Dune Hike

The Kobuk Dunes are accessible on foot by hiking from the Kobuk River to their northern tip.

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Dune Hike Details

The Kobuk Dunes were created by the grinding of glaciers into sand, which was carried into the protected Kobuk Valley by glacial outwash streams. It was deposited into an ancient lake in the Kobuk Valley 150,000 years ago and then sculpted into dunes by the forces of the wind. The dunes cover more than 25 square miles and lie more than 40 miles above the Arctic Circle. This makes the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes the largest active dunes in arctic latitudes! There are three clusters of dunes - the Great Kobuk, the Little Kobuk, and the Hunt River Sand Dunes. In some areas, the sand is over 100 feet high. Despite being located at such northern latitudes, the summer temperature at the sand dunes can get above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The dunes are a popular place for visitors not only because they are so impressive, but are relatively visitor-friendly. Airplanes can land right on the sand. Camping is do-able on any level surface of the dunes. And hiking is made easier than much of the surrounding park land by the absence of thick vegetation and spongy tundra. If you choose to hike from the Kobuk River, you'll need to either float or fly to the river. From there it is about a four-hour round trip trek and, like the rest of the park, there are no marked routes. You will need to use a map and compass or GPS. The visitor center in Kotzebue can provide current advice on the route (907-442-3890). Once you've made it to the dunes, you can really hike in any direction, so there are limitless opportunities to explore this truly unique landscape. The open view of the sky from the dunes offers plentiful light. At this latitude, the sun does not rise or set during the summer. It is up all day, providing 24 hours of daylight. In the winter, the sun will set as soon as 2 hours after it rises, leaving only hours for daylight activities.

Difficulty

Open

Distance

Estimated time

4+ hours

Region

Activities