Coldfoot is one of the few Alaska communities north of the Arctic Circle accessible by road. The town serves as a stopping place for those driving the Dalton Highway on their own or as part of a tour.
The 414-mile Dalton Highway, still called the ‘Haul Road’ as it connects the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope with major communities of Alaska, is unique in its scenic beauty, wildlife and recreational opportunities, but it is also one of Alaska’s most remote and challenging roads, most of it gravel. It is said the town got its name in 1900 when gold seekers made it that far, got cold feet and turned around.
Nestled in the southern foothills of the Brooks Range, 260 miles north of Fairbanks, Coldfoot also is the perfect base camp for exploring the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve or the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service operate a visitor center in Coldfoot offering travel information and nightly presentations on the natural and cultural history of the Arctic as well as provides backcounry trip planning. The center is open from June 1 through September.
Locals report great fishing for grayling at nearby creeks and several hike-in lakes. The trans-Alaska oil pipeline runs adjacent to the highway, prohibiting hunting activities in the area. If you want to make it north of the Arctic Circle and see a part of Alaska far from off the beaten path, Coldfoot is a must-see on your itinerary.