Gates of the Arctic National Park

Year Established: 1980
Annual Visitors: 7,400
Size: 8.47 Million Acres
State: Alaska

Best Time to Visit Gates of the Arctic National Park

June to July

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in Gates of the Arctic National Park

• Gates of the Arctic
• Take a flightseeing tour
• Paddle the park’s rivers

A Brief History

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve protects parts of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. The park is the U.S. national park that is the farthest north. It is completely north of the Arctic Circle. At 8,472,506 acres, the park and preserve is the second largest in the U.S., slightly bigger than Belgium. The National Park part is the second largest in the U.S., after the National Park part of Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

On December 1, 1978, Gates of the Arctic was made a national monument. In 1980, when the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was passed, it was changed to a national park and preserve.

The Noatak Wilderness is right next to the wilderness area. Together, they make up the largest area of wilderness that is joined together in the United States.

Gates of the Arctic RV Camping

If you are looking for nearby RV camping options for Gates of the Arctic National Park or in Alaska, consider checking out our other post:

• Best RV Parks in Alaska
• Best RV Resorts in Alaska
• How to Conserve Water in Your RV
• How To Plan An RV Trip
• Dependable RV Water Fill Stations

Visitor Information

Fees

No fees or registration are needed to get into the park, but visitors are asked to stop at one of the park’s visitor centers to get an orientation on the backcountry.

Contacting Gates of the Arctic National Park

Phone Number

(907) 459-3730

Visitor Centers

Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center

The Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center (FAPLIC) is an important part of the Fairbanks community. It helps people use and enjoy Alaska’s public lands and resources in the right way by providing “one-stop shopping” for information about public lands, help with trip planning, and education about resources. The FAPLIC interagency partnership encourages visitors and Alaskans to look for meaningful, safe, and fun experiences on public lands. It also inspires people to protect and keep Alaska’s natural, cultural, and historic resources.

Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center

Interpretive programs are held at different times throughout the year. This building is run by both Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and Kanuti Wildlife Refuge. It has many displays about the plants and animals of the Brooks Range. This place has a store for the Alaska Natural History Association, a reference library, and restrooms. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, on the other hand, is a wilderness area, so there are no NPS campgrounds, roads, established trails, or other visitor facilities maintained by the NPS within the park and preserve boundaries.

Arctic Interagency Visitor Center

The BLM, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service all work together to run this information center. From late May to early September, the Center is open every day from noon to 10 p.m. Here, you can learn about the area’s history, natural environment, and ways to have fun in the area through displays and information. There is also a bookstore run by the Alaska Geographic Association.