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.

Noatak National Preserve

The profile of this grizzly on the Noatak River shows a nice example of the hump of muscle between it's shoulders. That muscle makes grizzlies good diggers.

Grizzly on the Noatak River

The famous golden hour near sunset on Copter Peak gives depth to the mountains and neon hues to the tundra.

Golden Hour

A National Park Service plane takes off from the Kelly Bar landing site at the confluence of the Kelly River and Noatak River

Scout Leaving Kelly Bar

The Delong Mountains are flawlessly reflected in the clear, clean water of Desperation Lake in the northern part of Noatak National Preserve.

Mirror Image

Three packrafts sit packed and ready to launch for the days float on the Kelly River.

Three packrafts

The Noatak River carves through the summertime tundra.

Noatak National Preserve

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