Overview
Alaska's largest caribou herd, half a million strong, migrates twice a year across the Kobuk River Valley, the surprising home of 25 miles of shifting sand dunes that's visited by less than 2,000 people annually.
Guide Sections
Use Overview's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Overview Details
Difficulty
Open
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Region
Learn About the Park
Alaska's largest caribou herd, half a million strong, migrates twice a year across the Kobuk River Valley, the surprising home of 25 miles of shifting sand dunes that's visited by less than 2,000 people annually. The park features mountains, tundra, and boreal forests; there are no roads or marked trails. A seasonal (summer) ranger station is located at Onion Portage, on the Kobuk River in the southeast corner of the park. Visitors who do come include to this remote wilderness include Inupiaq Indian hunters in search of caribou, anglers, and boaters who float down the wide, calm Kobuk River. Many make a stop to visit the sand dunes, the wind-blown remnants of shattered rock left by retreating glaciers. The Salmon National Wild and Scenic River also is located within the park. Date Formed: Dec. 2, 1980 Area: 1,750,716 acres Website: [www.nps.gov/kova](http://www.nps.gov/kova)