All of Kobuk Valley National Park is either designated wilderness or is eligible to be designated as wilderness. There are no concessionaire lodges or cabins, no roads, and no trails inside the park. The only reasonable method of travel is by bush plane. Flying from Kotzebue to the park boundary takes about 30 minutes and an additional 15 minutes to the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes. The dunes are about 100 miles from Kotzebue. Our route took us close enough to Cape Krusenstern National Monument and Noatak National Preserve to view parts of these park units as well as Kobuk Valley National Park.
Igichuk Hills and Noatak River Delta (Igichuk Hills are in Cape Krusenstern National Monument) |
Another view of the Noatak River Delta |
Floodplain with small patches of forest (this part of the Igichuk Hills is in the Noatak National Preserve) |
Left the coastal plain and flew over the Kiana Hills |
The tree line is very low in this part of Alaska |
Mountains on the horizon |
Kettle lake in the Kiana Hills beneath the Baird Mountains |
Boreal forest and the Baird Mountains |
More forests and mountains |
Squirrel River |
Kettle Lakes and the Baird Mountains |
A solitary tree stands on the far shore of the nearest lake |
Morning fog in the mountains |
Klery Creek |
Peluk Creek |
Clouds above the Kobuk Valley and the Baird 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.
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