Kobuk Valley National Park
Kobuk Valley National Park
Sand dunes, the Kobuk River, Onion Portage, and the Baird Mountains are just some of the facets of Kobuk Valley National Park. Half a million caribou migrate through, their tracks crisscrossing the sand-sculpted dunes. The Kobuk River is an ancient and current path for people and wildlife. For 9,000 years, people came to Onion Portage to harvest caribou as they swam the river. Even today, that rich tradition continues.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: VacantPhone Number: 907-442-3890
Entrance Fees: Free
Sights: Baird Mountains; Kobuk River
Endangered Species: Grizzly Bear; Common Loon
Important Dates
Established as Park: December 2, 1980By The Numbers
Acres: 1.75Highest Point: Mount Angayukaqsraq (4750 feet)
Annual Visitation: 3,005 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :67.344090 / -159.136960 (map it)
State: AK
Nearby Big City: Kiana, AK
Gateway Communities: Ambler, AK
Nearby Airports: Fairbanks International Airport (FAI); Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
In Detail
At A Glance 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 ... read more.
Frequently Asked Questions What designations are associated with Kobuk Valley National Park? National Park - December 2, 1980 National Monument - December 1, 1978 What is the origin of the name Kobuk? Kobuk Valley National Par ... read more.
Geology Sand and Glaciers While no glaciers currently exist within the park, at least five major Pleistocene glaciations have been identified in Northwest Alaska. The greatest of these glacial events occurre ... read more.
History History & Culture 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 archeolo ... read more.
In A Nutshell 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 conc ... read more.
Natural World "Do you have tigers in your park?" asks one student doing a report on Kobuk Valley National Park. Sadly no, but they do have grizzlies, mink, loons and wood frogs. People catch many salmon ... read more.
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 locowe ... read more.
Preservation Centennial Initiative 2016 On August 25, 2006 - the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service - Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne launched the National Park Centennial Initiative to prepa ... read more.
Things To Do Boating, camping, hiking, backpacking, wildlife watching, photography, and fishing opportunities abound. With winter arctic survival skills and personal equipment, snow machining, skiing and dog mu ... read more.
Kobuk Valley In Depth
News from the Parks
Gettysburg Address to Return for Visitor Center Grand Opening
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
August 21, 2008 - 5:04pm
There are only five known manuscripts of the famous Gettysburg Address, penned by President Abraham Lincoln — one of those original documents is scheduled to appear in Gettysburg, during the grand opening celebration of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center.
Anglers Wary of North Cascades Plan to Limit Fishing
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
August 21, 2008 - 10:51am
Not much comes easy in the precipitous ice-and-rock geography of North Cascades National Park -- not the hiking, not the high-lakes fishing, and across the park's 40 years of existence, not even fish management. This is what I'm thinking during the sweaty hike out of the stunning cirque that embraces Monogram Lake, where I've spent a couple hours catching and releasing dozens of pretty cutthroat trout with two mountain anglers who fear that soon there will be no fish in the park's high lakes. Whether trout should be in these lakes at all has been an issue since the park was created in 1968, and it is coming to a head with the release in July of the park's voluminous "Mountain Lakes Fishery Management Plan."
Bison Advocates Go for Space
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
August 21, 2008 - 10:48am
As rancher Rick Knobe slowly guides his pickup around the iconic American bison on the prairie here, he reflects on a time when they roamed freely. "I figure the buffalo were there first, the elk were there first, the wolves were there first," he says, looking over his herd of 28 American bison, on his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. "I figure these animals should be given more the right of way to roam."
Rapid Climate Change Threatens to Thaw Icy Wonderland of Alaska
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
August 21, 2008 - 10:43am
I was in Alaska for 10 days in August, on a fellowship with Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to see firsthand the effects of global warming. I didn't have to look far. I watched massive chunks of glacial ice breaking off into the sea.
Park Seeks Construction Comment
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
August 21, 2008 - 10:38am
The National Park Service proposes to construct new housing, operations and recreation facilities in Big Bend National Park. The public, organizations and other agencies may review and comment upon a draft environmental assessment (EA) describing the proposal. The new construction would occur at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village and Castolon. The proposal is to construct 27 structures, of which 15 would serve new purposes and 12 would replace temporary or inadequate facilities.
