Kugururok Rafting

DATES

August 2023

REGION

Western Brooks Range

TRIP COST

$$$

calendar

DATES

August 2023
region

REGION

Western Brooks Range
price

TRIP COST

$$$

The Kugururok River is a little-known, yet spectacular, clear flowing river that flows from the DeLong Mountains in one of the wildest parts of Alaska. Explore the wilds of the Brooks Range with seven days of rafting and fishing on this unsung jewel of a river.

TRIP DETAILS

The Kugururok River is a little-visited river that flows south out of the peaks of the DeLong Mountains in the western Brooks Range and ends at its confluence with the famed Noatak River. We will paddle the entire navigable length of the river and a few miles on the Noatak. In addition to packrafting, there will be plenty of time to explore, and the hiking, fishing, birding, and wildlife watching will keep us smiling through-out.

The entire watershed of the Noatak, including the Kugururok River, is protected within the Noatak National Preserve, one of largest protected areas in the country. It’s a sprawling, roadless wilderness of mountains, rivers, lakes, and rolling tundra hills. The Kugururok begins as a series of small rocky creeks flowing from dramatic mountains with names like Inaccessible Ridge and Copter Peak. As we descend the Kugururok River, the tundra will slowly be populated with spruce trees, until in the final days we are surrounded by boreal forest. Observing this change over the course of the trip is one of it many pleasures.

August is autumn in the Arctic. Bears are busy gaining weight, caribou are starting to move south, and the tundra is resplendent with fall colors. Dolly Varden should be resting and spawning in the deep clear holes beneath cliffs and on the outside bends in the river and the fishing can be fantastic. In addition to Char we can expect to find grayling, pike, and chum salmon.

After flying up the river and accessing water levels we will land at the upper limit of navigability. Here we’ll start our paddling trip, still well north of tree-line and heading south towards the expansive Noatak Valley. The next morning we’ll assemble our boats, load up, and after an instructional session, head down river.

As we paddle down the Kugururok, we’ll keep our eyes open for the valley’s wildlife: grizzly bears, caribou, moose, foxes, and wolves. Some years great numbers of caribou use the Kugururok River Valley as a preferred route to wintering grounds. Other years we don’t see any.

The river starts small and grows with each incoming side creek. Though there are no rapids per se, the river is quick in spots and offers some fun paddling. About mid-way down the river we enter a lovely canyon with sheer walls and nesting raptors. It is one of the prettiest places in all the Brooks Range and very seldom visited.

Our last camp will be on a huge gravel bar on the Noatak. There, we’ll pack our boats, and set up our tents for the final time. After one more night listening to river sounds, weather permitting, a bush plane will arrive to whisk us back to Kotzebue.

This is a fairly easy river trip in terms of mileage and distance covered, but you can fish, hike, explore, and bird-watch until you’re worn out. The Kugururok flows along with current enough to keep us moving, but if the wind blows opposite the current we will have to work to reach each day’s end. The trip is suitable for beginning or experienced paddlers. There is some chance the water will be high and muddy making the paddling more technical.

Last updated: November 30, 2021

Itinerary

What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.

Day 0

Meet your guide in the evening for a pre-trip meeting in Kotzebue.

Day 1

We fly north from the Chukchi Coast at Kotzebue across the Noatak Valley and into the DeLong Mountains. Following the Kugururok River from above, we assess water levels and choose the optimal starting location for the trip. Once the plane is unloaded and departed, we are alone in the vast wilderness. We may have to carry our gear across the tundra to access the river but once we are river-side we will set-up a comfortable camp and enjoy the area.

Day 2

We spend the day exploring in the headwaters of the Kugururok River on foot. Long tundra ridges beckon and the views are endless. After a day of hiking we will assemble the boats, review river safety, and prepare for the following day’s paddle.

Day 3 - 7

The Kugururok’s clear waters pull us steadily south. The river starts quite small and there are shallows to negotiate. As the river grows it courses against small rocky bluffs and out into vast gravel plains. Though there are no rapids, the river is swift enough to help hone our skills. Each day will offer a mix of paddling, hiking, fishing and relaxing. With about 65 miles to cover in the trip, it is a relatively leisurely affair with plenty of time of exploration and wildlife viewing.

Day 8

From the banks of the Noatak we pack-up camp and, weather permitting, meet our pilot for the flight back to Kotzebue arriving in the evening.

Michael listened to our descriptions of what we wanted in a trip and investigated the possibility of making that sort of trip happen. Unlike some other guide services, he was attuned to what we were saying and did not outright say he could not accommodate us because Arctic Wild only provided trips like X, Y, or Z. In my opinion, the major difference between Arctic Wild and the 4 other guide services I talked to was that Michael tried to design a trip meeting our trip objectives and wishes.

- Rochelle , Missouri, USA

DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Charter flights from Kotzebue to the DeLong Mountains and back

Food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils

Safety & repair gear

Professional guide service

Select Camping Equipment is available through Arctic Wild and is included

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Non-camp lodging

Non-camp meals

Packrafts, and paddles

Personal clothing and gear per our Equipment List

Fishing gear, and fishing license

Gratuity for guide(s)

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary from the 70’s to below freezing even in the same day. Snow is possible; rain is assured but we can also get some awesome clear weather in early Autumn. There could be some flies around but the worst of the insect season will be long gone. Bring a head-net and DEET.

RECOMMENDED READING

Land of Extremes, Alex Huryn

Arctic Wild, Lois Crisler

Ordinary WolvesSeth Kantner

Alaska Wilderness Robert Marshall

Last Light Breaking Nick Jans

Packrafting! Roman Dial

More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore

Ready for your adventure?
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  1. Fill out the Reservation Request form
  2. We will contact you to discuss your trip
  3. Secure your trip with a deposit
  4. We will send you a detailed packing list
  5. Book your flights and accommodations
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"Our guide was an encyclopedia on legs. He was always willing and ready to teach, to talk, to listen, to do another hike, or to lie low in camp if we were beat. He truly gave us the trip we wanted!"
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