Natural World

Wild and Scenic Rivers

Rivers have been byways for wildlife and humans for centuries. They are the veins and arteries through the heart of the Gates of the Arctic wilderness. Glaciers sculpted large U-shaped valleys surrounded by serrated ridges. In other valleys the rivers have carved steep V-shaped canyons. These rivers support the frantic summer explosion of life. Travelers here have the opportunity to be a part of nature, and to experience the solitude and isolation of wilderness.

Nature & Science

The Brooks Range is an alpine arctic mountain range which stretches across the entire northern portion of Alaska. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve encompasses the central Brooks Range, preserving intact a variety of arctic and subarctic ecosystems.

Here in this remote, wild land, natural processes function as they have for thousands of years, ensuring the survival of arctic adapted plants and animals, and the people who depend on them. The park is a valuable natural laboratory for scientific research.

Gates of the Arctic is a world of grand scales — scales of size, distance, and time. Breathtaking mountains encircle crystalline lakes that mirror the changing sky. Rivers cascade down the southern slope through mountain-rimmed, forested valleys. The northern slope of the Brooks Range is a mosaic of broad U-shaped and narrow V-shaped valleys fading into distant tundra covered with wildflowers. These panoramas reflect long-term processes. Glaciation, erosion, permafrost soil development, and wildfire have shaped and ultimately maintain the landscape.

Against this backdrop, plants and animals utilize remarkable adaptations to survive and even thrive. Muskoxen remind us of an Ice Age that ended 10,000 years ago. Inch-high lichens shaped like leaves or tiny antlers lie underfoot. Thousands of caribou on the move to far destinations graze on these same lichens.

Visitors who look beyond the inspiring scenery will discover the intricate web of life that is the basis of this unique and timeless place.

Birding

Because of its endless summer sunlight, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is the summer destination of many migratory birds. In addition, there are a number of year-round residents such as the ptarmigan. A total of 133 species of birds have been observed in the Park and Preserve over the past 30 years. Aquatic birds, raptors, song birds, and many others can be seen and heard. Bird watching is a common activity for hikers and boaters in the Park. Others will find opportunities for bird-watching in Bettles, Anaktuvuk Pass and Coldfoot, as well as all along the Dalton Highway.

Birding Tips:

• Nearly half of the birds recorded in Gates of the Arctic live and nest in aquatic habitats.
• Like many animals, birds are often more active in the morning and evening. Because the sun never sets in the summertime, the earlier you start or the later you stay up, the more success you will have.
• Free information about birding in Alaska and books for sale are available through the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center.

Common Birds of Gates of the Arctic