip planning to accommodate a range of date

Barrow and Prudhoe Bay

Tourism is virtually non-existent on the North Slope of Alaska. The tiny village of Barrow on the Arctic Ocean holds the distinction of being the northernmost settlement in the United States and mainland North America. Barrow once was a great whaling town and the majority of the 4,000 current residents are of Inupiat (“Eskimo”) descent. The settlement of Prudhoe Bay to the east is the hub for the Prudhoe Bay oil field, the largest in North America. Flights from Anchorage and Fairbanks to Barrow and Prudhoe Bay usually cost around $500.