Alaska’s Northern Traverse: Anaktuvuk Pass to Chandalar Shelf

9 days of backpacking, flying into the backcountry from Fairbanks, AK.

This route is likely the best “bang for your buck” backpacking trip in Gates of the Arctic National Park. With incredible hiking and camping along the entire route, and unlimited side trip options from our camps for those with extra energy, there’s likely no better or more affordable way to experience so much Brooks Range terrain (since this route does not require expensive charter flights but instead involves a regularly scheduled but small commercial flight).

We start at a small Inupiaq village in the heart of park and hike out to the Dalton Highway where we’ll catch a van shuttle back to Fairbanks (alternatively, arrangements can be made for a flight back to Fairbanks). You get to experience a small and isolated Alaska Native village, hike through massive river valleys and over high mountain passes, camp at beautiful alpine lakes, cross the continental divide, see all kinds of wildlife (bears, wolves, caribou, Dall’s sheep, etc.), and make adventure memories of a lifetime.

This route is 60-65 miles with ~20,000 vertical feet of ascending and descending. To participate you’ll need to be mentally and physically prepared to average ~8 miles of hiking with a ~55 lb pack over rough terrain each day. This means we’ll be trekking ~8 hours each day. As this this trip is scheduled over summer solstice in the land of the midnight sun, we’ll have no shortage of daylight and the potential to hike anytime of day (since there’s not really any night this time of year in the far north). So, even though we’ll need to average ~8 hours of hiking each day, you’ll still have ~16 hours a day to sleep, relax around camp, or explore from camp.

Dates:

• June 2-11, 2025: open group trip (limited to 5 participants) $6,000 per person (includes round trip flights from Fairbanks)
• 9-days recommended for most parties, but shorter and longer trips are definitely possible (for the route as described above as well as variations)
• This trip (and all others in Gates of the Arctic and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) is great in June: an ideal time of year before the bugs get bad but after most higher elevation snow is gone. It’s also an excellent trip from mid-August through September after the bugs have died off and when the skies darken enough again for fantastic star gazing and Aurora Borealis viewing.

Rates:

• Summer 2025 open group trip scheduled June 2-11 (limited to 5 participants): $6,000 per person (includes round trip flights from Fairbanks)

Sample Itinerary:

• June 1: Evening meeting at a convenient location in Fairbanks for introductions, trip overview, personal gear check (there’s an REI nearby for any last-minute needs), and distribution of group gear and food (pre-packed in bear-resistant canisters).
• June 2: Meet at airport in the morning to get flown into the backcountry. Start trekking!
• June 3-10: Trek, camp, eat, sleep, repeat in sublime wilderness.
• June 11: Van shuttle to Coldfoot. Flight from Coldfoot back to Fairbanks.

Call/text 907-831-9686 and/or email info@chugachsnow.org if you’re interested in this route or any other Arctic adventure!

This trip can be customized to be longer or shorter.

If you’re interested in less committing routes and trips, check out Backpacking the Oolah Valley Region