Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve
National park · AK, USA
Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve in AK, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Usual hours
- Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00
About
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.
This park's official page lists: Visitor center.
Official facts
Public access: Open access.
Protected area: 7,279,313 acres (2,945,836 ha).
Designation: National Park. Listed as "Gates of the Arctic National Park" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity, natural processes allowed (GAP 1). IUCN category II.
Established: 1980.
Managed by: NPS.
At the park
- Hunting
- Hiking trails
Before you go
- Mobility
- Available in the park: mobility & stroller rentals. Confirm rental availability and pricing with the park.
- Limits
- Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go
- Getting there
- Gates of the Arctic is a wilderness park, with no roads or trails into the park lands, so visitors must fly or hike into the park. Access begins in Fairbanks, Alaska & there are several small airlines that provide daily flights into the communities of Bettles, Anaktuvuk Pass, and Coldfoot. Most visitors access the park by air taxi or hike in from the Dalton Highway or from the village of Anaktuvuk Pass. River crossings are necessary from both locations.
- Weather & when to go
- The climate of Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve is generally classified as arctic and sub-arctic, with exceptionally cold winters, relatively mild summers, low annual precipitation, and generally high winds. The weather is influenced by many different systems, and can change rapidly.!!
- ⚠ Caution: Food-Conditioned Bear in Arrigetch Peaks
- On August 13, 2026 a brown bear entered camps and food caches in the Arrigetch Peaks area, obtaining food from a soft-sided, bag-type Bear Resistant Food Container (BRFC). At this time, we strongly recommend hard-sided BRFCs for all visitors to the Arrigetch Peaks area. Hard-sided BRFCs can be checked out at the Bettles Ranger Station. Backpackers in the area should maintain a high level of bear awareness and continue to follow best practices for camping in bear country.
- Visitor center
- Anaktuvuk Pass
- Visitor center
- Anaktuvuk Pass
- Visitor center
- Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station
- Visitor center
- Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station
- Visitor center
- Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station
- Visitor center
- Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station — Open seasonally Mid-May to Mid-September — The Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station is located in the center of the village, on Main Street.
- Visitor center
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center
- Visitor center
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center
- Visitor center
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center
- Visitor center
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center
- Visitor center
- Arctic Interagency Visitor Center — Closed in winter — West side of Dalton Highway, opposite of Coldfoot Camp
- Visitor center
- Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center
Facilities on the park map
3 bench, 1 changing table, 1 defibrillator, 2 first aid kit, 1 mobility rental, 2 picnic area, 9 restroom, 20 visitor information, 1 water fountain.