Kobuk Valley National Park - National Park Directory

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

A green pack canoe sits on the bank of the Kobuk River. Clouds are mirrored on the water's surface.

A quick pause on a canoe trip down the Kobuk River.

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

The Jade Mountains reflected in the Kobuk River as seen near Onion Portage.

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

Dark skies shadow the horizon. A rainbow is illuminated above Niaktovik Creek.

A herd of caribou run and swim the Kobuk River during fall migration.

Caribou crossing the Kobuk River in fall.

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.

Photos: National Park Service

About Kobuk Valley National Park

Caribou, sand dunes, the Kobuk River, Onion Portage - just some of the facets of Kobuk Valley National Park. Thousands of 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.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Park

Park State / Territory MembershipAlaska

Current Alerts0

Visitor Centers1

Campgrounds0

Things To Do3

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

Snow, rain, and freezing temperatures can occur any time of the year. Always travel with good quality rain gear and warm layers. Be especially careful to stay dry. Hypothermia can set in on a windy, wet day, even when it doesn't feel that cold.

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Alaska. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Operating Hours

The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center is the visitor center for Kobuk Valley National Park. Since there are no roads in to Kobuk Valley, the visitor center is located in Kotzebue, AK. From Kotzebue, visitors will charter an air taxi to transport them into the actual national park which is open 24/7 every day of the year.

FridayAll Day

MondayAll Day

SaturdayAll Day

SundayAll Day

ThursdayAll Day

TuesdayAll Day

WednesdayAll Day

Activities

BoatingCampingBackcountry CampingFishingFreshwater FishingFlyingFixed Wing FlyingHands-OnArts and CraftsHikingBackcountry HikingPaddlingCanoeingCanoe or Kayak CampingJunior Ranger ProgramWildlife Watching

Getting There

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.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed Address171 3rd Ave, Kotzebue, AK, 99752

Phone9073182230

Emailwear_webmail@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

ArcheologyMigrationsAnimalsArcticDunesNight SkyAurora BorealisUnique SpeciesRareWatershedsWilderness

Things To Do

Visit the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes

The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are the northern most sand dune complex in North America with an abundance of arctic…

Float the Kobuk River

Want a nice mild float on a wild river? The Kobuk River may be a great option for wilderness adventure…

Visit the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center

Trying to figure out where to go and what to do in Northwest Alaska? The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center is…

Visitor Centers

Northwest Arctic Heritage Center

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…

Nearby National Park Service Sites

These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.