The Fossil Gap Trail, in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, is
maintained for winter recreation including snowmobiling, skiing, dog mushing,
snowshoeing, and fat-biking.

The trail crosses open meadows and then follows Fossil Creek drainage
downstream for approximately 1.5 miles before climbing off the creek and back
into the spruce. The trail parallels the Fossil Creek before crossing open
meadows to Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek has sections of overflow and open water
even during winter. The trail continues through spruce forests and across the
bridge at Montana Creek to the junction with Colorado Creek Trail.

The Fossil Gap Trail is non-motorized only during the summer, May 1 - October
14. Only the southern portion of the trail from Beaver Creek to Caribou Bluff
Cabin is suitable for hiking, which is a popular day hike while on a float
trip down Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River.

The Fossil Gap Trail, in the <a href="https://edit.blm.gov/node/100497" rel="nofollow">White Mountains National Recreation Area</a>, is maintained for winter recreation including snowmobiling, skiing, dog mushing, snowshoeing, and fat-biking. The trail crosses open meadows and then follows Fossil Creek drainage downstream for approximately 1.5 miles before climbing off the creek and back into the spruce. The trail parallels the Fossil Creek before crossing open meadows to Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek has sections of overflow and open water even during winter. The trail continues through spruce forests and across the bridge at Montana Creek to the junction with Colorado Creek Trail. The Fossil Gap Trail is non-motorized only during the summer, May 1 - October 14. Only the southern portion of the trail from Beaver Creek to Caribou Bluff Cabin is suitable for hiking, which is a popular day hike while on a float trip down <a href="https://blm.gov/node/100694" rel="nofollow">Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River</a>.

Bird's eye view of the park

Fossil Gap Trail

Windy Creek Trail connects with Colorado Creek Trail at Wolf Run Cabin. The
trail parallels Windy Creek, following the drainage up the valley. The trail
then climbs, at times steeply, through Windy Gap and emerges on top of a
plateau. From the top of the ridge one can see the limestone Windy Arch. The
trail then descends steeply, crossing Fossil Creek, to the trail junction with
Fossil Creek and the Cache Mountain Loop trails. This trail is used in winter
as a snowmobile trail. The trail is closed to use of ATVs in the summer.

Cabins along this trail may be rented through Recreation.Gov.

Windy Creek Trail connects with Colorado Creek Trail at <a href="https://blm.gov/node/102078" rel="nofollow">Wolf Run Cabin</a>. The trail parallels Windy Creek, following the drainage up the valley. The trail then climbs, at times steeply, through Windy Gap and emerges on top of a plateau. From the top of the ridge one can see the limestone Windy Arch. The trail then descends steeply, crossing Fossil Creek, to the trail junction with Fossil Creek and the Cache Mountain Loop trails. This trail is used in winter as a snowmobile trail. The trail is closed to use of ATVs in the summer. Cabins along this trail may be rented through Recreation.Gov.

Windy Creek Trail

Fossil Creek Trail, in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, is an
18.8-mile trail maintained for winter snowmobiling, skiing, dog mushing,
snowshoeing, and fat-biking.

Fossil Creek Trail starts at the north end of Wickersham Creek Trail near the
Borealis-LeFevre Cabin on the north side of Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic
River. The trail heads north through a broad, open valley and spruce forests
and rolling hills before dropping into the Fossil Creek drainage. The Fossil
Creek Trail will pass the junction with the Fossil Gap Trail past jagged
limestone cliffs before reaching Windy Gap Cabin. The northern terminus of the
trail is a three-way intersection with Windy Creek Trail and Cache Mountain
Loop at the Windy Gap Cabin.

The trail closed to motorized use May 1 - October 14.

Fossil Creek Trail, in the <a href="/node/100497" rel="nofollow">White Mountains National Recreation Area</a>, is an 18.8-mile trail maintained for winter snowmobiling, skiing, dog mushing, snowshoeing, and fat-biking.Fossil Creek Trail starts at the north end of Wickersham Creek Trail near the <a href="/node/404144" rel="nofollow">Borealis-LeFevre Cabin</a> on the north side of <a href="/node/100694" rel="nofollow">Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River</a>. The trail heads north through a broad, open valley and spruce forests and rolling hills before dropping into the Fossil Creek drainage. The Fossil Creek Trail will pass the junction with the Fossil Gap Trail past jagged limestone cliffs before reaching <a href="/node/102089" rel="nofollow">Windy Gap Cabin</a>. The northern terminus of the trail is a three-way intersection with <a href="/node/101124" rel="nofollow">Windy Creek Trail</a> and <a href="/node/100427" rel="nofollow">Cache Mountain Loop</a> at the <a href="/node/102089" rel="nofollow">Windy Gap Cabin</a>.The trail closed to motorized use May 1 - October 14.

Fossil Creek Trail

The Cache Mountain Loop Trail connects with the Fossil Creek Trail at the
Windy Gap Cabin. The trail continues up the Fossil Creek drainage through
spruce trees and open hillsides with good views. The route is mostly off the
creek, however there are some creek crossings and overflow/aufeis is common.
The trail ascends steeply to the Cache Mountain Divide. Tripod trail markers
are present here. From the divide, the trail traverses open meadows and creek
drainages to connect with the Trail Creek Trail at the Cache Mountain Cabin.

The Cache Mountain Loop Trail connects with the Fossil Creek Trail at the Windy Gap Cabin. The trail continues up the Fossil Creek drainage through spruce trees and open hillsides with good views. The route is mostly off the creek, however there are some creek crossings and overflow/aufeis is common. The trail ascends steeply to the Cache Mountain Divide. Tripod trail markers are present here. From the divide, the trail traverses open meadows and creek drainages to connect with the Trail Creek Trail at the Cache Mountain Cabin.

Cache Mountain Loop Trail

Those folks seeking true adventure can find it floating Beaver Creek Wild and
Scenic River.

Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River is a Class I, clear water river, with only
a few short sections of class II water that flows past jagged limestone peaks
in the White Mountains National Recreation Area and through the Yukon Flats
National Wildlife Refuge before joining the Yukon River. Totaling more than
360 river miles, it may be the longest road-to-road float in North America.

Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River runs through a remote area of interior
Alaska. Most floaters begin in the Nome Creek valley, near the Ophir Creek
Campground. If launching here, take note: boat motors are limited to 15
horsepower or less. Once you put in at Nome Creek, there are no roads or
services until you reach the bridge on the Dalton Highway. It usually takes
six days to reach the mouth of Victoria Creek at river mile 111. Many floaters
pre-arrange for a Fairbanks air-taxi service to pick them up from a gravel bar
a few miles past Victoria Creek. There are other locations along the river to
picked up but will require air taxi service scheduled in advance of your trip.
If you continue down Beaver Creek and the Yukon River to the Dalton Highway
bridge, you should plan for up to two additional weeks of travel.

Many gravel bars along the river provide great camping. Also, the Borealis-
LeFevre Cabin at river mile 32 is also available by reservation (check the
link below for more information about cabin rentals). Use dead and down wood
for campfires and pack out any trash. The BLM supports Leave No Trace camping
techniques., so please remove any trace of your camp, such as fire rings, and
scatter any firewood piles.

## New hazardous channel on Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River.

To view visit the Beaver Creek hazardous channel webpage and map.

## Monitoring River Levels

A stream gauge on Nome Creek near by Ophir Creek Campground provides useful
information for monitoring floating conditions. Using GOES satellite
telemetry, water stage, water temperature, air temperature, and cumulative
precipitation are recorded at 15-minute intervals.

Current observations are available on the National Weather Service’s
Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) website
https://hads.ncep.noaa.gov/charts/AK.shtml.

To view the data, find station NOCA2 - Nome Creek above Beaver Creek in the
list.

To view the tables and graphs of observations, select a time interval, and
press “Decoded Data.”

For those interested in floating Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River, look at
the **River Height (HG)** data for current river stage conditions. Select
graph at the top of the column to view the data as a line chart.

  * River height of less than 2 feet is very **low** flow, meaning difficult floating, especially for rafts.
  * River height of 2.5 feet is **moderate** flow -- good float conditions.
  * River height of 2.75 to 3 feet or above is considered **high** water; be prepared for fast current, floating logs, flooded campsites, and potentially dangerous conditions.

## Winter Activities

Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River also offers many winter activities for
those wanting a primitive backcountry experience. Snowmobiling, dog mushing,
trapping, and cross-country skiing are popular winter activities along the
frozen river, which can be reached via the White Mountain National Recreation
Area’s 240-mile network of groomed winter trails and public use cabins.

Those folks seeking true adventure can find it floating Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River.Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River is a Class I, clear water river, with only a few short sections of class II water that flows past jagged limestone peaks in the White Mountains National Recreation Area and through the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge before joining the Yukon River. Totaling more than 360 river miles, it may be the longest road-to-road float in North America.Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River runs through a remote area of interior Alaska. Most floaters begin in the Nome Creek valley, near the Ophir Creek Campground. If launching here, take note: boat motors are limited to 15 horsepower or less. Once you put in at Nome Creek, there are no roads or services until you reach the bridge on the Dalton Highway. It usually takes six days to reach the mouth of Victoria Creek at river mile 111. Many floaters pre-arrange for a Fairbanks air-taxi service to pick them up from a gravel bar a few miles past Victoria Creek. There are other locations along the river to picked up but will require air taxi service scheduled in advance of your trip. If you continue down Beaver Creek and the Yukon River to the Dalton Highway bridge, you should plan for up to two additional weeks of travel.Many gravel bars along the river provide great camping. Also, the Borealis-LeFevre Cabin at river mile 32 is also available by reservation (check the link below for more information about cabin rentals). Use dead and down wood for campfires and pack out any trash. The BLM supports Leave No Trace camping techniques., so please remove any trace of your camp, such as fire rings, and scatter any firewood piles.<h2>New hazardous channel on Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River.</h2>To view visit the <a href="https://www.blm.gov/alaska/public-room/map/upper-beaver-creek-wild-and-scenic-river-hazardous-new-channel" rel="nofollow">Beaver Creek hazardous channel webpage and map</a>. <h2>Monitoring River Levels</h2>A stream gauge on Nome Creek near by Ophir Creek Campground provides useful information for monitoring floating conditions. Using GOES satellite telemetry, water stage, water temperature, air temperature, and cumulative precipitation are recorded at 15-minute intervals.Current observations are available on the National Weather Service’s Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) website <a href="https://hads.ncep.noaa.gov/charts/AK.shtml" rel="nofollow">https://hads.ncep.noaa.gov/charts/AK.shtml</a>. To view the data, find station <a href="https://hads.ncep.noaa.gov//cgi-bin/hads/interactiveDisplays/displayMetaData.pl?table=dcp&nesdis_id=325FF74E" rel="nofollow">NOCA2 - Nome Creek above Beaver Creek</a> in the list.To view the tables and graphs of observations, select a time interval, and press “Decoded Data.”For those interested in floating Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River, look at the River Height (HG) data for current river stage conditions. Select graph at the top of the column to view the data as a line chart.<ul><li>River height of less than 2 feet is very low flow, meaning difficult floating, especially for rafts.</li><li>River height of 2.5 feet is moderate flow -- good float conditions.</li><li>River height of 2.75 to 3 feet or above is considered high water; be prepared for fast current, floating logs, flooded campsites, and potentially dangerous conditions.</li></ul><h2>Winter Activities</h2>Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River also offers many winter activities for those wanting a primitive backcountry experience. Snowmobiling, dog mushing, trapping, and cross-country skiing are popular winter activities along the frozen river, which can be reached via the White Mountain National Recreation Area’s 240-mile network of groomed winter trails and public use cabins.

No fee for personal recreational use. Commercial boating guides are required
to obtain a Special Recreation Permit from the BLM.

Fossil Gap Trail

Directions

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Nearby Parks

Windy Creek Trail

Fossil Creek Trail

Cache Mountain Loop Trail

Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River