Although there are no developed or maintained backpacking trails from the Dalton Highway, there are many excellent hiking opportunities for those with the experience and skills to choose their own routes.
Many hikers travel river and creek drainages, ridges, and animal trails.
The boreal forest contains many low-lying wetlands as well as thick vegetation that makes hiking difficult. Open river and creek drainages with lots of gravel bars offer the best hiking. As you get closer to the Brooks Range, the vegetation thins out and hiking is a little easier. The alpine tundra on hilltops and ridgelines also provides excellent hiking. The Brooks Mountain Range Higher elevations are often drier and have more durable footing, especially in river drainages.