Get out and Explore!
Not all camping and backpacking trips need to be hard-core. Kids enjoy getting out too.
The long summer daylight hours of Alaska’s Arctic offer ample opportunity to explore. The Brooks range wilderness with its vast valleys, pristine rivers, beautiful vistas, colorful tundra invites you to play outside.
Many camping and backpacking excursions are possible near Wiseman; they can be short one or two-night trips if you are a beginner or much longer excursions on the south or north side of the Brooks Range.
Either way, if you are up for a mellow journey or are a vigorous trekker, staging your trip from the Arctic Getaway on either end or both is a great option. There is nothing like a hot shower and hearty breakfast after being in the wild.
Public lands in the arctic
The National Parks in Alaska's Arctic are great places to hike and camp, with access from the Dalton Highway or flying in on a custom charter flight.
Backpackers enjoy a campsite on the autumn tundra with a view of East and West Maiden and Camel peaks in the distance, Arrigetch Peaks, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska.
Access to some of Alaska’s public lands can be made right from the Dalton Highway, for example, the Gate of the Arctic National Park. However, many choose to fly in and either hike out to the road or get picked up at a specific location. Our friends at Coyote Air are your go-to source for remote wilderness fly-in drop-off and pick-up. They have an office at the Coldfoot Airport, just 17 miles from Wiseman. Sometimes, we can arrange a shuttle to and from.
Some of Alaska’s Public Lands to explore in the Arctic
Camping on a ridge in Alaska's high Arctic, Endicott Mountains of the Brooks.
Gates of the Arctic National Park, Brooks Range, Alaska.
Gates of the Arctic National Park, Brooks Range, Alaska.
River camp during a float trip down the Marsh Fork of the Canning River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Brooks Range mountains
Backpackers enjoy a campsite on the autumn tundra with a view of East and West Maiden and Camel peaks in the distance, Arrigetch Peaks, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska.
Camping with a view from the tent at the arrigetch creek valley, Xanadu (left) Arial and Caliban mountains, Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska.
Camper watches a brilliant sunrise silhouetting the tent on a mountain ridge in the Arrigetch Peaks, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska.
Midnight sun along the Nigu River, Brooks Range, Arctic, National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska.
Midnight sun along the Nigu River, Brooks Range, Arctic, National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska.
Midnight sun on camp along the Etivluk river, Arctic, National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska.
Camp food, Ribdon River
Backpacking portion near the Ivishak River.
Aufeis over the Ribdon river, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Trekking a drainage in the Brooks Range mountains in Alaska's Arctic
Backpacking to the headwaters of the Matthews River.
Big views on a river.
Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
Arrigetch Peaks camp
Tent camp in Angiaak Pass, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
A mountain lake begins to melt in Oolah Pass
Backpacker crosses the Itkillik river in the Brooks Range
Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska
Tent camp along the Atigun River
Tent camp along the Koyukuk
Family backpacking
Kids enjoy camp
Hiking in the Brooks Range
Backpacking in the Brooks Range