Alt Text

Map of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Shown in green and surrounded in beige, the preserve has an irregular shape with stepped edges and is veined with dozens of rivers in blue.

Extended Description

Outlined in bright green, the protected area is flanked by Alaska’s North Slope to the north and the Alatna Hills to the south. Refuges, other preserves, and a petroleum reserve also encircle the park. The Dalton Highway runs from north to south near the eastern perimeter of the park.

Locations within the preserve will be described first, followed by sites in the surrounding area and other labeled regions before a transcription of the legend.

The Preserve

Areas in the far west and east-central are identified as National Park Wilderness, while lighter green sections in the northeast and southwest corners are labeled “National Preserve.”

The village of Anaktuvuk Pass in the northeast sits at 2,200 feet (671 meters) and has a ranger station and airstrip. A red dotted line running through the city and winding horizontally across the width of the map marks the Continental Divide.

Three mountain ranges nearly fill the preserve, with the most prominent of them, the Brooks Range, spanning the northern width of the park. The Endicott Mountains stretch from the middle of the park into the northeast corner, while the Schwatka Mountains skirt the southwest corner.

The National Park Wilderness is in the eastern region of the park boundary.

Five mountain peaks are labeled from west to east as follows: Mount Igikpak at 8,510 feet (2,594 meters), Arrigetch Peaks at 7,190 feet (2,192 meters), Frigid Crags at 5,501 feet (1,677 meters), Boreal Mountain at 6,654 feet (2,028 meters), and Mount Doonerak at 7,457 feet (2,273 meters). The Gates of the Arctic spans the gap between Frigid Crags and Boreal Mountain, with the North Fork Koyukuk River flowing through it.

Refuges, Preserves, and Reserves

Other designated regions circle the preserve and are shown from the northwest moving clockwise as follows:

National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska in tan,

National Park Wilderness in sage green with bright green outline,

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in gray,

Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in gray,

Kanuti National Wildlife refuge in gray,

Selawik National Wildlife refuge in gray,

Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge in gray, and

Noatak National Preserve in light green, extending from the western perimeter of Gates of the Arctic National Park.

Surrounding Communities and Sites

Communities and sites along the Dalton Highway to the east are shown from north to south as follows: Galbraith Lake Campground with primitive campground; Atigun Pass at 4,739 feet (1,444 meters); the community of Wiseman; Marion Creek Campground with primitive campground; the community of Coldfoot with Arctic Interagency Visitor center, ranger station, and airstrip; and the community of Prospect Creek with an airstrip.

Communities south of the preserve include: the city of Bettles/Evansville just west of Prospect Creek with a ranger station and airstrip; Alatna and Allakaket along the dashed line of the Arctic Circle, with an airstrip in the latter town; and Shungnak and Kobuk in the southwest, also with airstrips in each.

Legend

A scale at the bottom center of the map measures distances of 10 and 20 kilometers and 10 and 20 miles.

A legend to the left reads as follows:

Darker green for National Park area,

Lighter green for National park wilderness area,

Pale yellow-green for National preserve area,

Beige for Privately owned lands, and

White line with black casing for Unpaved roads.

Symbols for Ranger station, Airstrip, and Primitive campground follow.

Red text in the legend reads, “Do not use this map for hiking. Use USGS topographical maps.”

Bold black text in the lower right corner of the map reads, “Areas of private land exist within the park and preserve boundaries. Respect private landowners’ rights. Contact park headquarters for details on private land ownership and for information on easement trails or public access across these lands.”