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Introduction
The Kobuk Valley National Park of Alaska is one of the remote national parks in U.S. It is located in the northwestern part of Alaska and is about 40 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. It was designated as a USA National Park in the year 1980 by passing the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The best attributes to the Kobuk National Park is the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes and the routes through which the caribous have migrated for ages. The U.S national park is guarded by the Waring Mountains in the South and the Baird Mountains in the North. It is a part of a vast ecosystem lying at the center of the Selawik National Wildlife Refuge and the National Preserve of Noatak. The distance by river to the Chukchi Sea is only 121 kilometers and the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is just 51 kilometers to the west of the Kobuk Valley. The herd of about 4000, 00 caribou is the most notable animals of the region.
Visiting Kobuk Valley National Park
There are various ways one can take the charm of the Kobuk . The different guided tour of Kobuk Valley Park, the camping programs, the hiking trips and several other activities will continue filling up your day with fun and frolic. There are combined River hiking trips, by means of which you can explore the entire region. Paddle to different points and then go for hiking. You must carry everything necessary along with you as tourist facility is not available in the park. Kayaking, canoeing or riding motor boats in the Kobuk River is an enchanting experience indeed. Paddling or floating in river Salmon, a wild but immensely beautiful is also an activity full of pleasure. Summer hikes in the Baird Mountains is also very popular. It is great to hike along ridgelines, as walking is easier there than the lower level of tundra.
Opening Hours
The Park is open throughout the year. The headquarter is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Monday to Friday. The The Innaigvik Education and Information Center in Kotzebue is open only during the summer months.
How to Reach
Air: There are not many ways to reach Kobuk Valley as the facilities are not well developed over there. Plane or boat is the chief mode of transportation to the fascinating Kobuk National Park. During winter one can look forward to plane and snow machine as principal means of accessibility. There are commercial flights from Anchorage to Kotzebue. The information center is located there. The visitors can charter planes or boats from Kotzebue or the villages in the neighborhood for exploring the national park.
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