Last updated: September 21, 2022
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
July 26
Meet your guide for a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks at 4pm at Arctic Wild headquarters.
July 27
It’s a long day. We fly north from Fairbanks over the Yukon River and Arctic Circle to the arctic village of Bettles. From Bettles we charter a plane into the Gates of the Arctic National Park. We’ll land near the river with mountains all around. If the mood strikes us, we will 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.
July 28 - August 1
We’ll canoe our way down the Noatak. On days when we travel, we will spend about five hours on the river paddling about 15 miles each day. If traveling conditions are good we will have one or two layover days when we will explore on foot from camp. We can climb peaks from every camp, but there is also lots of good walking along the river, or up pretty tundra creeks. There will be free time each and every day after camp is pitched. The long evening is yours to enjoy the golden arctic sunlight.
August 2
Clean up and pack our gear. Weather permitting, we’ll rendezvous with our pilot mid-day for the flights south and into Kobuk Valley National Park where we land right in the sand dunes, transported to a wildly different landscape. Pitch camp and explore.
August 3
A full day to enjoy the dunes. The sand constantly shifts and swirls in the wind. There are springs coming right out of the sand and great expanses where nothing seems to live. The hiking is soft in places but great distances can be covered if you are so inclined. Swim in the ponds, look for wolf dens, slide down the tallest dunes, or just stretch out your beach towel and parasol.
August 4
Weather permitting, a plane from Kotzebue arrives and shuttles us further west to Kotzebue on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Time to shake the sand out of your boots and to take a shower.
Logistical Note: This trip starts in Fairbanks and ends in Kotzebue. Your flights to and from Alaska will need to get you to Fairbanks on the the 26th of July and should depart Kotzebue on the 5th of August. You will need to find lodging in Fairbanks on the 26th and in Kotzebue on the 4th. Arctic Wild can ship a small bag of clothes/ personal effects from Fairbanks to Kotzebue so that you have your belongings at trip’s end.