Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center

Gates of the Arctic has no roads and no visitor facilities inside most of the park, so the practical place to start is the Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center in the village of Bettles, which sits outside the park boundary. This small center across Airport Road from the Bettles airstrip has exhibits, free movies, backcountry ranger programs, and trip-planning help for people who plan to fly or boat into the wilderness. It is a good stop for passport stamps and for asking rangers about conditions, bears, and river travel. The park lends bear-resistant food containers free at its ranger stations, so ask about borrowing one, and call ahead to confirm availability.