Also see Equinox Wilderness Expeditions' Kongakut River to the Beaufort Sea. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is America's premier wilderness, and the Kongakut River is the refuge's best river rafting or canoeing paddle trip for seeing the summer migration of the Porcupine caribou herd. If you love hiking, paddling, wildlife, and small-group trips, this a superb adventure!

Each year, the Porcupine caribou herd travels from wintering grounds in the Yukon Territory to calving grounds on the slim coastal plain between the mountains and the sea. In June, thousands of animals stream down the Kongakut valley. The tundra is covered with wildflowers, the air alive with bird song, the light never-ending. We regularly see wolves, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, muskoxen, foxes, wolverines, and golden eagles.

We raft from the mountain headwaters of the river out to the edge of the arctic coastal plain to Caribou Pass. Keen paddlers will love the middle section of the river as it spills through a turbulent gorge compressed between the mountains, before breaking out into a broad valley and rolling hills.

Beginning with a 300-mile bush-flight over Alaska's Brooks Range, we fly into the Kongakut's upper mountain-rimmed valley. We float the upper 45 miles of the river, winding our way north through the mountains, down braided channels and through incised canyons, pausing to hike up long ridges with spectacular views of the peaks and green valleys.

A typical day includes a half-day float, lunch and an afternoon ridge walk before dinner. We have two or three full layover days for all-day hikes. Dependent on snowmelt and rain, water levels on the river fluctuate throughout the summer, but we can expect a swift Class II river, with a delightful stretch of Class III rapids. In the foothills, we ascend a dramatic domed mountain for a view of the coastal plain and the Arctic Ocean just a dozen miles distant. Anglers will enjoy casting for arctic char and grayling; birders will delight in the variety of songbirds winging in from distant points around the world.

Discover the perfect mix of spectacular scenery, wildlife, whitewater, and superb mountain hiking in the greatest remaining wilderness in America.

If you are interested in experiencing the entire spectrum of northern arctic ecosystems, from mountains to the sea, we invite you to join our Kongakut River: Mountains to the Beaufort Sea expedition, which traverses the entire river (85 miles) in 11 days, taking you through walls of mysterious aufeis, across the birthing grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd, and out to barrier islands on the Beaufort Sea.

No prior paddling experience is required for rafting; we'll teach you! Paddlers who choose our canoeing or kayaking option must be solid intermediate paddlers. The Kongakut is a swift, braided, generally clearwater stream, with a short section of whitewater.