Just as extreme weather shapes the tundra, forcing plants to hug the ground for dear life, so the harsh Arctic climate has shaped Kotzebue. A close look at Kotzebue and its environs reveals much beauty in its people and their art and in the minimalist Arctic landscape.

Northwest Arctic Heritage Centre reveals the beauty of Inupiat Eskimo art and culture. This major venture of the Western Arctic Parkland Service will also showcase the grandeur of nearby Park Service lands. Those public lands include Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument.

Most of the few visitors to Noatak National Preserve traverse its 2.5 million hectares by rafting down the Noatak, a wild and scenic river. Except for a few rough stretches, the long voyage is a gentle float, but its remoteness dictates using a guide.