About
Length (round trip)6 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyHard
Elevation gain400 ft up
Typical time3 hr 15 min
TrailheadKobuk River bar landing, or bush plane on the dunes
SurfaceDeep sand and dense willow thicket
Best seasonLate June to early September. There is no road, no trail and no campground anywhere in the park.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🦌 Wildlife🎒 Backpacking

Ground down by glaciers and blown into place over thousands of years, these dunes reach a hundred feet high and can hit 100F on a summer afternoon - inside the Arctic Circle. There is no trail: most parties land a float plane on the Kobuk River or Kavet Creek and push through a mile or two of willow and alder to reach the sand.

Tips
The approach through the willow thicket from the river is harder than the dunes themselves. Chartered bush plane from Kotzebue or Bettles is the only access. Take a satellite communicator - there is no help out here.
Location

Kobuk River bar landing, or bush plane on the dunes

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Trail data: USGS National Map / PAD-US, the National Park Service, state agencies, and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Access and conditions change — check with the managing agency before you go.