For river lovers, the Hulahula embodies the pure essence of Arctic wilderness. From its headwaters high in Alaska’s Brooks Range, the Hulahula River flows through dramatic mountains, rolling tundra, and finally a breathtaking canyon just before it spills out onto the vast coastal plain on its way to the ice-choked shores of the Arctic Ocean.

The Hulahula river, Actic National Wildlife Refuge

Called the “American Serengeti” by some, the 19 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) forms a rough-sided square in Alaska’s northeast corner, with the Canadian border on the east, the Canning River on the west, the Arctic Ocean/Beaufort Sea to the north, and Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge to the south.

ANWR contains the greatest diversity of plant and animal species of any conservation area in the circumpolar north. In fact, many biologists regard ANWR as the finest sanctuary for Arctic wildlife in the world. It is home to 36 species of land mammals, including all three North American bear species — black, brown, and polar — as well as caribou, musk ox, moose, Dall sheep, wolves, Arctic foxes, wolverine, and singing voles, to name just a few of the possibilities. More than 180 species of birds from four continents have been observed at ANWR, and the 1.5-million-acre coastal plain provides critical migratory and nesting habitat for thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds. This magnificent wilderness is used by two different caribou herds and protects most of the calving ground for the enormous Porcupine caribou herd. Our journey is timed—with luck—to coincide with the northward migration of the Porcupine caribou herd.

Moss Campion

We begin our river journey with a 300-mile bush-plane flight across the Brooks Range to the headwaters of the Hulahula. We’ll land on a small gravel bar along the river just north of the Continental Divide and make our first camp. Using paddle rafts, we’ll wind our way through the mountains and out onto the coastal plain. No previous paddle rafting experience is necessary and there will be an experienced guide on each of our two rafts. This is a large-volume, swift-flowing river with Class III/IV whitewater conditions to be expected in some sections. Our schedule on the Hulahula is deliberately leisurely and flexible, allowing plenty of time and several layover days for hiking, photography, and exploring the geology and natural history of this fascinating Arctic wilderness.

The U.S. Congress is under pressure from the President and the oil industry to open the heart of the refuge—the 1.5 million-acre coastal plain—to oil and gas development. In ANWR’s defense, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service insists that the coastal plain is the most biologically productive part of the entire refuge. In fact, they assert that this 125-mile-long and 50-mile-wide coastal plain is the only section of Alaska’s 1,100-mile Arctic coastline that is not currently open to oil and gas development. So, come experience the wilderness splendor of this extraordinary landscape for yourself and add your voice to the growing movement to protect ANWR for all time!

Group Limit: 8              Trip Rating: 4

Price: $4,450 ($800 deposit required to reserve space)

Included: Fully-outfitted 12-day raft trip (11 nights camping) operated by Alaska Discovery/Mountain Travel Sobek, all camping/rafting gear (river drybags, tent, sleeping pad, rubber boots, rain gear, and life jackets), roundtrip chartered flight between Fairbanks and Arctic Village, bush plane charter flights to the put-in and from the take-out to Kaktovik, and from Kaktovik to Fairbanks, all meals beginning with arrival in Fairbanks on June 20 and concluding with final departure on July 3, two nights’ lodging in Fairbanks June 20 and July 2, and all gratuities to river guides. Does not include roundtrip transportation to Fairbanks, Alaska from your point of departure, items of a personal nature, alcoholic beverages, or travel insurance (available as an option from Alaska Discovery and BerkelyCare).