Lying entirely north of the Arctic Circle, this park and preserve includes a portion of the Central Brooks Range, the northernmost extension of the Rocky Mountains. Often referred to as the greatest remaining wilderness in North America, this second-largest unit of the national park system is characterized by jagged peaks, gentle arctic valleys, wild rivers, and numerous lakes.

The forested southern slopes of Gates of the Arctic contrast with its barren northern reaches at the edge of Alaska's North Slope. The park-preserve contains the Alatna, John, Kobuk, part of the Noatak, the North Fork of the Koyukuk, and the Tinayguk Wild Rivers. Together with adjacent Kobuk Valley National Park and Noatak National Preserve, it is one of the largest park areas in the world.

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is distinguished by its wilderness nature. There are no roads or established trails within the park. Gates of the Arctic encompasses several congressionally recognized elements, including the national park, national preserve, wilderness, six Wild Rivers and two National Natural Landmarks.

• Backpack through alpine tundra, boreal forests, and alder thickets, up rocky ridges, and through green valleys.
• Use your mountaineering skills to climb Frigid Crags or Boreal Mountain, the "Gates" for which the park is named.
• Raft down one of the unbridled wild rivers of the Arctic.