Guided Tours
Easy Moderate Challenging

 

The following list is a description of GoNorth's regularly scheduled guided backcountry camping trips. Most of these tours take place in the Gates of the Arctic National Park, one of the most remote, rugged and least-visited of all US National Parks. We have classified them either as easy, moderate or challenging. Prospective tour participants should be aware of their own limitations, and choose a tour that is appropriate to their own level of experience and condition.

In addition to our own camping tour programs, we also work with other guides and operators throughout Alaska to offer camping tours in other remote regions of the state.

If you wish to take a trip at a time when we do not offer the program of your choice, or if you simply wish to travel in an exclusive group or on a customized itinerary, we would be happy to organize your program and provide you with a guide. Custom guided trips
Guided National Park Tours
  
Lake Clark National Park
Kobuk National Park
Katmai National Park

 

 

 

 

Easy Backcountry Tours

There are no unusual requirements for prospective participants of the following tours. You do not need any canoe or camping experience of any sort. You must be prepared however, to spend several nights in a tent.
Middle Fork Koyukuk River (5 days)
Gold Rush (12 days)
 

 

Beaver Creek (7days) New 2007

 
   
   

 

 

 

 

 

Moderate Backcountry Tours

These tours require that participants be willing to do without modern facilities for a substantial length of time. Everyone must be healthy and in moderately good condition to enjoy these trips. Once again, camping or boating experience is not necessary, although it would be helpful.
North Fork Koyukuk River (10 days)
John River (10 days)
 

 

Kobuk River (10 days)
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Challenging Backcountry Tours

All participants in our challenging wilderness tours must be physically and psychologically resilient. Particularly when the weather is bad, these tours can be rather demanding of all of the participants. Everyone in the group will be expected to work as a team. Canoe or camping experience are not necessary, but good health, general fitness and a willingness to learn quickly are. Participants must be willing to spend an extended period of time without any modern conveniences, and without any contact with the outside world.
Noatak River (21 days)
Arrigetch Peaks/Alatna River (10 days)
 

 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy Backcountry Tours

There are no unusual requirements for prospective participants of the following tours. You do not need any canoe or camping experience of any sort. You must be prepared however, to spend several nights in a tent.

 

 

Beaver Creek (White Mountains)


This is an extended wilderness trip that will take you between one and four weeks. The first portion of this tour takes you through the White Mountains, where you can spend several days hiking. The White Mountains are also a good place to spot Dall sheep up close from the river. Wolves often howl at night in this country. There is one section of upper Beaver Creek where a log jam sometimes redirects the flow of the river. This log jam is the only substantial obstacle on this trip. If you wish to keep this trip short, we can arrange an air taxi to pick you up from a landing strip 7-10 days downstream from the put-in. If you continue paddling past this landing strip, you will gradually leave the White Mountains, arriving eventually at the Yukon River. Paddle for several more days along one of the most wildlife-rich segments of the Yukon to reach the Yukon River Bridge, where you meet your ride back to Fairbanks. This trip is occasionally unavailable because access to the put-in is sometimes washed out by spring melt water or flooding after heavy rains. As with any wilderness trip in Alaska, always come prepared with an alternate plan.
River stats: 127 miles to Victoria Creek, class 1 to 2 (easy to moderate)
273 miles from Victoria Creek to Yukon Bridge, class 1 (easy)
National Park: White Mountains National Recreation Area

Booking code: BVSG or extension to Yukon Bridge BSVE

Time: 7 days

includes:
- Transportation to Nome Creek
- Canoe rental including Paddles and PFDs
- Pick up at by plane at Victoria Creek
- guide (BVSG only)
- food (BVSG only)
or
- Pick up at Yukon bridge (BVSE)

BVSG, Beaver Creek, $1645.00
minus 1 participant $255.00
minus 2 participant $680
minus 3 participants $1530.00

BVSE
single $250.00
2 pax per pax $195.00
3 pax (2 canoes)/pax $150.00
4 pax (2 canoes)/pax $125.00

Middle Fork Koyukuk River


Are you dreaming of spending a few days in Alaska’s vast wilderness? On this 5-day trip, you will feel like a real explorer. This trip is suited for people who would love to explore this beautiful land and the life above the arctic circle, without spending the whole trip on a canoe and in a tent.

This Tour can easily be combined with one of our Camper or Rental car self drives packages. The vehicles can be parked at no cost in Fairbanks. On request, it is also possible to drive your own vehicle up the Dalton Highway and meet the rest of the group in Wiseman.

ITINERARY

Day 1
8am the meeting point is our GoNorth Base Camp in Fairbanks. After a short Introduction and preparation for the next 5 days, we will start our trip on the Dalton Highway. We will take a nice long rest on the shores of the mighty Yukon river, approximately 4hrs drive from Fairbanks. 2 hours later, we will cross the Arctic Circle to arrive in Coldfoot by the end of the day.

Day 2

We prepare our canoes and rafts, load up all our gear and food. Soon we start paddling towards our next destination, the old abandoned Goldcamp. Arriving there early evening, we will have plenty time to explore this little ghost town that once was a hustling and bustling place full of hope and dreams. This evening we enjoy our camp on the shores of the river by a crackling campfire.

Day 3

Magnificent rock formations are the feature of the middle section of our river journey. The high mineral contents in this area has lured many pioneers to these remote places. Weather and preference of all participants will determine the program for this day. We have plenty of time to explore this breathtakingly beautiful area, take all the photographs we possibly can, search for wolf and bear tracks on the sandbars, dip our line in the river in the hope to catch a fish for dinner, hike, relax, dream and cook, in short enjoy a day in the wilderness.

Day 4

Last few hours on the river until we reach the conjunction of the Middle Fork and North Fork Koyukuk. A float plane will pick us up early in the afternoon to bring us to Bettles. We have time to explore this small Indian trapping village, visit the Ranger Station and the local Restaurant where we are served dinner. Tonight we sleep in a comfortable bed at the rustic Lodge.

Day 5

After a hardy breakfast, we will have time to visit some of the old timers and hear their stories of life in the bush of Alaska, or go on a short boat tour to the old town of Bettles, now a ghost town a few miles down-river on the Koyukuk. Time flies even in the wilderness of Alaska, soon we have to board our plane for the flight back to Fairbanks, looking down on the river and the spots we had just visited, fully realizing how remote these places are.

Included are:
- Guide
- Meals in the wilderness
- Raft rental
- Nationalpark fees
- Transportation FAI - Coldfoot
- Overnight in Coldfoot in tent
- seaplane flight confluence - Bettles
- Dinner and Breakfast at BTT Lodge
- Flight BTT - FAI (Bettles - Fairbanks)

> Saturday 14. June - Wednesday 18. June 2008
> Monday 21. July - Friday 25. July 2008
> Saturday 16. August - Wednesday 20. August 2008
> Sunday 14. September - Thursday 18. September 2008
other dates upon request between May 20 and September 10

Booking code: WTAC

price per person, based on double occupancy, $1575.00
single surcharge (overnight in Bettles) $110.00

min 5 pax, max 9 pax

minus 1 participant plus $130/person
minus 2 participants plus $350/person
minus 3 participants plus $780/perso

 


 

 

Gold Rush


Do you have gold fever? No, I mean do you really have gold fever? We'll take you to a gold mine on the edge of the frontier, deep in the Brooks Mountains of north-central Alaska. We'll teach you how to find it, show you where to find it, and we'll give you the equipment you need. You go for the gold! Meet your guide and other participants in Fairbanks. We provide a group orientation, and a night at the GoNorth Base Camp Hostel. The next day, you fly from Fairbanks over the Yukon River and the Arctic Circle to the trapping outpost of Bettles. There, you meet your air-taxi, which will shuttle you up into the gold claims of the Brooks Range. You spend nine days in one of Alaska's most picturesque valleys. You have seven days to pull gold out of the ground. We will take you mineral hunting outside of camp on two additional days, although you may choose to relax and enjoy the scenery instead. At the end of your stay, we will fly you back to Bettles and on to Fairbanks, where you will spend the last night at the GoNorth Base Camp Hostel


Sunday July 13 - Wednesday July 23, 2008
11 days

10 Year Goldrush celebration! / Discount
10% discount for bookings until January 31 2008 and paid in full

min. 5 / max. 12 clients

Price per person $2485.00

minus 1 participant, surcharge per participant: $235.00
minus 2 participants, surcharge per participant: $620.00

Included in the price:
day 1
- meet clients at the GoNorth Center in Fairbanks. If possible we will pick clients up at the airport upon arrival.
- BBQ at the GoNorth Center
- overnight at the GoNorth Center
day 2
- Flight from Fairbanks to Bettles after Breakfast
- Flight from Bettles to Crevice Creek
day 3 to 10
- overnight in tents at the mine
- 7 days goldmining 1 oz of gold found by client, 50% of all gold above 1 oz.
day 11
- Flight from Crevice Creek via Bettles back to Fairbanks
- overnight at the GoNorth Center


*Please note, food and excess baggage to and from Crevice Creek is not included.

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Moderately Difficult Backcountry Tours

These tours require that participants be willing to do without modern facilities for a substantial length of time. Everyone must be healthy and in moderately good condition to enjoy these trips. Once again, camping or boating experience is not necessary, although it would be helpful.

 

 

North Fork Koyukuk River


The program again begins in Fairbanks, and includes a bush plane flight to Bettles. There, we make final preparations before boarding the float plane for a spectacular flight to a remote Brooks Range lake. The flight to this lake alone is unforgettable. Once on the ground, we transfer our gear into boats for the float trip down the Koyukuk river. The scenery on this river trip is remarkably diverse, but the float itself is not technically difficult. If the river is clear, the Koyukuk offers some great fishing. The upper portion of the river is ideal for day hikes, and we will take time to do some. In general, you can expect to spend about four hours on the water each day while traveling back downriver to Bettles. We will catch a plane back to Fairbanks from Bettles at the end of the float.


Booking code: WTNF

Date:
Saturday 26. July - Tuesday 5. August 2008

Time:
9 days
Number of Participants: min. 5, max. 9 persons

River stats: 95 miles, Class 1-2 (easy to moderate)
National Park: Gates of the Arctic

Includes:

> Dinner, overnight in tent and breakfast in Fairbanks
> transportation in Fairbanks
> flight from Fairbanks to Bettles
> flight with float plane into Gates of the Arctic National Park
> national park fees
> all the meals in the wilderness from Bettles to Bettles
> raft or canoe rental
> flight from Bettles to Fairbanks
> airport taxes and transfers
> guide

Price per person $2410.00

minus 1 participant, surcharge per participant: $270.00
minus 2 participants, surcharge per participant: $725.00
minus 3 participants, surcharge per participant: $875.00

 

John River


After we fly you from Fairbanks to Bettles, our float plane takes us to to a small lake 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle. From there, we paddle across the water to the source of the John River, which is known as one of the best floating-rivers in the Brooks Range. Each year, this river attracts 50 to 60 canoeists, making it one of the most popular backcountry routes in the Gates of the Arctic National Park. There is good reason for its popularity. The John River flows from mountainous highlands down to the lush valley-bottom, offering some of the most diverse ecology of all river drainages. If the water is clear, the John river also offers some of the best fishing in the region. Our visit with Lill and Bill is always a highlight of the trip. These homesteaders have raised 4 children here, while remaining almost entirely self-sufficient for over 30 years. They have some fascinating stories to tell of their life in this untamed country. The river trip ends at the abandoned village of Old Bettles. There, we leave our assistants to collect the gear, and hike to the new Bettles townsite. We will return to Fairbanks by air from Bettles.


Booking code: WTJR

Date: Saturday 9. August - Tuesday 19. August 2008

Time: 9 days
Number of participants: min. 5, max 9 persons

River stats: 100 miles, class 1-2 (easy to moderate)
National Park: Gates of the Arctic

Includes:
> Barbecue, overnight in tent and breakfast in Fairbanks
> Transportation in Fairbanks
> flight Fairbanks to Bettles and back
> Flight with floatplane into wilderness
> Meals in the wilderness (Bettles to Bettles).
> Raft or canoe rental, including life vests,
> return of equipment from Old Bettles to Bettles,
> national park fees, airport taxes and transfers
> guide.

Price per person $2495.00

minus 1 participant, surcharge per participant: $275.00
minus 2 participants, surcharge per participant: $745.00
minus 3 participants, surcharge per participant: $920.00

Kobuk River

Day 1
We meet in the GoNorth Travel center in Fairbanks and fly with a chartered airplane to the Inupiat village of Ambler at the Kobuk River. In this village over 200 Inupiat Eskimos live here primarily on hunting and fishing. After village inhabitants help us bring the material from the airfield to the river we will make our canoes ready to be launched. We will paddle 2 hours downstream. Soon outside the village we can often see caribou. We will camp on the sand bar in the midst of yellow willows.
2. Day:
Soon after we start off with the canoe, we reach the border of the Kobuk Valley National Park. Early this day we visit Oniopn Portage, one of the most important prehistoric places of Alaska. Here at a small hill, stone-age hunters hunted the caribou over 10000 years ago.
Day 3 – 4
These two days we paddle downriver through the boreal or subarctic forest landscape, which occasionally yields arctic tundra. The foliage colors of the landscape are a special benefit and we hope to see on these days caribou or a moose or a bear on the bank. Also Inupiat hunters are in their motorboats on the way on the hunt for caribou. On a river bank at Kavet Creek we set camp and enjoy a wonderful view over the river. With a little luck we might even see caribou swim across the river bend.
Day 5
This day offers one of the tour’s highlights. We will be hiking to the "large sand dunes", a desert landscape in the middle of the subarctic forest. We will feel as if we were transferred into more southern zones. Feel sand deposited by glaciers thousands of years ago gathered here and formed into a dune landscape. On an easy hike over a lightly forested hill, we will follow down to the valley of the Kavet Creek. We spend a few hours investigating the dunes before we make our way back to the camp. The hike, out and back, takes slightly more than 2 hours each way.
Day 6. - 8.
We paddle further down river and observe the caribou that are crossing the river at this time of the year, being on their migration route. In the evening we sit at the campfire and providing the sky is clear, we watch the magnificent and magic northern lights. Every now and then we spot small cabins, which the Inupiat use occasionally, when fishing for salmon or hunting for caribou.
Day 9
From the last camp it’s only a three hour paddle to the Inupiat village of Kiana, the end of our river journey. We pitch our tents near the airfield above the village and spend the remainder of the day to learn about the village and its people.
Day 10
In a 2 hour charter flight we return to Fairbanks.

Booking code: WTKR

Date: September 3-12

Time: 10 days
min 6 pax, max 9 pax

price including:
- flight Fairbanks - Ambler
- canoe rental including life jackets and paddles
- guide
- all meals in the wilderness
- cooking equipment
- emergency equipment (ELT, first aid kit)
- flight Kiana - Kotzebue
- flight Kotzebue - Fairbanks
- national park fees

2007 Price: USD $3345.00

 

Challenging Backcountry Tours

All participants in our challenging wilderness tours must be physically and psychologically resilient. Particularly when the weather is bad, these tours can be rather demanding of all of the participants. Everyone in the group will be expected to work as a team. Canoe or camping experience are not necessary, but good health, general fitness and a willingness to learn quickly are. Participants must be willing to spend an extended period of time without any modern conveniences, and without any contact with the outside world.

 

Noatak River


This is the longest, most remote, and possibly the most challenging of Para Tours’ backcountry programs. Again, we begin in Fairbanks, taking plenty of time for proper orientation and preparation before departing on this expedition-class trip. We fly to Bettles in a mail plane, and then take an air taxi onward to a lake in the west-central Brooks Range. From here, the Noatak flows westward towards Siberia, into the most sparsely populated region of Alaska. Once our float plane drops us off, we will travel for 16 days without any connection to civilization whatsoever. We will cover between 30 and 35 miles each day in our canoes. The landscape changes gradually from mountainous tundra to a large, windy basin; from broad canyons to mixed boreal forests. This river system is so undisturbed by human activity, that it is one of the few biosphere reserves used as a benchmark for measuring global ecological change. For all true wilderness fans or canoe adventurers, this is truly the ultimate tour.


Booking code: WTNR

Date:
Monday 28. July - Saturday 16. August 2008

Time: 21 days
Number of participants: min. 5, max. 9 persons

River stats: 375 miles, class 1 to 3 (easy to difficult)
National Parks: Gates of the Arctic, Noatak National Preserve.

Includes:
> Overnight in tent, dinner and breakfast in Fairbanks
> transportation before trip
> flight from Fairbanks to Bettles
> floatplane from Bettles to Noatak River
> meals in the wilderness
> canoe rental
> flight or boat ride from Noatak (pull-out point) to Kotzebue
> Flight from Noatak village via Kotzebue to Fairbanks
> guide
*Flight from Noatak via Kotzebue to Anchorage is an additional $156.00

Price per person $3960.00

minus 1 participant, surcharge per participant: $430.00
minus 2 participants, surcharge per participant: $1145.00
minus 3 participants, surcharge per participant: $1735.00

 

Arrigetch Peaks/Alatna River


This is a hiking trip that takes you to some of the most spectacular mountains in Alaska: The Arrigetch Peaks, named in Inupiaq for the five fingers of the outstretched hand. The Arrigetch peaks are towering granite walls, smooth as marble, sharply aimed at the sky and towering hundreds of feet above the valley floor. The tour begins after the float plane drops us off at Circle Lake near these spectacular formations. The first leg is very difficult, but the view from our campsite in the evening makes it worth every sore muscle. Over the course of the next days, we hike through the Brooks Range mountains, exploring the spectacular valleys around the Arrigetch peaks. Near the end of our hike, we visit with homesteaders Steve and Kay, the only year-round residents in Gates of the Arctic National Park. The river trip ends when you are picked up by a bush plane near their homestead at Takahula Lake. Some hikers may prefer to remain in the wilderness and enjoy a relaxing float down part of the Alatna River for the next 4 days.


Booking code: WTNH

Dates:
Friday 22. August - Tuesday 2. September

Time:
10 days
Number of participants: min. 5, max 7 persons

National Park: Gates of the Arctic

Includes:
> Overnight in Fairbanks including dinner and breakfast
> transportation in Fairbanks before trip
> flight from Fairbanks to Bettles
> floatplane from Bettles into Brooks Range
> meals in the wilderness (Bettles to Bettles)
> flights back to Fairbanks
> guide
> Canoe or raft rental

Price $2790.00

minus 1 participant, surcharge per participant $345.00
minus 2 participant, surcharge per participant $925.00
minus 3 participants, surcharge per participant $2090.00

In conjunction with other reputable tour operators in Alaska, we offer the following tour packages to other national parks and protected areas outside our own region of operation:

 



NAGS is a pool of leading wilderness tour outfits in Alaska. The NAGS logo stands for highest standards in safety and long wilderness experience.

 

Lake Clark National Park

 

In 2007 we are offering 1 backcountry trip in Lake Clark National Park, which is one of the more remote and lesser visited parks in the National Park system. From icy volcanic peaks to treeless tundra landscapes, this park protects a variety of ecosystems and rich wildlife. Sport fishing for lake trout and rainbow trout is available.

Twin Lakes

Day 1
Floatplane flight Kenai – Cook Inlet – Lake Clark NP
Fly across Chigmit Mtns, part of the Aleutian mtns,
Land at the end of Twin Lakes, where we set up our camp
We set up our canoes and if you wish you can try and catch a nice lake trout.

Day 2
Day hike to explore the Chigmit Mountains and their glaciers
Most mountains here in the remote wilderness don’t have names.
Hike for about 6hrs today. Back in the camp by late afternoon.

Day 3
Pack tents and start canoeing the upper Twin Lake. On the way, we will visit the cabin of Dick Proenneke, the author of the best selling diary “One Man’s Wilderness”. He built the cabin in 1968 and lived in it until a few years ago. We set camp at the river that connects the upper and lower Twin Lakes.

Day 4
Hike up the mountains above our camp. Our goal is to reach the pass that leads down to Kijik River Valley. 6hrs hiking. Those who want can summit one of the surrounding peaks.

Day 5
Break up camp and continue canoeing across lower Twin lake
Camp in a small bay.

Day 6
Hike to Death Valley, a rocky desert-like valley. We’ll escape it and climb up to the green mountains to get a wonderful view over the Twin lakes and the mountains surrounding them.

Day 7
Pack camp together and canoe to the outlet of Twin lakes, the Chilikadrotna River. A short hike to small lakes and our last camp. Maybe we spot a moose or caribou.

Day 8
Bid goodbye to the now familiar Twin Lakes and the mountains surrounding them
Flight back to Kenai through the Chigmit mountains.

 

Booking Code: TLCN

Dates: Sunday 6. July - Saturday 12. July 2008

Time: 7 days
Number of participants: min 5, max 9 persons

Included in price:
- flight with floatplane from Kenai to the Lake Clark National Park (Twin Lakes)
- Canoe including life jackets and paddle
- guide
- meals in the wilderness
- cook equipment

Price per person $1795.00
minus 1 participant, surcharge per participant: $320.00
minus 2 participants, surcharge per participant: $870.00
minus 3 participants, surcharge per participant: $1915.00


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Kobuk Valley National Park

 

The broad Kobuk River flows through the Kobuk Valley National Park, whose landscape is at its most spectacular in the Fall. Caribou cross the river near our boats. We will take a day hike in the desert landscape of the Great Kobuk Sand Dukes, the core feature of this extremely remote national park.

Kobuk River Canoe Trip: tba

Contact us directly for further information on our Kobuk Valley tour offerings

 

Katmai National Park-hiking in the Valley of 10,000 smokes

Day 1
Flight Anchorage – King Salmon – Brooks Falls in Katmai NP
Brooks Falls, where the bears catch salmon, is famous for bear viewing. Pitch Tent in the nearby campground. View bears from the viewing platforms.
Day 2
Ride the bus into Valley of 10,000 Smokes enjoying the great views of the desert like valley. Start hiking down the valley. After crossing Windy River we hike a little further into the valley and set camp.
Day 3
Following and finally crossing Lethe River, a river that cuts deep into volcanic ashes, we hike deep into the Valley of 10,000 Smokes. After reaching the crater of Novarupta, we understand how this valley got its name (having hot ashes under our feet, smelling the sulfur, seeing the fumes rising) Camp above the craters which produced the eruption of 1912, which was bigger than that of Mt St Helens.
Day 4
Hike up to Katmai Pass where we can see the Pacific ocean in the east. Rising above the pass is volcano Mount Mageik, a volcano that is covered by a glacier, with hot fumes still rising from it. We see the huge pyramid of Mt Griggs. To get a better view of Mt Katmai and the volcanoes we climb to the active Trident volcano. Camp in Katmai Pass.
Day 5
Hike the road back through the valley. Camp at the end of the road with great views.
Day 6
Ride the bus back to Brooks Camp and camp at the campground in the NP.
Day 7
Dedicated to watching the bears catch salmon. In the rotation with other visitors, we can watch the bears from close range.
Day 8
We fly back over King Salmon to Anchorage.


Requirements: This route is recommended to trekkers, which are well trained and can, with a backpack, carry 20 kilograms for several hours (4-6) go. We carry all camping equipment and food with us and in the Valley of the 10,000 Smokes there is little water, we must carry enough water for 2 days and for the remainder of the trip we depend on melting snow.

Booking code: KMNP

Dates: June 30 - July 7, 2007

Time: 8 days
Number of participants: min 5 pax, max 9 pax

Price Includes:
- flight: Anchorage - King Salmon - Anchorage
- floatplane: King Salmon - Brooks Camp - King Salmon
- bus travel in Katmai park
- guide
- cooking equipment
- food
- all national park fees

 

 


 

Custom Guided Trips

 

Brooks Range Guiding

The rate depends on the number of people involved and the number of days you wish to travel. The base price is $880 for one person for one day. Add $40 for each additional person, and $310 for each additional day. (This rate includes guide, meals, emergency/navigation equip, and cooking utensils. Tents, sleeping bags, packs, and other personal items are not included - see gear rental). So, if you are looking for a guide for 2 people for 5 days, you calculate $880 + $40 + 4x($310) = $2160. For 4 people for 7 days, you calculate $880 + 3($40) + 6($310) = $2860. If you require an air taxi or other air transportation, see our air taxis and bush planes page.

River/Mountain/Hiking Guides

The rate for one guide only is $250 per day. Additional costs would be transportation and equipment. So if you are looking for one river guide for the Chena river, for 2 people for 5 days you calculate $250(guide)X 5 days= $1250
plus boat rental $190 and transportation $80=$1520.00

The rate for one guide for hiking 7 days for 4 people would be; $250 X 7 + $250(complete camping package for 4 people for one week)+ $190(transportation)=$2,190.00

Please feel free to conact us with any questions or if you would like a quote on a specific trip.