Noatak River cuts through a green tundra landscape with distant mountains.
The Noatak River carves through the summertime tundra. NPS Photo / Annie Carlson

Noatak National Preserve

National Preserve / Reserve · Alaska · National Park Service

As one of North America's largest mountain-ringed river basins with an intact ecosystem, the Noatak River environs feature some of the Arctic's finest arrays of plants and animals. The river is classified as a National Wild and Scenic River. It offers stunning wilderness float-trip opportunities - from deep in the Brooks Range to the tidewater of the Chukchi Sea.

Plan your visit

Trails & hiking

Hiking

Camping

Camping · Backcountry Camping

Site types & reservations: see the official site.

Know before you go

Phone
9073182230
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Highlights: Animals · Arctic · Tundra · Night Sky · Aurora Borealis · Scenic Views · Watersheds · Headwaters · Wilderness

Activities & features: Boating · Fishing · Freshwater Fishing · Flying · Fixed Wing Flying · Hands-On · Arts and Crafts · Backcountry Hiking · Hunting and Gathering · Hunting · Paddling · Canoeing · Junior Ranger Program · Wildlife Watching · Park Film · Museum Exhibits

Photos

  • green northern lights
    NPS Photo
  • Light and shadows on mountains
    NPS Photo
  • mountain refection on calm lake
    NPS Photo
  • Three multicolored packrafts on the gravel shore of the Kelly river
    NPS Photo / Annie Carlson
  • bear walking along river
    NPS Photo
  • small plane taking off
    NPS Photo
  • Hiker on the tundra. Snow covered mountains and a river in the dramatic background.
    NPS Photo / Nyssa Landres

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Guides for the trip

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12