Brooks Range

The best hiking is in the Brooks Range, where ridges and stream drainages provide firm footing and the forest thins to low-growing tundra. Throughout the Arctic, wetlands and bogs hinder walking. Areas of tussocks ? sedges that grow in basketball-sized clumps ? are particularly aggravating. Tussock fields occur in mountain valleys and dominate the landscape of the North Slope. Waterproof boots with good ankle support are essential.

Hiking east from the highway will lead you to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while hiking west leads to Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Choose your route with care and bring topographic maps and a compass with you. A GPS can also be useful, especially when visibility is poor. At the visitor center in Coldfoot, backcountry visitors can obtain orientation, register, and borrow bear barrels for food storage.

Note: In this part of the world, magnetic declination varies from 27 to 30 degrees east of true north; be sure to adjust your compass.