Here in the land of the summer midnight sun, above the Arctic Circle, the huge Western Arctic caribou herd migrates back and forth, 200,000-plus strong. Backpacking in the foothills, among the bears, wolves, lynx, wolves and Dall sheep, has been increasingly popular, and Wilderness travelers must move with care, this land being deceptively fragile. Birdlife abounds in the migratory seasons. Camping is unrestricted, but you should avoid the numerous private lands on the lower Noatak River. Firewood is preciously scarce.
Campsites are best on river sandbars and high dry tundra knobs.
You should plan on encountering swarms of ravenous mosquitoes during summer. Motorboats and small airplanes and snowmobiles, hunting and fishing are legal. Charter flights into the preserve are available from both villages. Charter boats upriver are available in Kotzebue. Click here to find out how.