The Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot introduces visitors from around the world to the unique and extreme environment of the Arctic. Coldfoot is a transition point for people accessing the backcountry via small aircraft. There is a cafe, lodging, a post office, diesel and gasoline fuel, and limited repair service. Today it is small community serving truckers who drive the “haul road” to Prudhoe Bay, as well as visitors. It got is name in 1900 when early prospectors reportedly got “cold feet” and left before winter set in. The original gold rush town of Coldfoot was located on the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River near the mouth of Slate Creek. contact_infoįor local information, please call (907) 678-5209 or call (907) 474-2200 for general information. Late August and into September, sky gets dark enough that you have chances to see the aurora borealis. In late August and into September bright, fall colors in trees and tundra extend for hundreds of miles. Some of the year-round resident birds include ravens, grouse, chickadees, hawk owls and Canada jays.Ĭampers can experience 24-hour daylight during a period of about 30 days around June 21, and abundant light the rest of the summer season. A variety of birds migrate north to breed in the area and further north. The area provides habitat for squirrels, voles, marten, lynx, wolf, moose, and grizzly and black bears. Namesake Marion Creek is only a short walk from the campsites. The campsites are situated in a spruce forest with wide views of the Brooks Range. A camp host is onsite, and firewood is available. There is no electricity and no dump station. Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table. The campground has potable water, vault toilets, and trash receptacles. Fourteen sites are pull-through, allowing easy access for RVs. There are 27 sites, one of which is designated accessible. The roads, tenting areas, and parking aprons have a gravel surface. State statute prohibits off-road vehicle use within 5 miles either side of from the highway from the Yukon River to the Arctic Ocean. More detailed information on all these activities is available at the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center. Other recreational activities include, bird watching, wildflower spotting/identifying, fishing, bicycling and hunting. Ivishak Wild and Scenic River: Class II, access by chartered air service from Deadhorse or Coldfoot.Ětigun and Sagavanirktok (the Sag) Rivers: Class III-IV+ whitewater, access Atigun at Milepost 271 Sag at MP 306.The Jim River and Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River: Class I-II, several access points along the highway.There are several excellent river trips along the Dalton: Visit the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot to get more information on where you may legally pan for gold. Suction dredging is prohibited in the Utility Corridor. No panning is permitted in the pipeline right-of-way (27 feet/8.2 m on either side of the pipeline) and no panning on federal mining claims without permission. Panning for gold is allowed on a few federal stream segments along the Dalton Highway south of Atigun Pass (Milepost 244). Choose your route with care, let someone know where you plan on going, carry bear deterrent, and bring topographic maps, a GPS, and a compass with you. Hiking east from the highway will lead you to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while hiking west of the highway will take you towards Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Hiking is plentiful up and into the mountains where ridges and drainages provide firm footing, and the forest thins to low-growing tundra. Explore undesignated routes from the Dalton Highway. The Brooks Range offers excellent recreation opportunities. More reliable cellular service can be found 5 miles south in Coldfoot. Download the free mobile app on Android or iOS prior to your arrival as this is a remote area that has limited or no cellular service. Once on-site, you can pay for your campsites(s) by scanning a QR code using the mobile app. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to claim and purchase a site. This location is available on a first-come, first-serve basis only. The site is located five miles north of Coldfoot. There are 27 sites, three of which are accessible. The campground is a perfect basecamp for exploring Alaska’s Brooks Range. It offers vistas of the Brooks Range and has access to the nearby undeveloped trail up to Marion Creek falls. Marion Creek Campground is nestled on the south side of the Brooks Range in the Middle Fork Koyukuk River valley.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |