Kougarok River, Small river in Nome, Alaska

The Kougarok River is a river on the Seward Peninsula that flows south and merges with the Kuzitrin River system. The Nome-Taylor Highway runs alongside it, providing access to this remote waterway through the landscape.

During the early 1900s, the river attracted gold miners who set up operations along its banks. These mining activities became part of the larger gold rush that shaped Alaska's development.

The river's Inupiaq name, Kuuguraq, means "little river." In 1900 it was recorded as Kugruk, but the name was later changed to avoid confusion with other Alaskan rivers bearing the same name.

The Nome-Taylor Highway runs beside the Kougarok for much of its 45-mile course, so the river is seen from the road rather than on foot. There are no facilities along this stretch; fuel and supplies are in Nome before setting out. Conditions change with the season, and the gravel road is the only way through.

In 1900 the river was recorded as Kugruk River; the name was later changed to avoid confusion with other Alaskan rivers of the same name. The Inupiaq name Kuuguraq means "little river". The main stem begins near Taylor Airport, where Macklin Creek and Washington Creek join.