Sketch of the Nigu River Rafting trip…

Gates of the Arctic National Park is unmatched in beauty and remoteness. The Nigu flows north from Gates of the Arctic, treating its few visitors to solitude, exciting wildlife encounters and abundant Eskimo artifacts. This arctic rafting adventure is a great chance to enjoy some fun paddling, learn about the natural and human history of the area, and relax in this exceptional northern wilderness.

June is spring in the Arctic and we will watch the tundra green-up over the course of our trip. As we make our way down the Nigu we will likely see caribou feeding in small mountain valleys, down on the river plain and along the rich sedge covered ridges. We may see bears digging for ground squirrels and roots on the river bars. Wolves, musk oxen and a seemingly limitless number of birds frequent the area too. Hilltop lookouts alongside the river allow us to scan for both predator and prey moving over the open terrain. Lakes along the river nourish migratory waterfowl such as northern pintail ducks, tundra swans and scaup. Song birds will be setting up territories and attracting mates and we will hear them through the long twilight that passes for night at nearly 70 degrees north latitude.

The Nigu was a seasonal home to the Nunamiut Eskimos and artifacts of their lives are everywhere. It is a rich land in the fall as the caribou from the Western Arctic Caribou Herd migrate through. Over the generations Eskimo hunters built miles and miles of stone fences to direct the caribou toward ambushes where they were speared, often from kayaks. To stand on a low ridge amongst miles of caribou fences is to step back in time to see and almost feel the ancient Eskimo hunters employing knowledge and ingenuity to harvest caribou from this arctic landscape. In addition to the stone fences and inuksuks (stone cairns made to look like people standing on a ridge), we can find tent rings, stone tools, bone pitons and other signs of ancient and historic habitation.

We join the Nigu where it flows among small river bluffs at the northern edge of Gates of the Arctic National Park. As the river rolls slowly through the mountainous Brooks Range, it makes a bend to the north, and plunges downhill in a series of swift Class II drops, and joins with the Etiviluk River for the rest of its run to the mighty Colville. On its way, the Nigu cuts through the low, weather-swept hills of the arctic slope, giving us expansive views and intimate moments beneath sheer river bluffs.

On our paddle from the headwaters to the Nigu’s confluence with the Colville River, we have three layover-days to absorb this fantastic landscape. Hiking is excellent along the way, perhaps the best hiking in the Brooks Range in terms of variety. In the headwaters we can hike tall peaks, and down river, we can spread out on the long and colorful ridge systems that rise from the arctic plain like whale backs. Fishing for grayling is good enough to keep us in fish, but not diverse or active enough for serious anglers.

We will be as far as you can get from towns or roads in the United States of America. This river trip offers excellent opportunities for solitude and remoteness.

This is a moderately difficult, 100-mile river trip. In the beginning, the river is slow moving and shallow, and will require that we get out to nudge the boat over shoals if the water is low. Later on, the river is swift, though still shallow in places. Everyone has a paddle and everyone will get to join in the fun and work of making our way down river. Rafting experience is not required as instruction is provided. Each of the rafts is captained by one of our experienced and professional guides.