Backpacking in Alaska

ABEC Alaska guides backpack trips into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, exploring some of the most remote mountains and valleys of the Brooks Range. Experience the abundant wildlife and nameless mountains that make Alaska's Brooks Range a great destination for a backpacking expedition.

Our backpacks can be combined with a river trip in the same area for an adventure of a lifetime. Contact us if you have a group interested in creating a custom backpack trip for dates other than our scheduled trips.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Backpack Trips

Caribou Migration Backpack

Porcupine caribour herd migration This Arctic National Wildlife Refuge backpack is an exceptional wildlife trip. Each spring thousands of caribou of the Porcupine herd cross the Kongakut River as they migrate through the Brooks Range and on to the coastal plain. The caribou seek out the early spring forage in these mountain valleys.

Wolves watch us from nearby dens and Dall sheep are easily photographed at mineral licks along our route. Spring is a great time to be in the arctic with new life everywhere; spring lambs, new caribou calves, bear cubs, young chicks and the brilliant arctic flowers in full bloom.

For Caribou Migration Backpack Dates and Prices

The Kongakut River Trip makes an excellent combination trip with the Caribou Migration backpack.

Canning Backpack

Backpacking near the Arctic Divide The Canning River Backpack explores remote headwater valleys in the heart of the mountains of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is followed by a paddle raft trip on the Canning River, a beautiful braided river carving its way through the rugged limestone mountains of the Brooks Range and across the coastal plain to the Arctic Ocean. Combining the backpack with the river trip reveals the wealth of variety the Arctic Refuge offers in terms of terrain, scenery and wildlife.

The 9-day backpack offers ample time to thoroughly explore dramatic mountain valleys of the Canning River. Gravel bars along the river offer good hiking terrain. but demand frequent stream crossings on this 35-mile route. On the average we backpack 6 miles a day. Leaving our backpacks behind in camp, we spend our evenings hiking the high ridges in search of dall sheep and mountain views. This time of year the Porcupine Herd caribou migrates through these valleys, seeking green slopes to feed on.

For Canning Backpack Dates and Prices

For an arctic sojourn from the heart of the Brooks Range to the wide open tundra of the lower Canning River, combine the Canning backpack with ABEC's Canning River trip.

Jago Backpack

Porcupine caribour herd in Jago Valley Explore the dramatic mountain valley of the Jago River with this ANWR backpack trip covering 40 miles of arctic tundra graced in springtime foliage. Our route takes us along the base of the glacier-covered Romanzof Mountains, including Mt. Isto, the highest peak in the Brooks Range. Leaving the mountains, we hike through the arctic coastal plain area where caribou feed on the endemically important cotton grass (Eriphorum vaginatum) during the post-calving season.

This backpack trip in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge explores an area of controversy (the 1002 area), the section of the coastal plain which Congress has considered opening to oil development.

For Jago Backpack Dates and Prices

Combined with the Jago River trip, the Jago Backpack covers a diversity of landscapes from the dramatic high peaks of the Brooks Range to the salt water lagoons along the arctic coast.

Gates of the Arctic National Park Backpack Trips

Noatak Backpack

In corner of Gates of the Arctic National Park, we backpack the Noatak headwaters, an unparalleled pristine wilderness even by Alaskan standards. Our route leads us through small mountain valleys where it seems a new surprise greets us at every turn. Timed to coincide with the fall migration of the Western Arctic caribou herd we pause frequently to watch the passing of hundreds of caribou on their relentless journey south.

The leisurely pace of the Noatak Backpack offers plenty of unstructured time to leave our backpacks behind and head out for a day hike in pursuit of the perfect caribou photograph and tastiest patch of ripe blueberries.

For Noatak Backpack Dates and Prices

This backpack trip can be combined with the Noatak River