One of Kobuk Valley National Park’s most iconic sights is the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes rising unexpectedly out of the tundra and trees. These dunes – the largest active sand dunes in the Arctic – along with the smaller Little Kobuk Sand Dunes and Hunt River Sand Dunes create 30 square miles of towering sand that would look more at home in the Sahara than 35 miles above the Arctic Circle.
The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are a popular destination for hiking and camping. Aircraft on wheels can land right on the sand. Tents can be set up on any level surface and day hiking in any direction is feasible. An alternative is to land on the Kobuk River in a float plane and backpack two miles across the tundra up to the dunes. Getting there is an orienteering exercise that takes about 4 hours round trip from the river to the dunes. Contact the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue for more specific route information at 907.442.3890. There is no marked route, so good orienteering skills are required.
