Noatak Wilderness
Together with neighboring Gates of the Arctic Wilderness, Noatak Wilderness protects almost the entirety of the largest untouched river basin in America, that of the Noatak River. Noatak Wilderness also comprises all, except for about 700,000 acres around the village of Noatak, of the Noatak National Preserve. From glacial melt on Mount Igikpak in the Brooks Range (in Gates of the Arctic National Park), the mostly gentle Noatak River flows westward 425 miles through the heart of the preserve to Kotzebue Sound, patiently carving the scenic Grand Canyon of the Noatak along its course.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Alaska |
| Size | 5.8 million acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 68.07° N, 159.54° W |
| Night sky | Some glow on the horizon (Black Marble reading 45) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Noatak Wilderness?
5.8 million acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Noatak Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Noatak Wilderness in?
Alaska.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Noatak Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Noatak Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 68.065° N, 159.542° W. Noatak National Preserve is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Noatak Wilderness?
Noatak National Preserve (adjacent) and Kobuk Valley National Park (18 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.