Jago River

Within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Brooks Range lies only 10 to 40 miles from the coast of the Arctic Ocean. On ABEC's Jago River trip we camp, kayak and hike through this spectacular setting. The highest mountains of the Brooks Range, capped by glaciers and permanent snowfields, emerge abruptly from an arctic coastal plain painted with wildflowers. This is the "1002 area", the contested ANWR lands that Congress is considering for oil development.

In terms of wilderness qualities; wildlife habitat, spectacular mountain scenery, and the vastness and solitude of the arctic, you would not be able to distinguish between the 1002 area and other parts of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that have already been designated as "wilderness". A spectacular bush plane flight over the high mountains of the Brooks Range takes us from Fairbanks to the Jago River, our new home in the arctic where we day hike towards the high country.

We paddle our easy-to-use inflatable kayaks, descending this classic braided river to the Arctic Ocean. Kayaking north towards a horizon distorted by sea mirages, we stop from time to time to hike the open tundra surrounding the Jago River and explore the wonderful sand dunes on the Jago Delta. Eventually we reach the Beaufort Sea, kayaking into the protected waters of the Jago Lagoon.

We camp on the barrier islands of Jago and Bernard Spit, beach combing along these narrow spits of gravel with the Beaufort Sea on one side and the Jago Lagoon on the other. Eider ducks, swans and exotic shapes of pack ice float by, caveman TV. The midnight sun dips low on the horizon, but never really disappears. This is an amazing place to explore, the edge of the world that we know. On our final day we paddle across Bernard Harbor into Kaktovik, an Inupiat village on Barter Island, and explore this northern village before boarding our flight back to Fairbanks.

Optional trip- Jago Valley Backpack: Preceding the Jago River trip, the Jago Backpack offers dramatic mountain scenery as we hike beneath the highest peaks in the Brooks Range. For the backpacker who wants more, combine the Jago Backpack with the Jago River Kayak for this spectacular Romanzof Mountains to Arctic Ocean traverse.

Included in the price of the trip: All air transportation beyond Fairbanks; camp food and cooking gear; boating gear; safety & repair gear; and trip leaders.

For dates and prices of the Jago River trip
For more river and backpack trips in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

ABEC's Alaska Adventures, LLC
PO Box 10791 | Fairbanks, Alaska 99710
Toll Free: (877) 424-8907 | Fax and Local Phone: (907) 457-8907
abec@abecalaska.com