Flightseeing Kobuk Valley National Park - Return Flight

On our return flight from Gates of the Arctic National Park in late August 2022, we flew over the northern part of Kobuk Valley National Park with views of the Jade Mountains, Kobuk River, Akillik River, the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, and the Waring Mountains. 

About 61 miles of the 280-mile Kobuk River is in Kobuk Valley National Park. Flowing from east to west through the park, the river drops about 25 feet from an elevation of 50 feet above sea level in the east to 25 feet in the west. This nearly flat profile allows the river to meander all over the valley and for the valley to be covered in wetlands as the water does not seep deep into the ground, but remains in the turf or tundra layer above the permafrost.

Jade Mountains

Nuna Creek

Another view of the Jade Mountains

A final look at the Jade Mountains

Kobuk Valley and the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes

Kobuk River

A closer view of the Kobuk River

A closer view of the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes with the Waring Mountains on the horizon

The Akillik River (lower left) flowing into the Kobuk River (left to right)
with the Waring Mountains in the background

The Kobuk River and the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes

Great Kobuk Sand Dunes

The wildly meandering Kobuk River

One last look at the Waring Mountains

There is no entrance fee at Kobuk Valley National Park.

The Kobuk Valley National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/kova/index.htm.