Hulahula Whitewater Rafting- Trip Itinerary

Hulahula River Rafting Trip from the Brooks Range to the Arctic Ocean

• Dates: June 15 - 25, 2012
• Region: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—mountains, northern foothills, coastal plain, and coast.  The Hulahula is a north-flowing river in northeast Alaska.  It drains into the Arctic Ocean.

•Cost: $4,300/ person from Fairbanks

Sketch of the Hulahula Rafting trip…

The Hulahula is an elemental river.  We begin our 90-mile paddle in the Hulahula’s headwaters, where the river is narrow and swift. 9,000-foot peaks tower over the tundra valley.  Even with the spring thaw and “breakup” weeks past, there may still be ice clinging to river bluffs and lying stranded on gravel bars.  This is the arctic!  After several days paddling and hiking in the mountains, we paddle the canyon’s Class III rapids, and spill out into the foothills, an entirely different biome.  Two more days of nonstop Class II rapids take us to the coastal plain, a wilderness region unlike any other—with stunning views and superb camping.  Then we continue on through the river’s delta to the Arctic Ocean, where we make our last night’s camp on a gravel island next to the Arctic sea-ice.

The Hulahula River is great place to see musk oxen, wolves, grizzly bears, and arctic fox.  On this trip, we also have good chances of seeing peregrine falcons and golden eagles, jaegers, plovers, and other migratory birds.  The weather is likely to be warm, though always variable.  As we approach the coast, cool and even downright cold winds could bear down on us.  The landscape along the Hulahula will be in full green—willows along the river corridor, Equisetum sprouting from the gravel bars, and wildflowers like Wooly Lousewort, River Beauty and Arctic Poppy.

Hiking in the mountains and on the tundra is excellent.  Our travel schedule allows three layover days to explore the country, and plenty of free time each day.  No experience is required for paddle rafting, as instruction is provided. Everyone joins in the fun of paddling the boats under the guidance of a raft captain. Early summer travel in the arctic is rigorous.  Participants should be ready for anything, including low water levels that require us to get out of the boats and drag them over shallow spots.  A half-mile portage is typical at the end of this trip. If water levels are really low, we will have to slog for three to four miles to our take-out.  Then again, we could float right out to the ocean.  On a wilderness trip like the Hulahula, one never knows.  This is the nature, and the honor, of wilderness travel.