What to See & Do in Kotzebue, Alaska

Cultural & Historical Sites

Outdoor Adventures & Wilderness

  • Kobuk Valley National Park
    Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, caribou migration viewing, and backcountry trips. Typically accessed by charter flight from Kotzebue.
  • Cape Krusenstern National Monument
    Coastal tundra, archeological sites spanning millennia, and sweeping Chukchi Sea views. Day trips and flightseeing available.
  • Noatak National Preserve
    Remote river basin ideal for float trips and wilderness photography; access primarily via bush plane.

Local Experiences

  • Local Guided Tours
    Small outfitters arrange fishing trips, cultural immersion tours, berry picking in summer, dog sledding in winter, and tundra wildlife viewing.
  • Arctic Circle wonders
    Experience the Midnight Sun in summer and the Northern Lights in winter above the Arctic Circle.

                             Seasonal Highlights in Kotzebue

Season Highlights
Spring Migrating waterfowl on the tundra; early-season fishing; community cultural events.
Summer 24-hour daylight (Midnight Sun); berry picking; boating and fishing; guided cultural tours; charter flights to Kobuk Valley & Cape Krusenstern.
Fall Caribou migration viewing near Kobuk Valley; crisp weather for photography; Northern Lights reappear.
Winter Aurora viewing; dog sledding and snowmobiling; cultural demos; long polar nights.