Limitless wilderness and adventure await on a trip that explores the very heart of Gates of the Arctic National Park.

Starting high on the Arctic Divide, the Alatna River’s clear water flows through the dramatic peaks of the central Brooks Range. Tundra peaks beckon in all directions and we will have plenty of time to explore them.

After hiking to where the river is deep enough to paddle, we will lash our gear into the packrafts and paddle down this spunky and fun clearwater river. Packrafting is an adventure. You will pilot your own single person raft down a true wilderness river. In places, the river is shallow and we’ll get out of the boats and nudge them through.  Much of the time the current is swift but obstacles are few enough that we can take-in the scenery and relish in our relatively speedy progress through the mountains. In places we’ll weave between submerged rocks and small waves.

As we head downriver we will be rewarded with tantalizing glimpses of the sheer granite spires of the Arrigetch Peaks emerging from the boreal forest.  Dall sheep, wolves, moose and caribou are commonly seen in the area and we are likely to encounter them.  Arctic grayling swim below the pristine water and, with luck, can be caught along the route.

After a week of paddling and day hiking in the upper river, we near the Arrigetch and after a quick resupply from our pilot we will load packs onto our backs and climb towards the peaks.

As we work our way up and out of the forested valley the views get better by the minute. At our high camp in the meadows below razor-sharp ridges we’ll have time to hike towards the sheer granite walls shooting 2,000 – 3,000 feet high.  Spires pierce glaciers on their way to the sky.  All this is amid a landscape of gentle meadows, rushing streams and alpine tarns.

Our backpack follows the shortest route to the peaks.  At times we are on a small animal trail, but mostly the route is cross-country over tussocks, boulders, and streams. We will backpack about 20 to 25 miles in total, immersing ourselves in the most dramatic scenery in the Brooks Range.

This is a strenuous trip with some long days walking and heavy packs to start.  Extensive backpacking experience and good fitness are suggested for this trip. Your guide will provide instruction on packrafting and river safety and the Alatna is a good place to develop paddling skills. No previous packrafting experience is required, but river boating experience is important. The first day of paddling on the Alatna is fast and technical.