Kobuk Valley National Park is a National Park in Alaska. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At this latitude the sun does not rise or set on some days of the year, so check the monthly table below for daylight and twilight.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11:55 AM | — | — | 3:39 PM | 206° | 3h 44m |
| February | 9:51 AM | 11:29 AM | 4:14 PM | 5:53 PM | 238° | 8h 02m |
| March | 8:57 AM | 10:10 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:36 PM | 267° | 11h 39m |
| April | 6:49 AM | 8:05 AM | 9:10 PM | 10:26 PM | 299° | 15h 37m |
| May | 4:36 AM | 6:25 AM | 10:44 PM | 12:32 AM | 332° | 19h 57m |
| June | — | 5:28 AM | 11:48 PM | — | — | — |
| July | 3:24 AM | 6:01 AM | 11:26 PM | 2:02 AM | 351° | 22h 38m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 7:28 AM | 9:56 PM | 11:20 PM | 312° | 17h 15m |
| September | 7:56 AM | 9:07 AM | 7:58 PM | 9:10 PM | 280° | 13h 14m |
| October | 9:39 AM | 11:02 AM | 5:45 PM | 7:07 PM | 249° | 9h 28m |
| November | 10:42 AM | — | — | 4:03 PM | 218° | 5h 21m |
| December | 1:01 PM | — | — | 2:05 PM | 188° | 1h 03m |
Computed for the park's reference point (67.3563, -159.2002); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| May | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| June | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| July | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| August | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Snow, rain, and freezing temperatures can occur any time of the year. Always travel with good quality rain gear and warm layers. Be especially careful to stay dry. Hypothermia can set in on a windy, wet day, even when it doesn't feel that cold.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and October as the cloudiest (73%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Kobuk Valley National Park is very remote. There are no roads to provide access, so planes take care of most transportation needs. Commercial airlines provide service from Anchorage to Kotzebue, or from Fairbanks to Bettles. Once in Kotzebue or Bettles, you must fly to the park with authorized air taxis.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Flying
- Fixed Wing Flying
- Hands-On
- Arts and Crafts
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
