Arrigetch Backpack and Kobuk Valley Basecamp

Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting at 4 pm in Fairbanks at Arctic Wild headquarters.

Fly north from Fairbanks across the Yukon River to the tiny town of Bettles, Alaska.  Here, we board a smaller plane fitted with floats and continue on into the Gates of the Arctic National Park, landing on a long lake surrounded by mountains and beginning our adventure.

The trip is less than 30 miles, but some of the terrain is difficult. There are no constructed trails and six miles with packs is enough to make you feel you have earned your dinner. It usually takes a couple days of hiking to get into the high alpine basins. Once in the high country, we have a day or two to explore the spires, tarns and high passes. The descent back to the Alatna Valley is easier than the ascent, as we will have lighter packs and trail-hardened legs. If we want more mileage and challenge, we may elect to cross a pass into hot springs creek and walk back to the Alatna a bit further south.

Await the arrival of our bush plane.  Weather permitting, the pilot should arrive mid-day and will shuttle us over the Arrigetch Peaks and down the Kobuk River. The capable bush plane on oversized tires will land on the sand of the Kobuk Sand Dunes where we will make camp.

A full day to enjoy the dunes. Moose, wolves, and fox all frequent the dunes as do a great number of birds. We will see their tracks even if we don’t see them. The sand constantly shifts and swirls. The hiking is soft in places but great distances can be covered if you are so inclined. Or just stretch out your beach towel and parasol.

The last leg of our journey heads further west to the Arctic Coast! Weather permitting our pilot arrives mid day and we fly down the Kobuk River to Kotzebue where the trip concludes.

Please note that this trip starts in Fairbanks and ends in Kotzebue and plan your logistics accordingly.