Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

All clear. The managing agency, the National Weather Service and wildfire reporting show no current alerts.

Overview

Caribou, sand dunes, the Kobuk River, Onion Portage - just some of the facets of Kobuk Valley National Park. Thousands of caribou migrate through, their tracks crisscrossing sculpted dunes. The Kobuk River is an ancient and current corridor for people and wildlife. For 9000 years, people came to Onion Portage to harvest caribou as they swam the river. Even today, that rich tradition continues.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Boating
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Fishing
  • Freshwater Fishing
  • Flying
  • Fixed Wing Flying
  • Hands-On
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Paddling
  • Canoeing
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Kobuk Valley National Park: The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center is the visitor center for Kobuk Valley National Park. Since there are no roads in to Kobuk Valley, the visitor center is located in Kotzebue, AK. From Kotzebue, visitors will charter an air taxi to transport them into the actual national park which is open 24/7 every day of the year.

Getting there

Kobuk Valley National Park is very remote. There are no roads to provide access, so planes take care of most transportation needs. Commercial airlines provide service from Anchorage to Kotzebue, or from Fairbanks to Bettles. Once in Kotzebue or Bettles, you must fly to the park with authorized air taxis.

Visitor centers

Weather

Snow, rain, and freezing temperatures can occur any time of the year. Always travel with good quality rain gear and warm layers. Be especially careful to stay dry. Hypothermia can set in on a windy, wet day, even when it doesn't feel that cold.

Phone: 9073182230

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

A green pack canoe sits on the bank of the Kobuk River. Clouds are mirrored on the water's surface.
Canoe on the Kobuk River · NPS Photo / Justine Schmidt
aerial view of snow capped mountains
Mountains as Far as the Eye Can See · NPS Photo
The Jade Mountains reflected in the Kobuk River
The Jade Mountains reflected in the Kobuk River · NPS Photo / Annie Carlson
Caribou bone sitting in the sand
Left Behind · NPS Photo
Dark skies shadow the horizon. A rainbow is illuminated above Niaktovik Creek
A rainbow over Niaktovik Creek · NPS Photo / Amy Martin (2022 Artist in Residence)
A herd of caribou run and swim the Kobuk River during fall migration.
Caribou crossing the Kobuk River · NPS Photo / Kyle Joly

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