The Denali Park Alaska Vacation: Where to Go, How to Get There
With your tour guide,
Anne P. Mitchell
| Summary: Denali Park offers the ideal Alaska vacation, whether you are looking to just take in the spectacular views, or to really rough it. |
Denali National Park and Preserve offers the ideal Alaska vacation. The ruggedly beautiful landscape of Denali is an artful blend of arctic forest, grassland, lakes and rivers. With the towering Mt. McKinley as a panoramic backdrop, it’s easy to see why this national park continues to attract so many visitors year after year.
Covering a staggering six million acres, Denali Park offers the opportunity to see many species of wildlife. Caribou, Dall sheep, moose, wolves, grizzly bears and arctic ground squirrels are some of the animals that inhabit Denali. Birdwatchers might glimpse boreal chickadees or ptarmigan, and sharp-eyed guests might see the park’s lone amphibian, the wood frog.
Private vehicles are only allowed on the first fourteen miles of the 90-mile road into Denali Park. Travel further on a narrated bus tour, one of the best ways to explore the area. Taking a bus tour increases your chance of spotting wildlife because you’re sitting higher up than in a car, and there are more pairs of eyes to scout the area. There are both short natural history tours and daylong tundra wildlife tours.
No matter what your budget and travel preferences are, you’re certain to find a perfect place to rest among Denali’s varied lodging choices. Located just outside the park entrance is everything from rustic log cabins, to modern hotels offering many amenities to no-frills motels. With everything there is to see and do in Denali, be sure to plan at least a two-night stay.
If you dream of having a “real Alaskan Adventure” consider staying in one of the unique wilderness lodges like the Kantishna Roadhouse, the North Face Lodge or Camp Denali, located deep inside the park.
The hotel recommended most by Alaska Tour and Travel is the Denali Bluffs, one of the newest in the area and closest to the park entrance.
Other good choices are Denali Cedars Lodge, seven miles south of the entrance, and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, overlooking the Nenana River, with panoramic views of Denali. Also consider Denali Riverfront Cabins: Affordable individual cedar cabins, seven miles south of the entrance. And McKinley Chalet Resort, situated along the Nenana River, is just minutes from the park.
For outdoor types who want a slightly more rugged Alaskan experience, Grizzly Campground is located eight miles from the entrance. It has both tent and RV spaces, plus those all-important showers.
Please note that lodging in and near Denali tends to fill up quickly during the prime dates, so book your lodging as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
The entrance to Denali National Park is approximately 240 miles north of Anchorage and 125 miles south of Fairbanks. The park is accessible by car, motorcoach service and via the Alaska Railroad from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Since such great views of Mt. McKinley are available, consider traveling one direction by rail and the other by bus.
The park is open year round, but the road into Denali Park and most visitor facilities are only open from mid-May through mid-September.
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