Sandwiched between two mountain ranges, Kobuk Valley National Park offers 730,000 hectares of roadless, trailless wilderness. Kobuk lies above the Arctic Circle at the northern boundary of the boreal forest, where scrawny spruces and birches survive amid the vast tundra. Alaska Natives use it for subsistence fishing and hunting.

Guided tours often raft a potion of the Kobuk River, the park’s main artery. Closer to the headwaters the river offers serious white-water, but thee lower rivers is relaxed drift. While floating down the river of hiking its margins, watch for grizzles, caribou, and golden eagles. Anglers cherish the river for its arctic char, grayling, and spirited giant sheefish.

The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes rise amid the tundra and boreal forest of Kobuk Valley National Park.