Kobuk Valley is a park that is hard to get into and out of even worse than America Somoa. I initially tried to see the park in 2021 when I was up in Alaska the first time but weather prevented me from getting there twice. The trip into the park was a planes, boats, hiking and van for me. It started in Anchorage with getting to the airport. After a flight on Alaska Airlines it was onto a carrier called Bering Air for the flight into the town of Ambler. The Bering Air flight was a little 10 seater plane but was configured for 1/2 people and 1/2 cargo. After stopping to let a few off, and unload the cargo (groceries for the store) it was onto Ambler. Both of the airports were little more than a gravel/dirt landing strip and an area for plane to load/unload people. Once in the town of Ambler, a dry community, I was recovered by my host Loren. We went to his lodge, Kobuk River Lodge, that was going to be my home for 2 nights. After settling in and resting for the night Loren and I headed out to Kobuk for our 60 mile boat ride to the spot where we would then hike 3 miles to the dunes. Note: is you can see the dunes when flying into the town of Ambler from Kotzebue. The hiking was a lot of bushwhacking in the mountains, creek crossing and walking in marsh before you get to the sand. Once in the sand with wet shoes and pants you become covered in sand while you hike up a sand dune. When we got to the top of the dunes it was a time to rest and enjoy the views. It is great being in a place that very few people actually see let alone have actually walked to or been in. There are flight seeing tours where you can land on the dunes or a nearby lake and then walk the dunes, what I tired first in 2021. On the boat ride back to the lodge, we made a detour for some Sheefish fishing. I have to say that I am not a fisherman but Loren said not to worry. I cast the rod 8 times and caught 3 fish! We released all of the fish we caught but we did have some Sheefish for dinner. The fish is the largest whitefish and was very tasty. The trip back to Anchorage was another experience as the flight to Ambler did not land in time for me to make my flight to Anchorage out of Kotzebue. I got to enjoy another 6 hours in Kotzebue at the Heritage Center. Good thing is that I am able to get a flight back to Anchorage today and then it is a drive to Whittier.
The park was created to preserve the migration path for the caribou and it next to Gates of the Arctic National Park, and Noatak National Preserve. Along the Kobuk river there are hunting cabins for the Native Alaskan people. These cabins are for when they are hunting caribou and some are just frames that the owner will put a tent over while others have roofs and walls. Additionally, the dunes were created due to ice and stopping at the dunes when it melted. The area of the park is sandy but also tundra and low brush, hence the bushwhacking when hiking.
Note: Bring some sort of bug netting or reapply the bug spay often and on your clothes.
FYI…. Fuel in Ambler is $18.00 a gallon and the local government is the owner of the fuel station
Good stuff, Dog! Super interesting. I’m guessing that has to be one of the National Parks that stays off of most people’s lists. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it one of the least visited sites. I have to say it was one of the coolest seeing those sand dunes in the middle of Alaska above the Arctic circle.