Noatak National Preserve

National Preserve · AK · nps.gov page

Noatak River cuts through a green tundra landscape with distant mountains. — The Noatak River carves through the summertime tundra.Photo: NPS Photo / Annie Carlson

As one of North America's largest mountain-ringed river basins with an intact ecosystem, the Noatak River environs feature some of the Arctic's finest arrays of plants and animals. The river is classified as a National Wild and Scenic River. It offers stunning wilderness float-trip opportunities - from deep in the Brooks Range to the tidewater of the Chukchi Sea.

Larger map

News

Kiana Traditional Council and community partners to receive 2026 Eileen Devinney Award 2026-10-16
Western Arctic National Parklands will present the 2026 Eileen Devinney Award to the Kiana Traditional Council, Tessa Baldwin-Cyrus, Robin Kornfield and Thomas Jackson in recognition of their longstanding partnership with the National Park Service and contributions to preserving and sharing traditional knowledge in Northwest Alaska.
Federal Customary and Traditional Muskoxen Hunt 2026-2027 2026-06-01
Western Arctic National Parklands opens the muskox (UMIŊMAK) federal subsistence permit lottery on Monday, June 1, 2026.

Photos

green northern lights — A huge spray of northern lights is reflected in a tiny sliver of water in the Noatak River. This image was captured in early September at 2:30 in the morning.Photo: NPS Photo

Light and shadows on mountains — The famous golden hour near sunset on Copter Peak gives depth to the mountains and neon hues to the tundra.Photo: NPS Photo

mountain refection on calm lake — The Delong Mountains are flawlessly reflected in the clear, clean water of Desperation Lake in the northern part of Noatak National Preserve.Photo: NPS Photo

Three multicolored packrafts on the gravel shore of the Kelly river — Three packrafts sit packed and ready to launch for the days float on the Kelly River.Photo: NPS Photo / Annie Carlson

bear walking along river — The profile of this grizzly on the Noatak River shows a nice example of the hump of muscle between it's shoulders. That muscle makes grizzlies good diggers.Photo: NPS Photo

small plane taking off — A National Park Service plane takes off from the Kelly Bar landing site at the confluence of the Kelly River and Noatak RiverPhoto: NPS Photo

Hiker on the tundra. Snow covered mountains and a river in the dramatic background. — Hiker along the Nakolik drainagePhoto: NPS Photo / Nyssa Landres

Park information and photos come from the National Park Service. This is not an official NPS site.