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Gates of the Arctic National Park

Pictures by QT Luong

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[Backpacking to the Arrigetch Peaks ]

Large format photos of Gates of the Arctic National Park· Panoramic photos of Gates of the Arctic National Park

Gates of the Arctic National Park, covering much of the Brooks range in northern Alaska, is one of the finest wilderness areas of the world. With a surface area of 8.4 million acres (336 thousand squares kilometers), it is four times the size of Yellowstone, and only slightly smaller than Switzerland. What is remarkable is that such a large chunk of land has remained one of the most remote and unspoiled places in the world. No roads lead into the park, and there are no established trails. One has to find and earn his way into the tundra, immensely vast but still subtle in the texture and wetness variations of its miniature habitats.

On my first trip to the park, in 2000, Shosh and I were dropped off at Circle Lake by a bush pilot. My backpack weighted 70 pounds. In eight days, we reached the base of the Arrigetch Peaks, a sanctuary of gothic black granite spires and pinnacles reaching haphazardly into the clouds, and explored three of the surrounding valleys (pictures of backpacking). In 2012, encountering daytime temperatures below minus 30F, Regis and I made the hazardous drive up the Dalton Highway in winter to observe the northern lights at the outskirts of the park. In 2023, Tommy and I flew on a mail plane into the Eskimo settlement of Anaktuvuk Pass. Once our newly found Nunamiut friend left us, we didn't see a single person nor even a trace of human activity such as a footprint or user trail for all of our days in the backcountry.

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Aerial view of meandering Alatna river in mountain valley. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Alatna River valley near Circle Lake. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Caribou antlers. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Bright berry leaves, boreal forest, Arrigetch Creek. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Clouds above Arrigetch Creek. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream and Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Fresh snow dusts the Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) The Maidens with fresh show and a thin veil of clouds. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Boulders, valleys and slopes with fresh snow in cloudy weather. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lake in Aquarius Valley near Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Dark rock and moss, Aquarius Lake. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lichen covered rocks at the base of Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra, valley, and mountains with fresh snow. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch valley with caribou. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra and Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tussocks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Boreal forest in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Panoramic color) Alatna River valley near Circle Lake, evening. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Willows and Inukpasugruk Valley in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra plants and Inukpasugruk Valley in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Autumn tundra and Kollutuk Mountain with low rain clouds. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Rocky slope and Kollutuk Mountain in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream and snowy mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Antler, creek, and continental divide peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Close-up of rocks and mosses. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream flowing through rocks and mosses. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Field of angular rocks alternating with moss and snowy mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Snowy Three River Mountain reflected in lake. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Boreal forest and snowy Brooks Range. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Brooks range, winter sunset. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aurora and Jupiter over Brooks Range. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Northern lights over Brooks Range, winter. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of plain with meandering Alatna river and mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of meanders of Alatna river and valley. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of vast landscape of meandering Alatna river and mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of meandering river and mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of lake, tundra and taiga. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of cliff and mountain side. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of mountains with meandering Alatna river in the distance. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of snowy Arrigetch peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of Inukpasugruk Creek. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of St John River meanders. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of St John River and Fork Peak. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of snowy peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of North Fork Koyukuk River. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aerial view of North Fork Koyukuk River in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Alatna River valley near Circle Lake, sunset. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Alatna River reflections, sunset. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Sky and Alatna River reflections,  sunset. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tussocks near Circle Lake, Alatna River valley, early morning. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Alatna River valley near Circle Lake, evening. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Alatna River valley. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra tussocks and Arrigetch Peaks in the distance. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Mountain landscape with berry plants in fall colors, forest, and snow-dusted peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Panoramic color) Berry plants in fall color and Arrigetch creek. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch valley and clouds. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch Peaks from boulder field in Arrigetch Creek. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch Peaks from Arrigetch Creek entrance at sunset. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Taiga landscape in the fall. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Panoramic color) River flowing over boulders, Arrigetch Creek. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch Valley. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aquarius Valley near Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch Valley in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra on mountain side in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra and spruce trees on mountain side below snow line. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch Creek and Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream and Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch Peaks, tundra in fall colors, and clearing storm. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra and Arrigetch Peaks in fog. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra and Arrigetch Peaks partly hidden by clouds. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Low tundra in autum color and Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Brooks range landscape after snowstorm. Gates of the Arctic National Park (Panoramic color) Fresh snow near Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Boulders at the base of Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Fresh snow dusts the Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch peaks above pond in Aquarius Valley. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arrigetch peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lake II in Aquarius Valley near Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lake II in Aquarius Valley near Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lake II in Aquarius Valley near Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Aquarious Lake II. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lake I in Aquarius Valley near Arrigetch Peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Pond and mountain above Anaktuvuk Pass, rain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Willows and Soakpak Mountain in the rain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Berry plants and dwarf willow in autumn, Inukpasugruk Creek. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Willows and Kollutuk Mountain in the rain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Inukpasugruk Creek tributary in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Creek cascading in autumn with misty hills. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Close-up of dark rocks covered with moss and lichen. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Close-up of lichen on rock. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Close-up of blueberries and moss. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Close-up of red peat moss. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Close-up of tundra in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream, willows, and rocky slope. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arctic cottongrass and valley in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Valley with sunlit slopes in the distance. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Kollutuk Mountain and Inukpasugruk Valley. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) North slope mountains and valleys in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Dwarf willow and Kollutuk Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Arctic cottongrass and Inukpasugruk Valley in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Inukpasugruk Valley in autumn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Tundra with creek and peak with fresh snow. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Creek flowing below peaks with fresh snow. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Antler, creek, and snowy peaks covered by clouds. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream and mosses. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Angular rocks and mosses. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Carpet of moss with rocks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Carpet of moss. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Close-up of moss and rocks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Close-up of rocks and dark moss. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Field of angular rocks alternating with moss and Three River Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream and snowy peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Streams and continental divide peaks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream cascading through rocks. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream cascading steeply. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Stream in narrow gorge. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Narrow valley with stream. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lakeshore and rocky slopes. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lake and Three River Mountain foothills. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lake and Three River Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lake and Three River Mountain emerging from the clouds. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Partly frozen lake and Three River Mountain, dawn. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Forest and snowy Brooks Range mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Brooks Range mountains in winter. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Brooks Range near Aitigun Pass in winter. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Brooks Range mountains above Arctic Plain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Boreal forest and brooks range in winter. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Northern lights over Brooks Range. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Colorful aurora curtains over Brooks Range. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Northern lights and starry sky. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Northern lights over Brooks Range mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Venus, Jupiter, and Aurora. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Road and Three River Mountain, Anaktuvuk Pass. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Road, Anaktuvuk Pass. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Anaktuvuk Pass and Soakpak Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Ranger Station, Anaktuvuk Pass. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Buildings window reflexion, Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Truck waiting for airplane, Anaktuvuk Pass Airport. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Unloading airplane, Anaktuvuk Pass Airport. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Flight arrival, Anaktuvuk Pass Airport. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nuamiunt family, Anaktuvuk Pass Airport. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nuamiunt boy, Anaktuvuk Pass Airport. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nuamiunt boy standing on all-terrain vehicle, Anaktuvuk Pass Airport. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut man. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut family on all-terrain vehicle from the back. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut family on Argo following ATV trail. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut man driving all-terrain vehicle. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut subsistence hunter driving all-terrain vehicle. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut subsistence hunter driving Argo vehicle. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut man driving eight-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut man and passenger on ATV. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut man dropping backpacker. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Nunamiut man and visiting backpacker with cell phones. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Visitor looking, Inukpasugruk Creek drainage in the rain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Visitor looking, Three River Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Hiker in rocky gorge, Three River Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Hiker above stream, Three River Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Backpackers eating by a creek and snowy mountains. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Backpackers eating on shore of foggy lake. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Backpacker eating near lake with foggy mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Camper standing by tent near  Lake and Three River Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Camper standing by tent with fog approaching. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lighted tent, lake, and Three River Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color) Lighted tents at night and Three River Mountain. Gates of the Arctic National Park ( color)
All the 165 color pictures of Gates of the Arctic National Park are on this page

Themes: Alatna River, Gates Arctic Landforms, Gates Of The Arctic Fall Colors, Gates of the Arctic Night, Gates of the Arctic Winter