Noatak Canoe

DATES

August 17, 2018 - August 22, 2018

REGION

Gates of the Arctic National Park

TRIP COST

$5,900

calendar

DATES

August 17, 2018 - August 22, 2018
region

REGION

Gates of the Arctic National Park
price

TRIP COST

$5,900

The Noatak River is the heart of America’s northernmost national park. Join us for a 6 day trip in Gates of the Arctic National Park for the perfect mix of canoeing, hiking and camping with Arctic Wild. Join us for a wilderness paddling trip never to be forgotten.

TRIP DETAILS

Last updated: September 20, 2018

Itinerary

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

August 16

Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks at 4pm

August 17

It’s a long day.  We fly north from Fairbanks to Bettles, crossing en route the mighty Yukon River and the Arctic Circle.  Then, we charter a plane into the Gates of the Arctic National Park.  We’ll land on a sprawling lake near the river. If the mood strikes us we can assemble the canoes and paddle for a bit. Or we might elect to explore our surroundings on foot and save the paddling for the next day.

August 18 - 21

We’ll paddle our way down the Noatak.  We’ll paddle about 18 miles on the moving days which will take about 5 hours. There will be free time each and every day after camp is pitched, the long evening is yours to enjoy the golden arctic sunlight, fishing, climbing the nearby ridges or just skipping rocks! We will also have a layover day or two when we don’t need to break camp and can enjoy the solitude and wilderness. A nice long hike is in order.

August 22

With another 300 miles of the Noatak it will be hard to pack-up and say goodbye, but when the plane arrives we will load-up and fly south. Weather permitting we should be back in Fairbanks in time for a late dinner.

If you would like to extend your time in the wilderness we would be happy to arrange a custom extension to this trip for you, either to continue down the Noatak, or for a couple of days at Kobuk Dunes, or anywhere else you want to explore.

Such a joy to spend days where time was meaningless.  A wonderful adventure and I would like to return next year for a longer, more challenging trip.

You mentioned to me in an email that you have terrific guides - you do indeed.  Dave is a superb guide. He is personable, knowledgeable about the Arctic, and has excellent group management skills. I appreciated the time he spent teaching me to read the map, which is not easy without trails.   He allowed Adrian and me to hike at our own pace and he encouraged all of us to explore the area surrounding our campsites. I know the others would concur in my praise.

- Sandra, California, USA

DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Transportation starting and ending in Fairbanks

Food while in the wilderness

Stoves, cooking & eating utensils

Boats, paddles, life jackets

Safety & repair gear

Professional guide service

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Non-camp lodging

Non-camp meals

Personal clothing and gear per our equipment list

Fishing gear, and fishing license

Gratuity for guides

Rental Equipment is available for hire

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic. Temperatures range from the 20s to 70s, averaging in the low 60’s. This is the end of summer and fall could start any day. Mosquitoes should be on the decline or entirely absent, but travel with insect repellent (DEET) and a head-net just in case.

RECOMMENDED READING

Nunamiut by Helge Ingstadt; Land of Extremes by Alex Huryn; Ordinary Wolves by Seth Kantner; Last Light Breaking by Nick Jans; People of the Noatak by Clair Fejes. More Alaska reading is available in our bookstore.

"The wilderness was spectacular, the leadership perfect."
"I am just finishing my tenth trip with you guys. As always, the trip was more than I expected and I had a great time. See you next year!"
"Of all outfitters with whom we have worked (and that is quite a number), you were by far the most organized and responsive."
"That feeling of wide open wonder, the possibilities for nearly limitless wandering, and the image of those proud caribou...that will stay with me a long time"
"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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Eileen - Canning River