Tomorrow morning I head out for a week-long canoe trip on the Noatak River, leading a trip for Arctic Wild. The Noatak flows out of the western portion of Gates of the Arctic National Park, through the Brooks Range and flows generally westward for over 300 miles until it hits the Bering Sea near Kotzebue. The upper river, the stretch I’ll be paddling next week, is fairly short, but it is through one of the most beautiful pieces of country in Alaska. I think this will be my sixth time guiding this trip, and I look forward to it every time.

I’ve paddled the Noatak when it’s low and gin clear, and when it’s in flood, raging in gray water over the gravel bars. Every time it’s different. Every time it’s amazing.

I hope you all have some place like this in your quiver of loved-places. The Noatak is near the top of my list.

Here are a few images from previous trips. Keep your eyes open in a week or two for a gallery from this coming journey.

Alaska gallery gates of the arctic images national parks Photography wilderness trips