National Park · Alaska, United States
Kobuk Valley National Park
Kobuk Valley National Park is a national park in Alaska, United States, covering 1,750,716 acres (708,490 ha), established in 1980; it recorded 7,786 visits in 2025.
Photo: 16Terezka via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Alaska, United States |
| Area | 1,750,716 acres (708,490 ha) |
| Established | 1980 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 7,786 |
| Coordinates | 67.5500° N, 159.2800° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Kobuk Valley National Park
Kobuk Valley National Park is a national park of the United States in the Arctic region of northwestern Alaska, located about 25 miles (40 km) north of the Arctic Circle. The park was designated in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to preserve the 100 ft (30 m) high Great Kobuk Sand Dunes and the surrounding area which includes caribou migration routes. Park visitors must bring all their own gear for backcountry camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, and dog sledding.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
June to September — the brief summer window; no roads, access by air taxi
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Kotzebue, Alaska |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Ralph Wien Memorial Airport |
| Getting there | The park's headquarters are at the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue, about 100 miles (160 km) west of the park on the Bering Sea coast. |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | No |
|---|
Like Kobuk Valley National Park? Visit Kobuk Valley National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Ambler Airport (ABL) · Ambler, United States · 48.8 miles away
- Bob Baker Memorial Airport (IAN) · Kiana, United States · 50.3 miles away
- Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (OTZ) · Kotzebue, United States · 100.0 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in Alaska
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kobuk Valley National Park?
Kobuk Valley National Park is in Alaska, United States (67.5500° N, 159.2800° W).
When was Kobuk Valley National Park established?
Kobuk Valley National Park was established in 1980, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Kobuk Valley National Park?
Kobuk Valley National Park covers 1,750,716 acres (708,490 ha).
How many people visit Kobuk Valley National Park each year?
It recorded 7,786 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
When is the best time to visit Kobuk Valley National Park?
June to September — the brief summer window; no roads, access by air taxi.
Does Kobuk Valley National Park have campgrounds?
No — Kobuk Valley National Park has no campgrounds.
How do I get to Kobuk Valley National Park?
The nearest town is Kotzebue, Alaska. The nearest airport is Ralph Wien Memorial Airport. The park's headquarters are at the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue, about 100 miles (160 km) west of the park on the Bering Sea coast.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobuk_Valley_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/kova/ — Official park page.