Angelica at Western Arctic National Parklands

Angelica is a beautiful plant, but it hides both great medicinal qualities and a deadly secret.

• You are standing next to the wooden edge of the garden. The Angelica stands several feet tall, making it eye level with the average person. It has a stem that is about as thick as a thumb with ridges running up it. There are leaves coming off the side that are wide, flat, and pointed on the ends. At the top of the plant is a flat cone-shaped cluster of flowers.

Feltleaf Willow at Western Arctic National Parklands

Willows exist in many forms. The Feltleaf Willow is one of the more popular version of this plant. Like its relatives, this plant has great medicinal properties!

• You are standing along the wooden edge of the garden. The Feltleaf willow grows tall, making it about the height of the average man. It has long, skinny stems and grows oval shaped leaves that end in a point.

Fireweed Wayside at Western Arctic National Parklands

The purple/pink flowers of blooming Fireweed is one of the most recognizable sights in Alaska. But what makes this plant so important to medicinal traditions?

• In front of you is the corner of a short, wooden wall of the Heritage Center's garden. Beyond the garden is a road and a row of short houses and buildings. In the distance is the Kotzebue Sound. In this corner of the garden is a cluster of bright pink/purple flowers on tall, thin green plants. The small, four-petaled flowers start halfway up the stalk and continue to the tip of the plant. The leaves at the base of the plant are long and narrow.

Great Kobuk Sand Dunes

Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are an iconic view spot in Kobuk Valley National Park

• The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are 30 square miles of active, bare sand dunes. These dunes are surrounded by many more acres of dunes that have been reclaimed by vegetation. Along the edge of the active dunes, you can see pioneer species such as lichen starting to creep onto the soil. Around the dune field are large forests of coniferous trees as well as rivers and streams. In the distance, you can see the Baird and Jade mountain chains.

Jade Mountains

Jade Mountains mark the eastern boarder of Kobuk Valley National Park.

• The Jade Mountains tower over the surrounding landscape. They rise above the tall evergreens of the valleys. They appear bare on the tops with small plants making their way up portions of the peaks until they are too tall. Most of the year, these peaks are covered in ice and snow, but they melt completely during the winter months.

Lingonberry at Western Arctic National Parklands

Lingonberries are known by many names, but no matter the name you call it, there's no denying this beautiful plant has beautiful flowers, delicious berries, and powerful medicinal properties.

• Here you are standing along the wooden edge of the garden. The lingonberry bush is directly in front of you. This bush is circular in shape and low to the ground with small, shiny, oval leaves. In the spring and summer are bring flowers and in the fall are red berries. Growing off the side of this plant is the Tundra tea plant which has long, brown stems. On the stems are narrow, thick green leaves with a cluster of white flowers at the top.

Onion Portage Archeological District National Historic Landmark

The Onion Portage Archeological District National Historic Landmark is on the Kobuk River in the Kobuk Valley National Park. For 8000 years, people camped, made tools, prepared game, and eventually settled at Onion Portage.

• Onion Portage lies on the banks of the Kobuk River. The river is wide, calm, and blue. In the distance are mountains and all around the river are trees and smaller hills. There is a small, historic, wooden cabin perched on one of the hills.

Sourdock at Western Arctic National Parklands

Related to Rhubarb, Sourdock is a medicinal plant with many uses!

• In front of you is the short, wooden wall of the Heritage Center's garden. Beyond the garden is a road and a row of short houses and buildings. In the distance is the Kotzebue Sound. From this standing point, the Sourdock is about ten feet in front of you with the tall leaves of the Siberian Iris between you and it. Sourdock's leaves are low to the ground but wide spread. These leaves are elongated ovals with pointy ends. The entire leaf is green except from its ends which range from a light orange to bright red. For a short time in the summer, there is a two to three foot tall thin stalk in the center of the leaves. This stalk has the small buds for the plant and dies off quickly.

Stinkweed at Western Arctic National Parklands

Stinkweed isn't a pleasant name, but this plant is one of the most beloved medicinal plants in the Arctic. The number of uses seems to be endless!

• Stinkweed stands about 2-3 feet tall when fully mature. It has a thin, tall, green stem with leaves coming off in multiple directions. The leaves are narrow and oval shaped, ending in a point. Toward the top of the stem are small buds, ranging from green, to brown, to a faint red color.

Northwest Arctic Heritage Center

• Northwest Arctic Heritage Center
• Large, half-dome shaped, blue and grey building with just over 11,000 square feet of space. The museum space is just over 1,800 square feet and contains animal displays, soundscapes, tactile exhibits and more. The Heritage Center also contains a bookstore, restroom, art gallery, and sitting area. The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center serves as the visitor centers for the Western Arctic National Parklands: Kobuk Valley National Park, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, and Noatak National Preserve.

• Visit the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes
• The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are the northern most sand dune complex in North America with an abundance of arctic wildlife.

• Float the Kobuk River
• Want a nice mild float on a wild river? The Kobuk River may be a great option for wilderness adventure and zen-like floating in Kobuk Valley National Park.

• Visit the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center
• Trying to figure out where to go and what to do in Northwest Alaska? The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center is a great place to meet rangers and acquire information on Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Kobuk Valley National Park, and Noatak National Preserve.