Kobuk Valley National Park

Kobuk Valley National Park is a remote wonder, featuring massive sand dunes, caribou migrations, and the Kobuk River. Exploring the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes felt like being on another planet! Fun fact: it’s one of the least-visited national parks. The downside? No roads or trails, but the untouched beauty is unmatched!

Very interesting National Park more about sand and sand dunes in the Arctic Circle this park is literally middle of nowhere

The Kobuk Valley National park is the center of a vast ecosystem between Selawik National Wildlife Refuge and the Noatak National Preserve. It is over 121 km by river to the Chukchi Sea. The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve lie 51 km to the east. The park includes about 81,000 acres (33,000 ha) of lands owned by native corporations and the State of Alaska. The boundary of the park runs along the height-of-land of the Baird Mountains in the north and the shorter Waring Mountains in the south that form a ring, defining and enclosing the Kobuk Valley. The middle two-thirds of the Kobuk River, from just above Kiana to just below Ambler, is included in the park, as are several of its major tributaries such as the Salmon River and the Hunt River. The Selawik Wilderness lies to the south, in the adjoining Selawik National Wildlife Refuge.

Fantastic wilderness solitude. Dark night skies in the fall and winter mean spectacular northern lights. Love the carpets of lichen on the east side of the sand dunes.

Kobuk Valley National Park is an American national park in the Arctic region of northwestern Alaska, located about 25 miles (40 km) north of the Arctic Circle. The park was designated in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to preserve the 100 ft (30 m) high Great Kobuk Sand Dunes] and the surrounding area which includes caribou migration routes. Park visitors must bring all their own gear for backcountry camping, hiking, backpacking, boating, and dog sledding. No designated trails or roads exist in the park, which at 1,750,716 acres (2,735.5 sq mi; 7,084.9 km2), is slightly larger than the state of Delaware.Kobuk Valley is one of eight national parks in Alaska, the state with the second most national parks, surpassed only by California which has nine. The park is managed by the National Park Service.

The only Arctic desert I know of. Quite otherworldly, this was one of the only instances outside of Hawaii where I heard absolute nothing--almost frightening silence! Be ready for TOTAL self sufficiency, but not nearly so intimidating as descriptions make it out to be.

A very fun place to visit. It may not seem like much to see sand dunes, but the forests and streams are beautiful and this place has some of the most beautiful lichens I've seen.

It is very unique (like an arctic desert should be)... but it's so mysteriously silent and lonely.