The itinerary is quite flexible, and will depend on weather, animal sightings, river conditions, and the desires of the group. If the water is low we will need to maneuver around or over shallow gravel bars, and if the water is high, we will have to contend with swift water around sharp oxbows in the river. At every bend, we'll be watching for caribou and possibly even bear, moose, fox, or wolves. Temperatures may range from the 40's to the 60's during the day and cooler at night. Later in August we can expect frost at night and even a possible snowfall. This is the Arctic! Participants should come with a sense of adventure, ready to navigate a wilderness river in the far north. These ten-day trips are true wilderness expeditions, and guests should be prepared for a wide range of weather and river conditions. Previous canoe experience is expected, and participants should be in good physical condition. Begins and ends in Fairbanks.

Slide show from guest S. Benson

DETAILED ITINERARY:
 

Day 1 - We will pick you up at your place of lodging in downtown Fairbanks at approximately 8:30 a.m. and head to the airport for our 1 1/2-hour flight to the small bush community of Bettles. Situated just above the Arctic Circle, on the Koyukuk River, Bettles is the jumping off point for our flight to the headwaters of the Noatak. By mid-afternoon, we'll board a floatplane for another scenic flight, deep into Gates of the Arctic National Park, to an oxbow lake at the edge of the Noatak River. After setting up camp, we will have a canoe "refresher" lesson, getting a chance to learn and practice strokes that we will need on this gentle but sometimes swift-moving river.

Days 2-9 - We'll explore the broad river valley on a flexible itinerary. Canoeing on this often gentle, but sometimes swift-moving river will allow us to travel approximately 50 miles, and we'll explore more on foot. Immense sweeps of tundra make this area ideal for hiking. Hikes to the ridges and up the tributary valleys provide us with incredible scenic vistas of the valley and surrounding peaks.

Day 10 - After a good breakfast and a reasonable portage (hauling our gear) to our pick-up lake, we'll be on our way back to Bettles and then south to Fairbanks. We plan to arrive in Fairbanks by late afternoon (approximately 4:00 p.m.). Often, the group gets together for one last no-host dinner on this night. Due to possible flight and weather delays, we recommend you stay this evening in town and make plans to leave Fairbanks the next day.