Planning Your Visit

Planning Your Visit

The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is open year-round. It is best to call each office prior to arrival to confirm current operational hours. The Fairbanks Headquarters is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on holidays); for visitor information, call (907) 457-5752. The Bettles Ranger Station/Visitor Center is open seven days-a-week from mid-June to Labor Day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (sometimes closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch). For the remainder of the year it is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to noon/1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on holidays); for visitor information, call (907) 692-5494. The Coldfoot Visitor Center is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, seven days-a-week, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; for information, call (907) 678-5209. The Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station offers a year-round visitor center. Call (907) 661-3520 for ranger hours.

If you want to reach the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve by plane, scheduled air taxis from Fairbanks serve Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles and Coldfoot. Charter flights may also be arranged. Bush charters are available from Bettles and Coldfoot into the park and preserve boundaries. Travelers to Anaktuvuk Pass can hike into the park and preserve boundaries, but anticipate covering no more than one mile per hour.

There are no roads in the park, although the Dalton Highway comes within about five miles of the park's eastern boundary. Other than hiking in from the Dalton Highway (which entails crossing one or two rivers, as well as mountain passes, normally at a maximum rate of one mile per hour), access is generally by air.