Raft Alaska's Hulahula River in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Raft & Hike in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

From its headwaters in the Brooks Range, the Hula Hula River flows through rolling tundra and a breathtaking canyon before spilling onto the vast coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This lush wildflower-dotted landscape is home to an outstanding variety of wildlife, including Dall sheep, musk oxen, grizzlies, and coastal birds. Experience the wonders of this swift-flowing river as you raft almost 100 miles on thrilling Class III-IV whitewater - perfect for paddling enthusiasts - and enjoy hiking and camping in pure Arctic wilderness. See below for a sample itinerary of your day-to-day activities.

Note - Actual itinerary routes vary from departure to departure depending on environmental conditions and group abilities. Please call for more details about each departure.

Feel the expansive solitude while rafting, hiking and camping in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Head to the skies on spectacular bush flights across the wilderness of Northern Alaska

Float across the wildlife-rich Arctic coastal plains

Why take this trip with us?

Reason #01

MT Sobek is one of only a few companies who operate on the Arctic Rivers of Alaska and have been doing so for over 37 years.

Reason #02

This one-of-a-kind river adventure is guided by our Alaska river experts, many who have lead trips in the area for over 20 years.

Reason #03

With nearly 24-hours of daylight a day, this trip offers endless opportunities to soak in the vastness of this remote landscape and the potential to see thousands of migrating Caribou, musk ox and bears.

Meet your guides

Kevin McDermott

Kevin McDermott-a.k.a. "Thirsty"-is an integral part of Mountain Travel Sobek's Arctic rivers program. His laid-back manner puts everyone at ease, and he is a wealth of knowledge about Arctic rivers. Kevin has been guiding since he was 17 years old. Although he normally spends his winter months in Colorado's Telluride ski area, he has climbed Denali three times, reaching the summit in 2000. Thirsty is a legend in the MT Sobek circle and endears himself to travelers with his expertise, calm demeanor, and sense of humor.

Clint Fries

Clint is well known for being calm, conscious and curious. He is an explorer and has been guiding for 20 years from the Arctic to Latin America. Clint is always up for an adventure, and seldom at a loss for words. MT Sobek guests can count on him to entertain in front of some of the most beautiful backdrops in North America. He has exquisite ability to combine wilderness meals and a keen eye for the unseen. Clint's group characterize his leadership as positive, cohesive, and feeling at ease in the wild.

Christa Sadler

Christa Sadler is an author, geologist, educator, and guide from Flagstaff, Arizona. She has worked as a guide on rivers throughout the Southwest and Alaska, and in Ecuador since 1986. She works as a naturalist and educator in Mexico, Alaska, and the Colorado Plateau. Her research in archeology, geology, and paleontology has included several ridiculously hot summers searching for dinosaurs in the badlands of Montana, fighting off dust storms and overly curious camels in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, and steering clear of annoyed marine iguanas in the Galapagos Islands. Her articles and photographs have appeared in many prominent publications over the years and her immense knowledge and strong leadership make her an MT Sobek legend!

Activities

Exciting Class I-III rafting along the Hula Hula River, hikes through Arctic landscapes, extraordinary wildlife spotting, and riverside camping.

Lodging

A comfortable B&B in Fairbanks and an MT Sobek riverside camp, with meals served beneath the stars in the midnight Alaska sun.

Climate

Expect daytime temperatures between 60°F-80°F, and nighttime temperatures between 40°F-50°F. Variable weather is always possible with frequent light rain.

FAQ

What level of participation with camp should I expect on this trip?

Guides will provide lessons on how to set-up tents the first night so that you can set-up your own each night thereafter. The guides will always assist, and you're always welcome to help with camp chores.

What flights are included in this trip?

All internal airfare is included, which includes roundtrip charter bush planes from Fairbanks to Arctic Village, to the river put-in. And then river take-out to Kaktovik and back to Fairbanks.

What kind of personal gear is provided?

We provide all camping equipment, including 4-season expedition style 3-person tents, 15-degree sleeping bags and Therm-a-Rest pads. We also provide life vests, dry bags, Helly Hansen rain pants and jacket and rubber boots.

How bad are the mosquitos?

June is ahead of the mosquito season, so we do not recommend that you bring a bug net and/or bug jacket.

Will I see wildlife on this trip?

While we cannot guarantee anything, this river is legendarily known to have abundant wildlife viewing opportunities and exceptional birding with its prime breeding habitat where the mountains meet the sea.

Do I need river experience for this trip?

Some rafting experience is highly recommended, as this is a very remote adventure with potentially variable weather. You should come prepared for 11-nights wilderness camping with minimal amenities.

Testimonials

"An excellent trip with fabulous scenery and animal sightings. The entire trip was planned out extremely well and all the details were thought out in advance making for a very pleasurable trip."

Bob F.
MT Sobek Guest, Rafting the Arctic Hula Hula River

"The opportunity to see and participate in an adventure trip in a locale such as the Hula Hula is an exquisite experience."

Larry M.
MT Sobek Guest, Rafting the Arctic Hula Hula River