Kobuk valley national park, the bush guide fodors travel. Welcome to the kobuk valley national park information page. On november 16, 1978, kobuk valley national monument was created along with 15 others. The cultural resource program at kobuk valley national park documents the lives and activities of people in the parks, past and present, and strives to preserve places with unique history.
The park was designated in 1980 by the alaska national interest lands conservation act to preserve the 100 ft 30 m high great kobuk sand dunes and the surrounding area which includes caribou migration routes. The last visitor count recorded by the park service was 16,875 souls in 2014. The quietness of kobuk valley national park we were at bettles lodge and decided to book a bush plane ride with our great pilot kevin. For the most up to date information on current events, ranger lead programs, and park. Kobuk valley national park is located in northwestern artic alaska, entirely above the artic circle, at the northern limit of the boreal forest. Included all the available campgrounds list and their information along with photo. Check out our photo galleries, videos and research blog for a taste of kobuk valley from the comfort of your home. As the park s official nonprofit education partner and bookstore, alaska geographic offers an extensive collection of titles on the areas natural and cultural heritage.
May 06, 2017 an ultimate comprehensive guide to kobuk valley national park key features. Complete offline map and offline data camp ground details. The history of kobuk valley national park history of kobuk valley. Nov 05, 2009 a geological oddity, sand dunes cover a large expanse of alaskas kobuk valley national park.
Kobuk valley national park is home to the famous onion portage. In the rivers lower reaches, where it passes between the baird and waring mountains, it traverses kobuk valley national park, the location of the 25 square miles 65 km 2 kobuk sand dunes. Kobuk valley national park patch shop americas national parks. It was amazing that there was life in such a barren areas. Kobuk valley national park national park, alaska, united. Official numbers claim that the park gets about 10,000 visitors per year, but this estimate includes native people who enter the park. Aerial photo of the great kobuk sand dunes, kobuk valley national park. Where is it kotzebue, aknational park recreation activities.
A guide to alaskas kobuk valley national park national geographic. Stay uptodate with the latest news from kobuk valley national park. Starting with acadia and ending with zion, each page of this small keepsake book provides a visual tour of every u. The great kobuk sand dunes an alaskan oddity amusing planet. The park is bordered by the baird mountains to the north and the 25square mile great kobuk sand dunes to the south. Recent archeological work conducted by nps archeologists have found evidence of human usage of the kobuk sand dunes complex.
In the kobuk valley, grains of golden sand replace the. Jun 28, 2014 the kobuk valley national park contains, not one but three active sand dunes. The kobuk river basin is located just north of the arctic circle and has a continental climate. Aug 03, 2016 if you read our alaska travel itinerary, you may already know we decided to book a combo tour with golden eagle outfitters that leaves from kotzebue and lands for a half hour in kobuk valley and gates of the arctic. One of the leastvisited national parks in the united states offers a strange sight to those willing to venture into its remote wildlands.
Kobuk valley national park is an american national park in the arctic region of northwestern alaska, located about 25 miles 40 km north of the arctic circle. The river enters its broad delta approximately 10 miles 16 km southwest of kiana. Learn about the geology, trees, mammals, birds, or other plants and wildlife of the area. Featuring over 60 miles of the kobuk river, the park is an isolated sanctuary protecting both the natural and cultural history of the area. Kobuk valley national park, large wilderness area in northwestern alaska, u. Apr 27, 2016 welcome to the kobuk valley national park information page.
With no roads or facilities of any kind within the park, traveling here requires special planning and advanced backcountry experiencebut the rewards are literally huge. Onion portage is an archaeological district with evidence of human use for the past 12,000 years. Golden eagle outfitters flew us in and landed on the sand dunes in the park. During the last ice age, the valley remained free of ice and teamed with big game, including the woolly mammoth.
Kobuk valley national park the greatest american road trip. Jan 07, 20 kobuk valley, alask half million caribou migrate over sand dunes, the kobuk river and onion portage. Aug 03, 2016 anyone can become a kobuk valley national park junior ranger by printing a copy of the western arctic national parklands junior ranger book, completing the activities and mailing the book back to the northwest arctic heritage center. The kobuk valley national park region, which sits in a secluded part of northern alaska, has an intriguing history. Saw bird and animal tracks and several varieties of flowers. Immense, 100foot tall sand dunes, half a million migrating caribou, and 1. The broad kobuk valley is enclosed almost completely by the baird mountains to the north and the waring mountains to the south.
You dont have to come to alaska to experience kobuk valley national park. Large mammals found in kobuk valley include caribou, grizzly bears, lynx, musk oxen, and arctic foxes. Kobuk valley national park lies in the alaska time zone. The kobuk river is a magnificent river rich with wildlife and broad vistas. Highlights the local history as well as the geologic features and developments of national parks formed by stream erosion and weathering, glaciers and wave action, igneous activity, mountain building and uplift, and ground water. Look to alaska geographic for the most comprehensive selection of books, maps, and films about kobuk valley and other nearby parklands. The kobuk river cuts through the middle of the park and spreads for 61 miles across the area. Kobuk valley national park is remote and wild, with no roads, entrance gates or campgrounds. As the park s official nonprofit education partner and bookstore, alaska geographic offers an extensive collection of titles on the areas natural and cultural heritage, provides financial support for interpretive programs.
This is the kobuk valley map from the official national park brochure, showing the park s layout and all of noatak national preserve. Thank you for your interest in kobuk valley national park. Kobuk valley national parks conservation association. Experience the arctic circle on american soil at kobuk valley national park one of the most remote places in the park system. Kobuk valley national park is certainly not your average alaska national park, even though it lies 40 miles above the arctic circle, its more famous for sand dunes than igloos.
The mean annual temperature in the middle and upper portions of the kobuk valley is 6 c, and the mean temperature in july is 15 c. There is no entrance fee for kobuk valley national park. It is bordered to the north by noatak national preserve. Remember to print on both sides of the page or reuse old paper whenever possible. Jul 20, 2016 kobuk valley visitors are encouraged to take a photo with the park s mobile park sign at their favorite place in the park, and then make a video postcard to commemorate their experience. This area is rich in arctic cultural history, dating back to 6500bc. Kobuk valley fast facts include fees, creation dates, park area, elevations, and random.
Because of its truly remote landscape, the national park service doesnt staff rangers in the park, and without entrance gate monitoring and staff, tracking visitation isnt really viable. Here you will find all you need to know about the natural history of the park. There are three different clusters of sand dunes, the little. Alaskas kobuk valley national park is the least visited national parkand is home to the largest active sand dunes in the arctic. Kobuk valley national park is an american national park in the arctic region of northwestern. Humans have made their homes in kobuk valley national park for at least 9,000 years. See vast, pristine, aweinspiring landscapes, including three major sand dune systems covering. Kobuk valley national park 2020 all you need to know before. In the kobuk valley, grains of golden sand replace the snowflakes typically associated with the arctic.
Anything is possible in alaskas wildlands, even deserts. Kobuk valley, alask half million caribou migrate over sand dunes, the kobuk river and onion portage. Apr 14, 2018 kobuk valley national park is the most remote and least visited national park in the us national park system. The summers are short and warm, while winters are long and cold. On december 2, 1980, the monument was changed to a national park, along with all other alaskan national parks. You and your group of up to six people will enjoy a trek to the giddings cabin. For the first time, inupiat eskimo students were able to explore the wilderness of the great kobuk sand dunes.
On the third day of our trip we will fly southwest into kobuk valley national park at and arrive at the great kobuk sand dunes, a sea of sand in the arctic wilderness. Great kobuk sand dunes northwest arctic, alaska atlas. Bring with you your patience and maybe a good book. Caribou herd swimming across kobuk river in kobuk valley national park. Click the image to view a full size jpg 900 kb or download the pdf 4.
A geological oddity, sand dunes cover a large expanse of alaskas kobuk valley national park. Sep 25, 2019 this small national parks picture book walks you through a list of national parks and provides information on each location and the fauna and flora that call it home. Photos from one of americas leastvisited parks travel. Kobuk valley national park fast facts national parked. It is part of a vast region of national parks, monuments, and preserves located north of the arctic circle that stretches for hundreds of miles from west to east. About kobuk valley national park some 25 miles north of the arctic circle, kobuk valley national park covers 1,710,000 acres in the heart of the arctic wildlands, where the boreal forest gives way to the frozen tundra.
Enveloped in the arctic circle, kobuk valley national park stretches for miles, the mighty kobuk river flowing past. Kobuk may be the least touristed national park, but in the areas surrounding the kobuk river live. Fast facts about kobuk valley national park in alaska. The remote, almost untouched kobuk valley national park lies in northwestern alaska, 25 miles north of the arctic circle. The scenery over to kobuk valley national was pretty neat even though it was a bit foggy. Kobuk valley national park is americas least visited national park. Aug 09, 2016 kobuk valley national park has been home to humans for as long as there have been people on this continent. Kobuk valley national park 2020 all you need to know. Kobuk valley national park provides protection for several important geographic features including the central portion of the kobuk river, the 25squaremile great kobuk sand dunes, and the little kobuk and hunt river dunes. Some of americas very first inhabitants called kobuk valley their home. Kobuk valley national park pictures us national parks stock. Delimited by the warring mountains in the south and the baird mountains in the north, it is the centerpiece of a vast ecosystem, of which the most visible inhabitants are the caribou of the western.
There are three different clusters of sand dunes, the little kobuk, the great kobuk and the hunt river sand dunes at more than 25 square miles these are the largest area of active sand dunes in the arctic. Great kobuk sand dunes northwest arctic, alaska atlas obscura. Kobuk valley national park is home to three sets of sand dunes, remnants of retreating glaciers from the pleistocene epoch. Kobuk valley national park lies 25 miles north of the arctic circle, joining gates of the arctic national park as the only two u. Head out for a half or whole day down the kobuk river from ambler, and take a hike up the hill overlooking onion portage archaeological district. The sand came from rock pulverized by retreating ice many thousands of years ago. Anyone can become a kobuk valley national park junior ranger by printing a copy of the western arctic national parklands junior ranger book, completing the activities and mailing the book back to the northwest arctic heritage center. Kobuk valley national park is home to the famous onion portage archeological site nhl but more importantly the cradle of the arctic woodland culture defined by pioneering archeologist j. Kobuk valley and gates of the arctic national park trip.
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