Brooks Range

The Brooks Range is a mountain chain running across northern Alaska into the Yukon, forming a major north-south divide in the Arctic region. It stretches roughly 700 miles and contains high plateaus, sharp peaks, deep river valleys, and extensive tundra.

The range is valued for backcountry hiking, river expeditions, and wildlife viewing; large protected areas within the range attract wilderness travelers rather than mass tourism. Wildlife includes species adapted to Arctic mountains and tundra, and several national parks and preserves protect contiguous tracts of roadless country.

The Brooks Range was uplifted by tectonic processes and has been inhabited for millennia by indigenous peoples including Iñupiat and Gwich’in communities who use valleys and river corridors seasonally. In the 20th and 21st centuries parts of the range were designated as national park and wilderness to conserve its ecosystems and cultural sites.

Geographically the range lies north of the Alaska Interior and south of the Arctic coastal plain, stretching east toward the Yukon border; much of it lies within Alaska’s North Slope and adjacent boroughs.

• Length: Extends roughly 700 miles (about 1,100 kilometres) across northern Alaska from the western foothills toward the Yukon border
• Remoteness: Very remote with few roads or settlements; access is normally by small aircraft, riverboat, or long overland routes

What to See#

• Gates of the Arctic NP: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve - a large U.S. national park that covers part of the central Brooks Range and protects remote mountain, river and tundra landscapes.
• Atigun Pass: Atigun Pass and the Dalton Highway crossing - the main road crossing of the range, providing the most accessible automobile route through the Brooks Range and a common waypoint for expeditions.

• Plan visits for July-August when snow is at a minimum and remote access is most reliable; many routes remain impassable outside summer without technical equipment.
• Access is usually by small aircraft or long overland travel from hubs such as Fairbanks-book bush‑plane flights or experienced outfitters well in advance and build flexible timing into your itinerary.
• Treat the range as true wilderness: choose guided routes or experienced local operators for remote valleys, carry reliable communication (satellite/PLB) and plan for self‑sufficiency; the western Brooks are typically far less visited than eastern corridors.