The Kongakut
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the nation's largest undeveloped natural areas. The rugged and spectacular Brooks Range dominates the heart of this scenic and pristine arctic and sub-arctic ecosystem. To the north, the coastal plain, a rolling tundra covered plateau, extends from the mountains to the Beaufort sea.
A rich diversity of wildlife is found on the refuge. The Porcupine caribou herd migrates from wintering grounds south of the Brooks Range to calve on the costal tundra from late May to mid June. Grizzly bears, wolves, dall sheep and moose reside here. Musk-oxen roam the coastal tundra and the lower river bars, while polar bears den on the coastal plain in the winter, returning to the ice pack with their young in the spring. Nearly 140 species of birds, from 4 continents, breed in the refuge.
The Kongakut River originates high in the peaks of the eastern Brooks Range. It runs clear and pristine north through rugged mountains and sheep strewn bluffs before fanning out across the coastal plain and joining the waters of the Beaufort Sea. Here at the gates of the mountains lies Caribou Pass, a major migration route of the massive Porcupine Caribou Herd. Fishing along the rivers course is excellent for arctic char and grayling and the hiking opportunities are unsurpassed. We'll take plenty of time for hiking and exploring as we travel down river to ultimately takeout within a breathtaking view of the coastal plain stretching out to the Arctic Ocean.
The Nenana
The Talkeetna
The Chickaloon
The Charley
The Happy
The Kongakut
The Tana
Kayak Alaska
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