History

Some of America's earliest inhabitants lived in Kobuk Valley. Archeologists have discovered evidence reaching back 9,000 years that caribou herds have been crossing the Kobuk River in the present day park lands, and for just as long humans have been hunting them. Additionally, there is evidence that at least nine distinct cultural groups have lived in the valley over the thousands of years. The present inhabitants in the valley are Inupiat people who still subsist on hunting and fishing in the region and park. At the turn of the century there were at least 32 prospectors' camps in the park lands arriving to search for gold. This short lived gold rush ended quickly leaving minimal evidence today. The park was created as one of the fifteen parks designated by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act signed by President Carter in 1980. Unlike other Alaskan parks where sport hunting is permitted, Kobuk is the only park where only subsistence hunting is permitted.