Gates of the Arctic National Park
The Nigu River has rich anthropological history, mountains, wide valleys, rolling hills, opportunities to view many different birds, caribou, bear, wolves, musk oxen and maybe a wolverine. The Nigu River is a true Gem.
You can start your raft trip in the Brooks Range Mountains near the Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Noatak National Preserve where the once nomadic nunamiut people traveled across the land hunting and foraging. Between the still obvious caribou fences once used to funnel the caribou into lakes for easier hunting, earthen homes they camped in, you get a sense of what life may have been like. Rafting out of the mountains and traveling through the rolling tundra you’ll eventually come to the confluence of the Etivlic River and then the Colville River where we finish our trip. Arctic River Guides takes you to the Nigu River to experience the rich history and serene beauty of this incredible place.





