The Noatak River watershed is an enormous expanse of rugged mountains and gently rolling tundra hills, with a thread of biologically rich riparian lakes and ponds running right down the middle.  The Noatak’s entire watershed is protected within the Noatak National Preserve and the Gates of the Arctic National Park.  It is internationally recognized as a World Heritage Site. The Kugururok is a major tributary of the Lower Noatak. Its headwaters are along the arctic divide among poetically named mountains like Inaccessible Ridge and Echo Mountain.

This 50-mile river trip, offered with our partner Arctic Wild, is designed to explore the great diversity of the region with emphasis on locating Gray-headed Chickadees. Starting above the tree-line we will have time to hike the high country (Northern Wheatears, Horned Larks, American Pipits, with a slight chance for a Smith’s Longspur – this is area is little explored for birds so there is a bit of mystery about what we may find) and search the tussock meadows for birds. As the Kugururok descends in elevation the willow stands thicken and we are likely to find Arctic Warblers, Bluethroats, and our special target, the Gray-headed Chickadee….And further downstream in the spruce forests we encounter still more birds.

The Kugururok is a clear and small river with many channels and braids. The valley is narrow in its headwaters but widens into an expansive plain dotted with large and small lakes. The rafting is engaging but easy and the boats allow us to cover ground with ease, granting us plenty of time and energy for seeking out the avian wonders.

Once we reach the Noatak River for the final day of paddling we enjoy the deep wide river and the endless sky above the trees.

This is a fairly easy 50-mile river trip, but you can fish, hike, explore, and bird until you’re worn out. Both the Kugururok and the Noatak flow along with current enough to keep us moving, but if the wind blows opposite the current we will have to work to reach each day’s end.  Previous experience is not necessary.

Day 1: Orientation meeting in the afternoon/early evening in Fairbanks.

Day 2:  It’s a long day.  We fly north and west from Fairbanks to Kotzebue on the Chukchi Sea. Once our gear has been loaded we board a smaller plane especially equipped with “Tundra Tires” for the journey inland over the great expanse of wilderness and up into the spectacular De Long Mountains. Once we unload and set up camp, we might elect to explore our surroundings on foot, before eating dinner and settling in for some sleep.

Days 3 – 8: Each day of the trip brings its own surprises. With only 50 miles to travel in seven days we have plenty of time for exploration and birding. The trip will include two lay-over days where we can devote all of our energies to seeing the country. The first lay-over will be as high in the mountains as possible and will feature a hike onto the alpine ridges. We will take another hiking day further downriver in an area with large lakes, and every day we'll be looking for Gray-headed Chickadees along the river.

Day 9:  Clean-up and pack our gear. Weather permitting, we’ll catch our return flight back down the Noatak to Kotzebue and then to Fairbanks where we can remove our rubber boots and begin exaggerating about our trip.

TOUR FEE: $4075 per person with six or more participants.  $4300 per person with five or less participants.  The tour fee includes roundtrip travel between Fairbanks and the Noatak National Preserve, all meals from supper on the first day to lunch on the tour's final day, and guide services.  Also included in the tour fee are use of one medium-sized dry bag, safety equipment including one bear spray per guest, all boating gear, life jacket, and cooking and eating utensils.

The tour fee does not include transportation to and from Fairbanks before and after the tour, lodging nor meals in Fairbanks (transportation to and from the orientation meeting may be available), phone calls, alcoholic beverages, nor any items of a personal nature.  Also not included in the tour fee are personal clothing, backpacks, large drybags, footwear, sleeping bag and pad, tents, fishing gear and licenses, and waterproof camera cases. 

Some items, including three-season tents, sleeping bags and pads, raingear, boots, and large drybags, can be rented from our partner, Arctic Wild.

A River Trip Equipment List is provided upon registration or request.

LEADERS: John Puschock, owner of Zugunruhe Birding Tours and a second leader from Arctic Wild.  John operated a MAPS bird banding station for the National Park Service along the Noatak River at the Kelly Bar, the end point of the float, and he wrote the Kotzebue and Kelly Bar chapters in A Birder's Guide To Alaska, an ABA Birdfinding Guide.  (The Kelly Bar chapter is in first edition only).

GROUP SIZE: Each tour is limited to 10 participants.  

PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS/WEATHER: Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic. Temperatures range from the 20s to 80s even in a single day. Cold rains and snow are possible, but we get lots of warm sunny weather at this time of year.  Bugs may be present and traveling with insect repellent (DEET) is always prudent in the Arctic.

REGISTRATION and DEPOSIT: A deposit of $900 and a signed registration and release form will reserve your spot on this tour.  Please e-mail for more information on the registration procedure and forms (contact info below).  The balance of the fee is due by 60 days prior to the tour.

CANCELLATION POLICY: All fees received will be refunded with more than 90 days notice of cancellation.  With 60-90 days notice of cancellation, all fees except the deposit will be refunded.  No refund is possible with less than 60 days notification.

TRIP and MEDICAL INSURANCE: We STRONGLY recommend that you purchase trip insurance to protect yourself in case you need to cancel, luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged, a medical emergency occurs, or other unforeseen circumstances occur.  Note that many insurance policies require that you purchase it at the time you make the initial deposit for the tour and terms and coverage differ among policies.  When purchasing trip insurance, please read and understand what is and is not covered by your policy. 

We also STRONGLY recommend that you check that your medical insurance covers medical evacuations, and if it does not, please consider purchasing medical evacuation insurance.  Medical care will be extremely limited to non-existent during this tour.  A medical emergency may require an evacuation flight, which costs tens of thousands of dollars.

For more information and registration forms, please us.