Killik, Nigu, Colville Rivers

The Killik, Nigu, and Etivluk Rivers, tributaries of the Colville River, are major north slope valleys within the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Noatak National Preserve. Flowing northward from the crest of the Brooks Range, these valleys serve as migration corridors for caribou of the Western Arctic herd. For thousands of years these valleys were also important hunting and trade routes for prehistoric hunters following the caribou.

Up until the recent past, Inuit and Athabascan people lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle along these Arctic rivers. They subsisted mainly on the caribou but also made use of all available food supplies: plant, animal and fish. We'll see signs of their enduring history, scattered chert chips from tool making and remnants of house pits. Though the ancient hunters have long since come and gone, the land lies basically untamed and unchanged.

These rivers lie within a vast wilderness, a place where the trails are made by wildlife: caribou, bear, moose and wolf. Where yellow billed loons, shyest of the loon family, nest along undeveloped shorelines and arctic breezes catspaw across crystal clear lakes. But it is the caribou especially that defines this country. The Western Arctic Caribou herd numbers over 450,000 animals; it is the constant ebb and flow of their numbers over the landscape that brings life to this arctic landscape.

We'll fly in by float plane, crossing the mountains of the Brooks Range and landing on one of the lakes where we'll begin our Arctic adventure. Using our inflatable kayaks, canoes or rafts, we'll move camp down the river adapting our schedule to the weather, scenery, wildlife and hiking potential. Some folks may want to cast a fly or spinner and try to land an arctic grayling or lake trout which inhabit these waters.

Previous paddling experience is not necessary; there will be plenty of time to practice in our easy-to-use inflatable boats. With long daylight hours and unlimited hiking on the open terrain, we have the opportunity to explore much of these river valleys from their mountainous headwaters to their confluence with the Colville River.

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 Killik River trip
For dates and prices of the Nigu River trip
For more river and backpack trips in the Gates of the Arctic National Park

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