Horseback Adventures with
Chandalar River Outfitters

I offer two periods for horseback riding in the Brooks Range,

as well as local riding by the hour, by the day, or overnight, hay rides, sleigh rides, horse drawn trolley......

The first: July 19 – July 30 and the second July 29 to August 9

The length of the ride is about 100 miles, and passes through country where we may see grizzly, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolf.  We have never seen any other people during our trips, as the area is truer wilderness than the National Parks and designated “Wilderness Areas” that are over-run with tourists in the summer. 

These trips are somewhat flexible and they may vary a little from the schedule due to road and weather conditions, wildlife encountered, and the wishes of the guests and guides.  One of the reasons for being out here is to get away from the clock. 

We furnish the tents, meals, cooking utensils, horses, and equipment.  Guests must furnish their own personal gear and snacks. 
Weather can be quite warm this time of year and there are very few bugs at this time.  However, guests need to be prepared for some cool weather. 

Recommended minimum gear you should bring along

 Trip 1 ~ July 19 – July 30

Day 1-  We leave Fairbanks July 19th and drive over the Dalton Highway (Pipeline Road) 350 miles north to Chandalar Camp. On the way we stop at Yukon River Bridge, the Arctic Circle, and Coldfoot for pictures and rest stops.  This trip takes 10 – 12 hours.  When we arrive at Chandalar Camp, we set up a tent camp. 

Day 2-  We Pack up and start our horseback trip.  Sometimes while we are packing horses, the guests drive over to Atigun Pass to take pictures of Dall sheep and caribou.  Out ride starts in the early afternoon, and we ride about 4 hours down the North Fork of Chandalar River.  There is a very nice scenic canyon in this area. 

Day 3 -  Ride to the junction of the two forks of the North Fork of Chandalar River.  The river doubles in size here, and there is a beautiful pool for arctic grayling.  There is also a small trappers cabin here. 

Day 4 – Ride across “Pancake Pass”, a flat stretch of tundra that separates the North Fork of the Chandalar River from Your Creek drainage of the Chandalar.  We pass by a few lakes on the way, and one of the larger ones usually has nesting swans.  We sometimes camp on the big lake and sometimes at Your Creek. 

Day 5 -  Ride down Your Creek, entering into sparse timber and arrive at my first permanent camp site.  On the way we pass an old Indian hunting site and look at the archeological remains. 

Day 6 -  Is spent in the camp, and the more adventurous in our group usually climb to a couple of high lakes with grayling fishing and a very scenic view.  One on this day we photographed a grizzly sow and 3 cubs feeding on a moose they killed in the middle of the river. 

Day 7 -  Ride through another pass and camp on the main fork or Your Creek.  There is a little more timber on this portion of the trip, but nice mountains are always visible.  Fishing grayling is also good at this campsite. 

Day 8 -  Ride along a very big canyon upstream along a tributary of Your Creek and then cross over a high pass into the Middle Fork of the Chandalar River, entering the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  We continue on down the Middle Fork until we once more reach willows with firewood for camping and grass for the horses. 

Day 9 -  Ride down the Middle Fork of the Chandalar, cut across a short stretch of Tundra once more and arrive at my main base camp.  It is in a beautiful location with a large rocky mountain going almost straight up from the river. 

Day 10 – Is a free day and guests can rest, go fishing, do laundry, as we set up their base camp.  It is also a day of rest for the horses. 

Day 11 -  We make a short trip by horse out to a nearby lake and a scenic canyon, returning to camp the same evening. 

Day 12-  The plane comes from Fairbanks to take the guests back to the Dalton Highway for their return to Fairbanks. 

Trip 2 ~ July 29 to August 9

 Day 1 -  We depart over the Dalton Highway (Pipeline Road) once more, taking in the same sights as on the first trip, and camping at Chandalar Shelf.

Day 2 -  Guests are flown into the Middle Fork of the Chandalar on the same plane that brought the firsts guests out.  This is a day for activities such as hiking, berry picking, fishing, and sight seeing.

Day 3-   We will ride up the Middle Fork of the Chandalar, about a 4 hour ride, and camp on High Pass Creek.

Day 4 – We will ride the high pass and camp at the headwater of the Wind River.

Day 5 -  We will ride down he Wind River and cut up to a high lake.

Day 6 – We stay here at the high lake for a free day.  Guests may fish, relax, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Day 7 -  We will begin our ride down the Wind River and camp on the river.

Day 8 -  We will continue on down the river and start up into the low pass heading back to the Middle Fork.  We will camp in the low pass.

Day 9 -  We ride on up the lower pass creek and camp near the summit of the pass.  This is particularly beautiful spot and we may make a side trip on foot up my favorite creek.

Day 10 -  We ride to the point where Beacov Creek comes out of the canyon.  We will camp here.  Guests my want to hike up the creek to see this beautiful canyon.

Day 11 -  We will ride back to the main camp on the Middle Fork.

Day 12 - --The plane will come in and take the guests back out to the Dalton Highway and they will travel by car back to Fairbanks.

* Nonrefundable In case of cancellation by guest, but will guarantee a booking reservation. If the client secures a another party acceptable to the party of the first part to take his/her place, the deposit will be refundable in full or by agreement. The deposit may be applied to the cost of a future trip.

Note: These itineraries may change due to the weather and or other considerations. Shorter tours and time frames are also available. Transportation cost will be added to shorter trips and trips to other areas.

Please don't hesitate to fill out a request for more information or contact me directly with your inquiries.

Horseback riding is available locally for the following rates.

And that's not all!!!

Hay Rides, Chuck Wagon Rides, Trolley, Sleigh Rides, and charters available on request!

Please write us with your questions and what you have in mind for your next adventure.