We wrote the book!
Author of
Hiking Alaska's
Wrangell St
Elias Natlonal Park
Falcon Guides
Hiking Alaska's
Wrangell St
Elias Natlonal Park
Falcon Guides
Explore one of the most stunning spots in Gate of the Arctic National Parlk in the heart of Alaska’s Brooks Range. The Arrigetch Peaks will leave a lasting impression. A challenging backpacking trip so you need to be ready. The payoff for the rugged hiking terrain is the chance to get up close to the unique granite spires of the Arrigetch bowl.
The Arrigetch Peaks trip is a classic multi-day backpacking trip in the remote Brooks range of northern Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park. But it's a challenging hike to be sure.
You meet up with the guide in Fairbanks for the flight to Bettles where we transfer to a smaller, single engine plane for the flight into Circle Lake and the start of the Arrigetch route.
At lower elevations the challenges include some muskeg (always a fun time) and some bushwhacking bits. Once at the higher elevations these difficulties are left behind but the hiking can be pretty rocky at times. The rewards are the chance to explore the granite spires of the Arrigetch. Opportunities for hiking on some of the ridges above as well as moderate scrambling for those who are comfortable with that. The guide presents the options and the group weighs in.
If you want a challenging, multi-day wilderness adventure in Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park this is a great corner of the Brooks range. For a trip with hiking that is a bit less daunting, take a look at the Agiak Lake loop trip.
| Pre Trip | Arrive by mid-afternoon in Fairbanks and get checked into your hotel (not included). Once the group is assembled you will meet (around 5:00 pm) with your guide who will review gear and logistics for the next few days. |
| Day 1 | We meet up at the airport for an amazing, early morning flight to the village of Bettles. This small mountain community is a gateway to the Gates of the Arctic National Park and jumping off point for adventures into the Brooks Range. But we don't stay here long as we hop onto a smaller bush plane equipped with floats. Our pilot drops us off at Circle Lake where we spend our first night in the backcounty, relaxing from a day of flying. |
| Day 2-7 | Your guide whips up a great breakfast to power us on our way. We break camp and leave the lowlands of the Alatna valley behind as we head for the high country. The first day involves some challenging terrain including a bit of muskeg and some bushwhacking. Eventually we hit some game trails that make the going a bit less taxing. But be ready form some challenges. Once we get above the brush things ease back. Over the next several days or schedule and itinerary are ours to make and adapt as we go. We will probably spend a night or two base camping along the way and do some exploring with light day loads. The highlight of the trek is the incredible Arrigetch Peaks. The towering granite spires all around will leave you speechless and busy snaping photos left and right |
| Day 8 | Reluctantly we bid farewell to the high country and work our way back down to Circle Lake. We may stop for the night or spend our last night at the lake depending on weather and what we feel like doing. |
| Day 9 | One last backcountry breakfast and then we pack it up for the flight back to Bettles. We spend our final night in the Brooks Range at Bettles Lodge and decompress from our adventure before returning to the city. |
| Day 10 | Morning flight from Bettles back to Fairbanks, arriving mid-day. |
How Do We Get to The Gates of the Arctic?
Because the logistics are a bit more innolved with such a remote location, we take care of that for you. Our trips in the Gates of the Arctic National Park begin in Fairbanks Alaska. Once you get to Fairbanks we take care of the rest. Included in trip costs are the flight from Fairbanks to Bettles as well as the connecting bush flight in a smaller float plane which takes us deep into the Brooks Range.
Where Do We Meet?
You'll meet your hiking guide and the rest of the group in Fairbanks for an orientation meeting around 5:00 p.m. the evening before the trip begins. This is the day listed as Day 0 on the itinerary. You will be in contacted about a month before your trip and we will specify the exact location of the orientation meeting at that point. The next morning we take a van for the short ride to the airport for our flight into Bettles. In Bettles we transfer to a bush float plane for the flight into the deep backcountry of Gates of the Arctic National Park.
Drop Off/PickupTimes
Our pickups on the last day are usualy around mid-day to allow us time to get back to Bettles, get cleaned up and relax before dinner. The next morning we take a morning flight into Fairbanks allowing time for afternoon connecting flights.
Safety Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our treks are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are certified wilderness first responders, each with years of wilderness experience. On most treks the guide carries a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 907.554.1088 for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Group Size
We prefer to run small groups and our clients like it that way too. The standard group size on our Brooks Range backpacking trips is 5 guests and 1 guide. Larger groups are possible for private trips. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 907.554.1088 and we'll answer all your questions.
Weather in the Brooks Range and Gates of the Arctic
Alaska is pretty far north and like any mountain evirronment we are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures in Gates of the Arctic. July is especialy variable and we have had temps hit the low 80s some summers. Mid August is when things start to cool down a bit but still great hiking weather.
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
As measured at the Anaktuvuk Pass weather station (elevation 770 metres (2,530 ft)), the average summer temperatures are 3 °C (37 °F) as a low and 16 °C (61 °F) as a high. During the winter the average low is −30 °C (−22 °F) while the average high is −22 °C (−8 °F).[7]
What's Included
What's Not Included
: See the Gear List for detailed information on what clothes and gear to bring on your trek.
Meals: What To Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables. In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
