Hiking in the Arctic Refuge

Evidence of caribou migration

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Getting there: Nearly all visitors fly into Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, using air-taxi services based in either the coastal Eskimo community of Kaktovik or the Interior Athabascan village of Fort Yukon. Both Kaktovik and Fort Yukon are served by commercial flights out of Fairbanks.

When to go: June through August.

Price range: $500 to $1,000 per person from Fairbanks for air transportation, depending on the refuge destination; guide costs would be an additional $1,000 to $2,000.

Camping: There are no campgrounds or other visitor facilities; be prepared to practice low-impact backcountry camping techniques.

What to bring: Enough food, fuel, gear, and common sense to be self-sufficient in a wild, remote landscape (see 10 Outdoor Essentials).

Weather: Summer daytime temperatures may range from 90 degrees Fahrenheit to near freezing. And though the region is climatically a desert, travelers should anticipate weather delays.

Guides: Contact refuge headquarters for a list of companies that offer guided trips.

For more information: Contact the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 101 12th Ave., Room 266, Fairbanks, AK 99701; tel. (907) 456-0250.