Kobuk Valley National Park

How to Get to Kobuk Valley National Park:

Kobuk Valley National Park occupies a broad valley along the central Kobuk River in northwest Alaska about 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle. There are no roads that provide access to the park. Commercial airlines provide service from Anchorage to Kotzebue or Fairbanks to Bettles. From either location, there are scheduled flights to villages and chartered flights to specific park areas. Summer access may include motorized/non-motorized watercraft, aircraft, or by foot. Winter access may include snowmobiles, aircraft, or by foot.

Park Size:

1,750,717 acres.

Description:

Embracing the central valley of the Kobuk River, the park, located entirely north of the Arctic Circle, includes a blend of biological, geological, and cultural resources. Here, in the northernmost extent of the boreal forest, a rich array of arctic wildlife can be found, including caribou, grizzly and black bear, wolf, and fox. The 25-square-mile Great Kobuk Sand Dunes lie just south of the Kobuk River against the base of the Waring Mountains. Archeological sites revealing more than 12,500 years of human occupation are among the most significant sites known in the Arctic, and the Kobuk Valley remains an important area for native cultures and traditional subsistence.

Facilities:

Information center in Kotzebue.

Things to Do at Kobuk Valley National Park:

Educational and interpretive programs are offered throughout the year at the Kotzebue Public Lands Information Center. Park activities include camping, hiking, backpacking, wildlife observations and photography.

Operating Hours:

The park is open on a year-round basis. Headquarters office hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. The Visitor Center, located in Kotzebue, is open during the summer season (beginning in late May) Monday through Friday from 12:00pm to 8:00pm, Saturdays 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Arctic winter conditions, including snow, ice, wind, and below-freezing temperatures, exist in the park from October through April. Snow or freezing temperatures may occur any time, even in summer.

History:

Proclaimed Kobuk Valley National Monument on December 1, 1978; established as a national park on December 2, 1980. Wilderness designated on December 2, 1980.

Contact Information for Kobuk Valley National Park:

Kobuk Valley National Park
PO Box 1029
Kotzebue, AK 99752
Interior, SD 57750
907-442-3890 - Park Headquarters
907-442-3760 - Summer Visitor Information http://www.nps.gov/kova/