The 347 mile long Kobuk River (who's name means "big river") is one of Alaska's 10 longest. It originates on the southern slopes of the Arrigetch Peaks in the central Brooks Range in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and flows west through Kobuk Valley National Park before spilling into Kotzebue Sound and the Chukchi Sea. This nationally designated Wild and Scenic River runs clear and fast from one source, beautiful Walker Lake, nestled amongst the peaks of the Endicott and Schwatka mountains, by way of an unnamed tributary. Walker Lake offers excellent hiking opportunities as well as excellent fishing for Lake Trout.

Beyond the pristine waters of Walker Lake and it's outlet lie several deep canyons offering exciting class II, III and IV white water. Below the Lower Kobuk Canyon the river slows and meanders through a wide forested valley with the snow capped peaks of the Brooks Range to the North and the rounded hills of the Waring Mountains to the south. The river offers some of the best Sheefish fishing in Alaska as well as Grayling and Northern Pike.

The Kobuk River Valley forms the heart of the range of Alaska's largest Caribou herd, the Western Arctic Caribou Herd, numbering close to 500 thousand. The Kobuk country is also home to bear, moose, wolves and numerous other mammals and birds. Several small native villages dot the course of the Kobuk River as it has been a major trade and travel route for centuries. Natives and locals still hunt and fish along the river.

We'll take 10 days to travel the approximately 125 miles of river from Walker Lake to our take-out at the small village of Kobuk. We'll take time for plenty of exploring, hiking, fishing and relaxing in camp. Along the way we hope to cross paths with the late summer migration of the the Western Caribou Herd. We'll travel in 14 and 16 foot rafts, a couple of which will be rigged for paddling where everyone will participate in the effort to get us down river. We'll travel to and from the river via small float plane and small commercial aircraft.
trip starts and end in Fairbanks, Alaska.