These are photos and notes from a float down the North Fork of the Koyukuk in Gates of the Arctic National Park -  a Wild and Scenic river that is entirely within Gates of the Arctic National Park.  The standard section of this float is to fly into a gravel bar just downstream from the two peaks that form the actual Gates of the Arctic  - Boreal Mountain (on the east side of the river) and Frigid Crags (on the west) - and then float 90 miles to the village of Bettles. This requires a charter flight from either Bettles, Coldfoot or Pump Station No. 5 / Prospect depending on who you can get to fly you in. People who are more ambitious (and lack children) can take a commercial flight to Anaktuvuk Pass and then hike east to Ernie Pass and then hike / packraft down to the North Fork.  You could then get a commercial flight out of Bettles and back to Fairbanks for a (relatively) cheap Arctic trip. We have a child so we opted for the classic mellow float – and somehow Bryn & Louis convinced us to fly their kid in too.  Bryn & Louis dropped their...  [ Read More ]