Alaska.com: Alaska's Travel Website

Northern Alaska has two national parks, all or part of five national wildlife refuges, a national preserve and a national monument. In all of those, camping is virtually unrestricted.

Campers are advised by the agencies overseeing those lands, however, to avoid disturbing the wildlife; to leave no traces; to take reliable gear that they're familiar with; and to be prepared to handle emergencies and delayed air-taxi pickups.

In addition, the wildlands will have unfathomable hordes of mosquitoes. Most have bears -- black, brown or polar -- and variable, sometimes harsh weather. There are commercial campgrounds for tenters and recreational vehicles along the Dalton Highway, including at the Yukon River, Coldfoot and Prudhoe Bay.

Camping is allowed at some spots along the Dalton such as at Hess Creek, the Yukon crossing, the Arctic Circle, the South and Middle forks of the Koyukuk River and at Galbraith Camp on the north side of the Brooks Range.

Anaktuvuk Pass

Anaktuvuk Pass, in the heart of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, has no lodging, but hikers arriving by plane are welcome to camp briefly in a wooded area by the runway.

Kaktovik

Kaktovik, north of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, allows beach camping along the Arctic Ocean. Prudent campers will ask in town for directions to the safest sites.