Fly deep into the Brooks Range, to the small native village of Anaktuvuk, and embark on an unforgettable journey above the Arctic Circle. There are no trails in Alaska, so we’ll make our own way – camps are just spots on the map and our route is just a line that seems to go on and on. Immerse yourself in seven days of exploration and adventure, revel in the midnight sun and spot wildlife in their natural habitat. Of all the backpacking trips in Alaska, this one has the kindest terrain – you’ll find almost no boulder fields or bushwhacking here!
Reach Fairbanks by 3 pm, hotel-check in is available after 4 pm. We’ll meet in the hotel lobby to go through gear and give a trip orientation, followed by a shared dinner. Pack up, rest up and prepare for an adventure!
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel/cabin/guesthouse
In the morning, after breakfast, we’ll shuttle to the airport for our first charter flight to either Bettles or Coldfoot, two small northern towns. From there, we’ll hop onto the float plane for a super scenic flight into the wilderness. If you’ve never flown through Alaskan mountains in a float plane you’re missing out! The plane will land us on a small alpine lake, where we’ll unload our gear and make camp to settle into our new surroundings. If we feel motivated, we might set out on a day hike to explore, or just settle into camplife – enjoying good food, conversations, games, time to relax and reflect.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Hiking: Up to 5 miles (8 km)
Accommodation: Camp
Day 3 will be our first real hiking day. We’ll have a delicious breakfast before setting off. Our routes in the Alaskan wilderness are part art, part science — we have an idea where we want to go, but there’s room to explore along the way. Walking the Gates of the Arctic is quite friendly: long stretches of alpine tundra await with big open views in every direction. Prepare for 4 days of pure hiking joy.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Hiking: 5-10 miles (8-16 km)
Accommodation: Camp
Tonight we’ll roll into our final camp after covering a lot of ground and becoming a crew of friends. We’ll enjoy the evening, reflecting on the experience and the memories created.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Camp
After breakfast, we’ll pack up camp and wait for the airplane. and head home. A quick plane transfer in Coldfoot and we’ll be back to Fairbanks!
Meals: Breakfast
Any expedition in Alaska requires flexibility, patience, and a big sense of adventure.
We always try our best to follow our itineraries as written, but we rarely do. That’s part of the fun of it! Alaska weather is always changing and shifting and we will always respectfully honor what the weather allows or doesn’t allow us to do. We get the incredible luxury of flying into these beautiful places, but with flying also comes a need to defer to the conditions. Sometimes flights may be delayed for a day or more as we wait for an appropriate weather window. Trip itineraries may also shift due to group skill, pilot availability, or any number of unforeseen circumstances. Please come with an open mind, a spirit of enthusiastic adventure, and a willingness to see where the trip takes you. We do not offer refunds or cover incurred costs when trips have to be rerouted or itineraries changed due to weather or other circumstances out of our control.
Included:
Not included:
Backpacking in Alaska can be hard but two things can make it easier: having a light pack and being in good shape when you arrive. Accomplish both of those goals and your trip will be more enjoyable.
You will hike for 5 to 10 miles (8-16 km) per day of off-trail travel. There will be enough time on this trip to rest and read and make art, but also be prepared for some long challenging days, especially as you climb over high passes up to 3,000 ft (915 m).
To get in shape we recommend regular hiking for 1-2 months before the trip starts. Start hiking with low weight and slowly build up until you’re hiking with around 20-30 pounds (9-13.5 kg) in a day pack. Plan to do one hike like this per week for 1-2 months. That being said, everyone has their own way to get in shape so do what works for you. Anything that builds endurance and tendon/ligament flexibility will be great (think running, biking, cross country skiing, hiking, rowing).
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Here’s a list of the clothing you need to bring:
Extra optional items that you might find handy:
Note that weather will likely vary week to week, and it’s best to be prepared for the full range of potential weather. Certain items are really worth getting right: hiking boots, rain gear, sleeping bag. For other items, use what you have, or what you can borrow, and always avoid cotton.
Keep in mind that there are essentially no opportunities to purchase gear once you arrive to begin the expedition. If needed, some of this gear can be rented for an additional fee.
Choosing the right equipment for an outdoor trip is crucial to your safety and happiness. Alaska is notorious for its variable weather, and your equipment must keep you warm, dry, comfortable, and healthy in challenging conditions.
Keep your packs light!
When your pack has everything you plan to bring with you, it should weigh no more than 15% of your body weight. Make sure your backpack has a sturdy hip belt and should fit everything you’re planning on bringing with room (at least 15L) for group gear and food.
If you plan to bring something not on the gear list, please ask us to make sure it makes sense. Once we start an expedition, we have to carry everything with us until the end. Items like extra clothes, lots of toiletries, big knives, and bulky flashlights are unnecessary weight. You may have to make some hard decisions about which optional items to bring – your pack will be enormous if you bring them all. Avoiding bringing duplicates of any items (e.g. t-shirts) will reduce weight.
Select a boot with a sturdy, preferably Vibram sole, and solid construction
You will travel off-trail most of the time, so high-top hiking boots are recommended. You will cross numerous rivers in your hiking shoes (and get them wet), so a non-Gore-Tex model can be preferable—they’ll dry quicker.
Make sure your shoes are comfortable and broken-in before you arrive. Setting off on this trip in boots that you’ve just removed from the box is a recipe for blisters. Invest time in breaking in your boots before the expedition.
Group sizes and pricing
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Fairbanks, most people fly in from other major U.S. cities. Fairbanks International Airport offers daily connections to Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis, and other mainland U.S. cities.
Fairbanks is also connected to Anchorage via the George Parks Highway (a 6-hour drive), which runs from Fairbanks itself to the town of Gateway, just north of Anchorage.
Arrive to Fairbanks no later than 4 pm on Day 1. Book all homebound flights anytime on the final day. Book all homebound flights anytime after 11 pm on the final day.
You’ll meet your guide on Day 1 at the Chena River Lodge. Check into your room anytime between 11 am and 5 pm and meet at 5:30 in the lobby. Please plan to arrive and check in to the Lakefront Hotel by 5 pm on Day 1. After dinner, you will do a complete gear check so you’re ready to take off in the morning. This will also be a great time for any lingering questions.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.