Kobuk Valley National Park

Kobuk Sand Dunes

The setting sun casts shadows of black spruce on the dunes and colors the water of Ahnewetut Creek a deep blue.

Caribou, sand dunes, the Kobuk River, Onion Portage - just some of the facets of Kobuk Valley National Park. Half a million caribou migrate through, their tracks crisscrossing sculpted dunes. The Kobuk River is an ancient and current corridor for people and wildlife. For 9000 years, people came to Onion Portage to harvest caribou as they swam the river. Even today, that rich tradition continues.

Mountains as Far as the Eye Can See

The peaks of the Baird Mountains stretch far into the distance and are so remote that many of them have not been named.

Left Behind

Caribou migrate across the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, heading north in the summer and south in the fall. Some survive and some don't, which is a reality of life

Lone Rangifer tarandus

A single caribou of the 240,000+ strong Western Arctic herd on its fall migration south across Kobuk Valley National Park.

Kobuk Locoweed

Oxytropis kobukensis (Kobuk Locoweed) is a member of the pea family and adds a splash of pink to the sand dunes. The blossoms have that typical pea/ bean flower shape that many gardeners know.

Campsite C-80

RecAreaDirections

Kobuk Valley National Park is very remote. There are no roads to provide access, so planes take care of most transportation needs. Commercial airlines provide service from Anchorage to Kotzebue, or from Fairbanks to Bettles. Once in Kotzebue or Bettles, you must fly to the park with authorized air taxis.

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Misc

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Facilities

Northwest Arctic Heritage Center Facility

Large, half-dome shaped, blue and grey building with just over 11,000 square feet of space. The museum space is just over 1,800 square feet and contains animal displays, soundscapes, tactile exhibits and more. The Heritage Center also contains a bookstore, restroom, art gallery, and sitting area. The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center serves as the visitor centers for the Western Arctic National Parklands: Kobuk Valley National Park, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, and Noatak National Preserve.

Recreation Areas and Campground Database