Planning Your Visit

Stretching from the Baird Mountains on the north to the Kobuk Sand Dunes in the south, Kobuk Valley National Park occupies a broad valley that supports caribou, salmon, loons, the rare Kobuk locoweed, wolves and native culture. The park's 1.7 million acres sit in a semi-enclosed bowl about 30 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

The boreal forest reaches its northern limit here, resulting in an open woodland of small trees in a mat of thick tundra. The Western Arctic caribou herd travels through this area during its migration. The tracks of nearly ½ a million caribou mark the tundra and the towering sand dunes in the southern designated wilderness area of the park. Local residents hunt caribou near the river today, much as they have for the last 9000 years.

Far from the hustle and bustle of other Alaskan destinations, the magnificent scenery and untamed nature of this national park allows you to experience genuine "Wild Alaska" on its own terms. Your possibilities here are vast. Whether immersing yourself in archeological prehistory, boating down the languid Kobuk River, thrilling your senses on a scenic flight, camping, or charting your own backcountry trek, the country is ready for those willing and prepared to enter it. Whatever adventure you choose, please remember to leave cultural artifacts and natural features as you find them for others to enjoy.

Access and services here are limited when compared to traditional National Parks you may have visited elsewhere. What the area may lack in services, it more than makes up for in friendly people and an un-crowded wilderness experience.

You'll find no roads, no gift ships, and no parking facilities within the park. Trails don't exist; neither do campgrounds. Not even the park headquarters or visitor center are within the park. Both facilities are in Kotzebue, Alaska - an airplane ride away.

Kobuk Valley's visitor isn't your average tourist. They tend to be skilled backcountry explorers familiar with surviving potential high winds, rain, and snow — and that's in the summer months. Winter visits are recommended only to outdoorspeople experienced in arctic camping and survival techniques. The ranger staff can provide valuable information on conditions and logistics for first time travelers.

Licensed operators offer various services such as air taxi, guided rafting and hunting. Contact any service providers on the list of licensed operators to facilitate your trip. Flight shuttle services are available in Kotzebue and Bettles.

Directions

Getting There

Kobuk Valley National Park is a remote area.  There are no roads that provide access. 

Commercial airlines provide service from Anchorage to Kotzebue or Fairbanks to Bettles. Once in Kotzebue or Bettles, you must fly to the park with various air taxi operators. There are scheduled flights to villages and chartered flights to remote park areas. Summer access may include motorized/non-motorized watercraft, aircraft, or by foot. (Note: Traveling by foot in the summer would be an arduous, roundabout journey.) Winter access may include snowmobiles, aircraft or by foot.

Operating Hours & Seasons

Kobuk Valley National Park is open year around. The headquarters office - located in Kotzebue - is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Arctic winter conditions - snow, ice, wind, and below-freezing temperatures - exist in the preserve from October through April. Summer temperatures average 54° F, although some days in July may get up to 100° F. Snow or freezing temperatures may occur at any time.

Fees & Reservations

Currently, there are no fees charged to access Kobuk Valley National Park.

The National Park Service does not require reservations for any type of travel or camping within the preserve. Licensed guides and transporters should be contacted in advance to plan travel logistics.

Accessibility

There are no accessible trails or roads in Kobuk Valley National Park. Contact licensed air transporters to check for availability of required services.

Weather

Weather is a central concern to those planning to visit Kobuk Valley National Park at any time of year. Summer temperatures are usually in the mid 60°'s F, with 70’s to 80° for highs. Some days in July may reach 85° F. Average January lows are -8°F with possible lows of -50°F. Annual averages are not always good guidelines, however. In summer, visitors can see snow, near freezing temperatures, and long periods of clouds, wind, and rain.

Winds average 5 to 10 mph, but 20 to 30 mph winds may accompany storms and produce lower wind chill factors. Any time of year, exposure and hypothermia are real threats to visitors and park personnel. Be prepared – everyone should plan on meeting all of their own survival needs while traveling in the park. For back country hiking/camping, wear plenty of warm clothing, dress in layers, and use rain gear. Wear sturdy hiking boots and waders for wet terrain.

Summer days are long and energized with sunlight. The sun does not set between June 3rd and July 9th. Winter days are short. Although beautiful twilight lasts hours each day, the sun is above the horizon only one 1 ½ hours on December 21st. Northern lights are active year round, but are best seen during high solar activity on the darkest nights of winter.

Contact Us

By Mail
National Park Service
PO Box 1029
Kotzebue, AK 99752

By Phone
Headquarters
907-442-3890

Summer Visitor Center Information
907-442-3760

By Fax

907-442-8316

Things To Know Before You Come

Visitors should be prepared to enjoy a non-traditional National Park Service experience. There are no roads, trails, campgrounds or regularly attended ranger stations in Kobuk Valley National Park. This is truly a wild area. Access is typically by small aircraft, which can cost several hundred dollars per flight hour. Licensed air transporters are available in Kotzebue and Bettles.

The number of National Park Service staff in Kotzebue is small and the acreage of the park is large. Visitors may not be able to contact a ranger if they have an emergency. Backcountry experience and self-sufficiency are vital. Your safety is your responsibility. Along with this come tremendous opportunities for peace and solitude on a vast landscape.

Visitors are not required to check in with staff at the headquarters office in Kotzebue or get a permit before starting a trip in the park. However, rangers are happy to document itineraries if travelers wish to provide that information. Cell phones often do not work in the backcountry. Satellite phones do work, however, and some travelers choose to carry them for added safety.

Kobuk Valley National Park is bear country. It is important to keep human food and scented items away from bears or any wild animals. Animal - resistant food containers are available for loan from the rangers in Kotzebue. Please practice Leave No Trace skills to maintain the healthy and wild nature of this area.

Only local residents are allowed to hunt in the national park. All hunters are required to follow federal regulations. These regulations are available at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm. Please respect all local subsistence hunting and gathering and give people a wide berth so they may finish their work without interruption. Visitors to Alaska are welcome to fish in the park. Anglers need to have an Alaska state fishing license, which can be obtained in Kotzebue or online at www.adfg.state.ak.us.