Noatak National Preserve

Noatak National Preserve is a federally protected area in northwest Alaska that conserves the Noatak River basin and surrounding uplands. The preserve protects a large, largely undisturbed Arctic watershed and associated tundra, river systems and mountains.

The preserve’s defining feature is the Noatak River corridor, a braided river system flowing from the Brooks Range to the Chukchi Sea and supporting migratory caribou, fish runs and other Arctic wildlife. The area is valued for large-scale ecological processes and subsistence use by local communities.

The preserve was created under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 and covers roughly 6.6 million acres (about 2.7 million hectares). Management allows a mix of wilderness protection and traditional subsistence activities.

Noatak National Preserve lies north of the Brooks Range in northwest Alaska; the nearest regional communities are small and access is generally by aircraft to drop-off points or by extended river-based expeditions.

• Area and designation: Established by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980, the preserve protects roughly 6.6 million acres (about 2.7 million hectares) of largely roadless wilderness.
• Access: Access is primarily by small aircraft or long river trips; there are no roads into much of the preserve, so trips require careful planning and wilderness experience.

What to See #

• Noatak River corridor: The Noatak River corridor is the preserve's central natural feature, flowing from the Brooks Range to the Arctic Ocean and containing extensive braided channels and tundra floodplains.
• Brooks Range and headwaters: The preserve includes portions of the Brooks Range with alpine basins and river headwaters that support caribou, brown bear and Arctic fauna.