For travelers eager to explore Alaska’s great northern wilderness but unready to delve into the Bush on their own, Gates of the Arctic is the perfect solution. Nearly four times bigger than Yellowstone and utterly undeveloped, the park comprises an enormous expanse of wild Alaska.

The prospect of trudging over tussocks and tundra convinces most people to traverse the park down one of its many rivers via raft, canoe, or kayak. The North Fork Koyukuk involves a few tricky obstacles, though no appreciable rapids.

A floatplane can drop you at Summit Lake, from which you will drift past waterfalls, glacial valleys, and mountains, including Frigid Crags and Boreal Mountain.