Noatak National Preserve
Noatak National Preserve
The preserve is located in northwest Alaska
Noatak National Preserve could be the ultimate outdoor adventure trip for those interested in a true wilderness experience. Alaska truly is one of the last frontiers for exploring, especially in the Northwest Alaska Areas. You can chose from float-trip opportunities, whether canoeing, kayaking, or rafting; fishing and hunting expeditions; that hiking or backpacking trip into the wild; cross country skiing or dog mushing in winter; or for the tenacious photographer who just wants some great outdoor pictures, you can find it all in some of the most beautiful scenery and wildlife to be found in northwest Alaska.
Uniqueness
Noatak National Preserve, along with Cape Krusenstern National Monument and Kobuk Valley National Park, are known as the Northwest Alaska Areas. Encompassing 6.5 million acres, Noatak is the largest park area within the Western Arctic National Parklands, or Northwest Alaska Areas. Here you will experience one of the world’s finest remaining vast wilderness areas and it has been named an International Biosphere Reserve.
As one of North America’s largest mountain-ringed river basins with an intact ecosystem, the Noatak River environs features some of the Arctic’s finest arrays of plants and animals. The river is classified as a national wild and scenic river, and offers superlative wilderness float-trip opportunities – from deep in the Brooks Range to the tidewater of the Chukchi Sea. The preserve provides an excellent wilderness expedition for intermediate boaters with backcountry skills. Noatak offers fine canoeing, kayaking, rafting, fishing, hunting, and backpacking experiences.
In addition to protecting the Noatak River, valley and adjacent lands, the preserve also serves to protect the fish, wildlife, waterfowl, and archeological resources within its boundaries. The preserve also offers great bird watching, cross country skiing, dog mushing, and wildlife viewing.
Noatak National Preserve is open year around. The headquarters office is located in Kotzebue and the hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. The Visitor Center, also located in Kotzebue, is open for the summer and hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, closed Sunday & Monday.
The preserve lies almost completely enclosed by the Baird and DeLong Mountains of the Brooks Range. Within the preserve ends the boreal forest, merging into treeless tundra on the valley’s southern edge. Linked to the wide area of the Northwest Alaska Areas is the wide-ranging, nomadic western arctic herd of barren ground caribou. Its aggregate numbers exceed 500,000 animals today. The tundra offers a thin veneer of life across which caribou must move to forage for adequate food and to reach the calving grounds. The herd is the second largest in North America. They can be seen each year crossing the Noatak River in their migration.
The entire Noatak River is located above the Arctic Circle. The glacier-fed headwaters of the Noatak are found in the rugged Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. This is where the swiftest and most hazardous water of the river is found. The upper Noatak flows through a series of glacial moraines, characterized by stretches of broad floodplain and gentle gradient alternating with boulder choked rapids and steep bluffs.
Farther along, as the river enters the Noatak National Preserve, the valley floor widens into the broad plateau of tundra country. Here, the landscape is dotted with ponds and marshes inhabited by moose, grizzly bears, wolverine, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep and nesting waterfowl. Distant mountains border the valley. In this, the middle section of the river, the Noatak maintains a swift current, averaging between five and eight miles per hour. In contrast, the lower portion of the river is slow and braided.
Whitefish, grayling, arctic char, salmon, and pike are among the fish which inhabit the waters of the preserve. An Alaskan fishing license is required to fish the rivers. Fishing can be good when rivers are clear and fish are running.
The most common method of visiting the preserve is by floating the Noatak River. The larger tributaries of the Noatak-the Cutler, Kelly, Nimiuktuk and Kugururok Rivers-are also suitable for floating. Folding boats and rubber rafts are the most practical for a floating trip, as they can more easily be fit into a small plane for transport to the river. The rafting is rated Class I-II. The trip length is up to 347 miles, so allow any where from 7 days to 3 weeks to float the river. The season runs June through September.
The native village of Noatak is several miles downriver from the preserve’s southwestern boundary. With a current population of 350, Noatak is the only village on the river. Originally a hunting and fishing camp, it became a permanent settlement in the 19th century. As they have been for thousands of years, the lands encompassed by the preserve are still used by the Inupiaq Eskimos of the region for subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering.
Expect high winds throughout the year and short, mild, cool sunny summers. You can also expect to experience 24 hours of daylight for one month and a long, severe, harsh, extremely cold winter with about one hour of daylight by December 1. Arctic winter conditions – snow, ice, wind, and below-freezing temperatures exist in the park from October through April. Snow or freezing temperatures may occur any time, even in summer. The area receives 10-12″ precipitation annually.
It’s best to possess good backcountry skills for wilderness survival. Know and test your gear before you take your trip. Leave your itinerary with someone and notify that person when you complete your trip. Winter travel is recommended only to those experienced in arctic camping and survival techniques.
Any time of the year, exposure and hypothermia are real threats to visitors and park personnel. Early symptoms are slurred speech, trembling, exhaustion, stumbling and impaired judgment. Above all, keep warm and dry! If you get wet, hypothermia is likely to follow. If you become wet, stop hiking and find a dry spot out of the wind, rain, or cold. Remove wet garments and add layers of dry warm clothing. Drink plenty of liquids (not alcohol). In more advanced cases, remove clothing and climb into a dry sleeping bag, stay awake, and share body heat with others. Advanced hypothermia is difficult to treat properly, creating a serious situation, so prevention is your best bet. Make sure all members of your party are aware of the symptoms of hypothermia and look out for each other.
For back country hiking/camping, wear plenty of warm clothing (no cotton), dress in layers, and use rain gear. Wear sturdy hiking boots and waders for wet terrain. Be prepared with high energy snacks, plenty of water or tablets to treat water/boiling water for 1 minute (Giardia lamblia can be a problem), a change of dry clothing and a waterproof bag to keep them dry, a warm coat, gloves, high-quality equipment-compass, backpack, tent, GPS, campstove, multipurpose tool, knife, signal device, hiking boots, first-aid kit, extra food in case you are stuck somewhere longer than planned, and head nets and/or repellent in summer for mosquitoes.
While hiking, take careful note of the direction you’re traveling, of prominent landmarks and approximate distances you have walked. Frequently ask yourself if you could find your way back under conditions of low clouds, rain or snow. Take careful compass bearings on the next day’s proposed route before retiring. Inform all your party of the planned route, campsite, and general direction of travel in the event you become separated. If you become lost, don’t panic; stop and plan carefully. If you become separated from your group, stay where you are or move a short distance to the point where you were last in contact with the group. If alone, climb high to look for familiar landmarks. If you find no familiar landmarks or rivers, stay in one place and remain in the open. Bright signals or objects placed in sequence of three are widely recognized as distress signs.
If you encounter an injured or ill person, remain calm. Quickly give whatever first-aid is required to stabilize the person and protect them from the elements. It may be some time before assistance arrives. Mark where they are located with a brightly colored material, in the open, so the person can be located from the air. Write down the nature of the injury/illness; condition and name, home address, phone number, sex and age of the person; what rescue equipment will be needed; exact location and type of terrain; and any information about a Medic-Alert tag, bracelet, or wallet card with ID number that the person may have. Then, quickly go or send for help. If you are injured or ill, conserve your energy and body heat. Stay by a water supply and remain calm, think, plan, and organize.
Many natives use the land in subsistence living. They are protected and you should honor their hunting and fishing areas by not invading, destroying or in any way interfering with them. Always check with the visitor center as to the whereabouts of private land and get permission from the owners before camping there.
Grizzly and black bears are common to the preserve. They are unpredictable and dangerous. Never surprise them or approach closely; stay cautious and alert at all times. See the Wildlife Precautions page for more information about protecting yourself.
There are no fees for this area.
All camping is wilderness camping. Be sure to use the Leave-No-Trace procedures. Tundra and river beds are used for camping, however, use the river beds with caution. Rapid changes in river levels can occur without warning. Camp only where escape routes are available to safe, higher ground. Keep your gear above the river level and secure boats and other floatable items. Tents should be able to withstand high winds and have a rainfly. A campstove is recommended. Campfires are permitted, but downed wood may be hard to find. Live tree cutting is not permitted.
Commercial airlines provide service from Anchorage or Fairbanks to Nome or Kotzebue. From Kotzebue to the Parklands, fly with various air taxi operators. There are scheduled flights to villages and chartered flights to specific park areas. Summer access may include motorized/non-motorized watercraft, aircraft, or by foot. Winter access may include snowmobiles, aircraft or by foot.
National Park Service, PO Box 1029, Kotzebue, AK 99752
Headquarters 907-442-3890
Summer Visitor Information 907-442-3760
By Fax 907-442-8316
