Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
Oolah Valley in the Itkillik Preserve
Location in northern Alaska
Location	Coldfoot, Alaska
Coordinates	67°47′N 153°18′W / 67.783°N 153.300°W / 67.783; -153.300Coordinates: 67°47′N 153°18′W / 67.783°N 153.300°W / 67.783; -153.300
Area	8,472,506 acres (34,287.02 km2)
Established	December 2, 1980
Visitors	10,047 (in 2016)
Governing body	National Park Service
Website	Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is a U.S. National Park in Alaska. It is the northernmost national park in the U.S. (the entirety of the park lies north of the Arctic Circle) and the second largest at 8,472,506 acres (3,428,702 ha), slightly larger in area than Belgium. The park consists primarily of portions of the Brooks Range of mountains. It was first protected as a U.S. National Monument on December 1, 1978, before becoming a national park and preserve two years later in 1980 upon passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. A large part of the park is protected in the Gates of the Arctic Wilderness which covers 7,167,192 acres (2,900,460 ha). The wilderness area adjoins the Noatak Wilderness Area and together they form the largest contiguous wilderness in the United States.

There are no roads in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Owing to its remoteness and lack of supportive infrastructure, the park is the least visited national park in the U.S., and one of the least visited areas in the entire U.S. National Park System, which also includes national monuments, recreation areas, preserves and historic sites. In 2016, the park received just 10,047 visitors, while Grand Canyon National Park received nearly 6 million visitors (about 600 times as many) in the same year.

Camping is permitted throughout the park, but may be restricted by easements when crossing Native Corporation lands within the park.

The park headquarters is in Fairbanks. Park Service operations in the park are managed from the Bettles Ranger Station, to the south of the park.