best way to see alaska national parks

Its 250 an hour for every extra hour he stays. Most Popular National Parks in Alaska - Princess Lodges Download this printable map of Alaska National Parks: JPG. On the 11-hour tour, youll spend only 70 minutes in the air and the rest on the ground, based on Crescent Lake in the park. Hooray for the pocketbook! For more details visit the park service page with rules and application options. Seeing bears on the coast, at Silver Salmon Creek or Chinitna Bay, is always a slam dunk. So whats the catch? Youre right! Ive spent our entire adult lives exploring and filming Americas national parks and public lands. LeConte Lodge provides a rustic experience and spectacular views it's the highest guest lodge (6,400 feet) in the eastern U.S. Rates start from $176 per person in a lodge room or cabin. Once youre in the park, youll need to arrange for yourself either by bringing the gear for a backcountry adventure or staying at one of the communities or cabins in Lake Clark. Like, really north. The sand dunes were gorgeous and otherworldlyseems like an impossible sight in the middle of the Arctic. From Fairbanks International Airport the drive is 2 hours southeast to the Denali National Park Visitors Center. The Most Beautiful National Parks In Alaska - Culture Trip The salmon. Additionally, you can go kayaking throughout parts of the park with the support of charter companies and water taxis; there are also hiking trails throughout the land parts of the park, including Exit Glacier. In my opinion, the best way to visit Gates of the Arctic National Park is by flying to Bettles (where the main visitor center is located) and taking a serviced day-flight or overnight excursion into the park. Alaska is home to the most epic national parks on the planet with unimaginable sights and unfathomable vastness. Kids show up when planes land in the village of Anaktuvuk Pass and ask the pilots to buy them Yoo-hoo. We didnt see a soul, and paddled the bays, inlets and islands by kayak for a week and a half and had incredible wildlife experiences. Located in the heart of Interior Alaska, Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve is a huge area of protected land east of Fairbanks toward the Canadian border. Its very different experience from other parks, especially if youre used to Yosemite or Yellowstone where you drive through the park. Day 4: Kenai Fjords National Park. You should probably know that I didnt just make this list up out of thin air. 133 likes, 6 comments - Gays of National Parks (@gaysofnationalparks) on Instagram: "Hey! There are several different tours available that vary in destination & length. Weve worked with the National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service for years creating films on important places and issues. Best way to see Kenai Fjords Alaska National Park. In fact, its the northernmost national park in the National Park system, and entirely north of the Arctic Circle. The old copper mine and Kennecott Mill site have many artifacts and mining-related buildings to explore. Destinations & sites include Resurrection Bay, Fox Island, Orca Explorers, Wildlife Cruises, Holgate Glacier, Aialik Glacier, Northwestern Glacier, and more. Also worth considering are mosquito net hat, mosquito net pants, & mosquito net top cover. Additionally, its common to see wildlife in Glacier Bay, including seals, otters, sea birds (like puffins! I cant get over each of the 5 scoring categories carry the same weight because I dont think anybody would agree that they do! It protects some 130 miles of the 1,800 mile Yukon River and the entirety of the Charley River basin, both of which were critical for the historic exploration of Alaska. Can you guess, based on the parks Ive shared so far? Before you go booking your flights we thought you should know exactly how to access each of these parks. Arctic Air Expeditions offers polar bear tours that include airfare from Anchorage, meals, and transportation. Flying there is $1200 for all 4 people and includes a 30 minute landing. Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge There is only one lodge located on the Kenai Fjords Coast. In any case, the Bering Land Bridge or Beringia is widely accepted as the way homo sapiens arrived in North America some 16,500-30,000 years ago. Stay on the dunes. He was talking about the Sand Dunes, which is what most people want to see here. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Cruise ships make up the majority of this Alaska national parks visitors. These range from National Battlefields (there are 11) to National Historic Sites (there are 74) to National Recreation Areas (18) to National Parks (63). These scores do not correlate with the accessibility which is the only criteria were using for this list. Jackets are always a good idea here, especially rain jackets. Driving this road into Alaskas largest national park takes at least 3 hours each way so plan accordingly. There are a number of reservable public use cabins available in Lake Clark National Park. They hold tremendous glaciers, wildlife like moose, bear, wolves, and caribou in stunning abundance, and . Alaskas flagship national park named for its tallest mountain which happens to be the highest peak in North America, Denali is on every park-goers bucket list. The wilderness is preserved around them. Vast expanses of jewel-toned tundra. An access road near town takes you to a visitor center and several good hiking trails. Chartered flights from Anchorage (or anywhere) to McCarthy can be quite pricey running around $2300 for 3-5 people or $1700 for 2-3 people via Wrangell Mountain Air. The weather gets surprisingly nice, with average daytime highs in the 60Fs in the southern parts of the park (40Fs-50Fs in the northern parts) and lows in the 30Fs-40Fs. Want to learn more? For detailed information on backcountry camping guidelines and rules visit the NPS page. There are a total of24 sitesaffiliated with the National Park Service in Alaska, though only eight have official national park designations. The best season to visit Denali National Park is in the summer when days are longer and weather is more cooperative. | ALASKA.ORG Expert Advice First Trip to Alaska? Photo by Shutterstock Your email address will not be published. Lois Alter Mark Updated: May 04, 2023 Eager to cruise to the 49th State but don't know where to start? You will likely want to travel around and not stay in one place. Which of Alaskas National Parks Can You Drive To? The only way to access the park is by air or water, with flights being the easiest and most popular way. Wheeled plane take a flight on a wheeled plane to snow strips, beaches, and gravel bars. In addition to a Visitor Center and a number of historic boom-time buildings in town, there are a number of hiking trails that allow you to explore the land these intrepid folks landed and headed inland to try and mine their fortunes. But if I was going to suggest the one very favorite thing, it's getting in the air and seeing the landscape. Curious about gold rush history in Alaska? There are no entrance fees to get into Kobuk Valley National Park. For backcountry camping information be sure to visit the park service backcountry page. Alaska National Parks Tour | Visit 4 Alaska National Parks by Car A: Two things. I havent actually been to those parks so I dont have a recommended provider, but the National Park Service always has a list of concessioners who are allowed to operate in the park if you take a look at the page for each park. Its also common to plan a visit to Kobuk Valley as a river float; you can arrange with an air taxi to drop you and an inflatable watercraft off and follow the Kobuk River back toward its terminus in the Bering Sea. First is the more popular McCarthy Road . A: We flew into Juneau, and my first feeling was this giant sense of awe: It's a city not connected by roads and surrounded by wildernessa hiker's paradise. Clingmans Dome: The highest point in the park, providing panoramic views. Accessing the park (not via cruise) requires a flight followed by either another flight or ferry. Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! Ive heard great things from readers whove stayed at the McCarthy Lodge which is now called Ma Johnsons Historic Hotel. For more fare & schedule information visit the Alaska Railroads Denali page. Rates start at $210/night. A: Ive always loved national parks, and Alaska has 8! Everything you need to know about Alaska's famous (and less famous) national parks. When we went to Gates of the Arctic in September, they said snow was likely and we couldnt go in. Located approximately halfway between Anchorage and Fairbanks and anchored by the tallest mountain in North America, it marries easy accessibility with the raw, seductive pull of the wilderness, for those who crave it. We recommend planning your trip in July or August for the best chances at having clear days and nice weather. Read more in my Privacy Policy. My work (along with my brother) has been featured in leading publications all over the world and even some people outside of our immediate family call us experts on the national parks. There can be towns right in the national parksThe towns were there before the parks, and theyve become a part of the experience. Visitors must take a small plane to reach jumping off points into the park. More information about visiting the park can be foundhere. There are some cool other experiences too, including interstadial stumps (old trees from before the last major ice age), cultural experiences (at the Huna Tribal House near park headquarters), and hiking near Bartlett Cove/Gustavus. Not only is Lake Clark where we guided our first trip 21 years ago, its also where we run most of our summer adventures. While there are lots of things to do in some of the other accessible parks (Denali, Kenai Fjords), I think that Wrangell-St. Elias has the most of any! There is a visitors center located just south of the parks driving entrance in Seward. From Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage the drive (quite a scenic one) to Exit Glacier (the parks main driving attraction) is just 2.5 hours. A: We took the train there from Fairbanks, and then rode the bus down the Denali Park Road to see wildlife. The whole Glacier Bay experience from our perspective is written there on the totem poles and the screens, Grant says. The company only offers tours during prime viewing months of October and November, when the highest concentration of bears are present on land. We will be dropped off at 6:15pm, Kennicott Mines (5 dollar bus ride, $28 tour we can take through the same as the glacier hike), 7:00am Flight from Anchorage to Port Alsworth, Alaska, Home to the park visitor center as well as trails to waterfalls and kayaking locations, Walk the 7.5 Miles trail to Tanailan Falls, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail (Downtown/Coastal Trail), Wildlife Conservation Center (Home to a bunch of animals), Beartooth Theatrepub and Grill (Dinner/Movie). Size: 4,030,025 acres. Getting to the Park: Alaska Highway 3 is the only road entrance into the park, making it easy to navigate to the entrance of the park (at mile number 237), 240 miles north of Anchorage and 120 miles south of Fairbanks. From Fairbanks, there are a couple of ways to reach Gates of the Arctic National Park: Youll need to visit Gates of the Arctic prepared with everything you need for the duration of your trip all food, water, and wilderness gear, as well as bear-resistant food containers to deter the local residents from visiting your camping spots. Glacier Bay National Park Facts: 11 Amazing Glacier Bay National Park Facts, Denali National Park Facts: 10 Fascinating Facts About Denali National Park, National Parks Ranked: All 63 Best US National Parks Ranked from Best to Worst, National Parks List: Official List of US National Parks (Alphabetical & by State), National Parks Map: Printable Maps of the National Parks, In: National Parks, National Parks by State, Your email address will not be published. While motor vehicles are restricted to the first 15 miles of the Denali Park Road, bicycles are allowed on all 92 miles. The only way to reach Noatak is by plane from Kotzebue, similar to Kobuk Valley. And it should almost go without saying, but a visit to [naturalist and conservationist] Dick Proennekes log cabin at Twin Lakes is well worth the expense of getting there. It was scary at first, because you see bears outside the electric fence that surrounds the campground. Gates of the Arctic is a wilderness park, located entirely within the Brooks Mountain Range. Best Way to See Denali National Park | AlaskaTravel.com We highly recommend the Brooks Lodge located near the famous bear-viewing site, Brooks Falls. Want to know more? Please, leave us a comment below and let us know what were missing and what you think of the piece! Here are five tips to see the real Alaska: 1. Your email address will not be published. Best Alaska Cruise 2023 | Best Time to Cruise to Alaska - Reader's Digest Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaska, Want to learn more? Shark-fin-like mountains everywhere, dramatic valleys, no vegetation because youre above tree line, tons of caribou droppings. Roaring Fork: A scenic motor nature trail. A: Fitting 4 parks into each of the 10-day trips. A: You name it, we took it: Rental cars, trains, boats, and planes. Keep us posted on how the trip goes! The terminus of Nabesna Road is located next to the Slana Ranger Station, 1.5 hours north of the official Wrangell St. Elias National Park Visitors Center in Copper Center. 7-10 days is the most common. You can also get a permit and go camping on your own in the backcountry of Denali National Park. Once the Exit Glacier road closes for winter another cabin becomes available for public use the Willow Cabin. Yes, you can drive to Denali National Park! The fact of the matter is that it just aint easy (or cheap) to do so. The Ultimate 10-Day Alaska Itinerary - Full Life, Full Passport For those who want to spend more time in the park, there are good opportunities for hiking especially near Port Alsworth, which is also home to the park Visitor Center , camping, and backpacking throughout the wilderness. Find more vacation-planning tips from local experts. It is one of the best national parks in Alaska to see varied landscapes and learn about the impact of Alaska glaciers. You can certainly arrange a private charter during other parts of the year, if youre looking for a different kind of experience. We recommend reserving your accommodations as early in advance of your trip as possible as they tend to fill up quite a ways out. The whales are a part of the Tlingit family. The most famous of Alaska's national parks is Denali National Park, thanks to towering Mount Denali (North America's highest peak) and a wide variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, and caribou. Canoeing & Kayaking Lake Clark National Park is home to some of the most breath-taking water activities on the planet. Gates of the Arctic is a breathtakingly beautiful place that is nearly impossible for the average person to get to. Towering snow-capped peaks. Thats a wrap folks! There are also dozens of glaciers to see, including several tidewater glaciers that flow right down to meet the waterways of the fjords they carved. For travelers to learn more about that culture, he recommends visiting theHuna Tribal Housein Bartlett Cove. If you want to visit all of the National Parks in Alaska, it helps to learn more about each one and what it takes to reach them. If you want to plan a multi-day trip, youll need to arrange an air taxi. Special permits for groups of more than 10 people cost $75. You cannot drive all the way to McCarthy or to the Kennecot mine. The Northwest Arctic Heritage Center (visitor center) is located in Kotzebue roughly 80 miles from the park, and is open between May and September; the park is technically open year-round for those willing to brave the elements. Campground fees range from $12 $27 per night. Lake Clark is open year-round, but most people visit between June and October and most flightseeing companies only offer tours during that time. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. When we go, we are going into our community.. For me as a Huna Tlingit person to go over there, its really like going into a spiritual place, says Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Management Assistant Ken Grant. But the journey is worth it every time. While most people think first of Katmai National Park as the destination to see brown bears in Alaska, theres a neighboring park where you can also see them and for a longer window of time each summer! Exit Glacier Campground There is only one developed campground in Kenai Fjords National Park located next to Exit Glacier. No spam. Most people make the drive from Anchorage to visit Wrangell-St. Elias or add it as a stop onto an Alaskan road trip. Lodging - $15-$25/night for camping; $200 - $400/night for hotels; something in between for cabins, vacation rental homes and lower end hotels (sometimes lower end hotels are also $200/night!) 17 Best Places to Visit in Alaska | U.S. News Travel Katmai National Park PWS & Kenai Fjords National Park Lake Clark National Park Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Aniakchak National Monument Gates of the Arctic National Park Kobuk Valley National Park Best for: Kayaking & rafting Multi-sport trips Bear spotting & wildlife Skiing Visiting Alaska's national parks This is How Big Alaska Is! We were there in early fall, so the tundra was changing colors, and we saw these huge brown bears foraging for food for winter. Summer is the best time to visit Kobuk Valley National Park. I pay close attention to these things now. Should be launching that one next week with the latest ratings system. It really depends on where youre staying, so be sure to research different areas both in terms of the access available, activities you want to do, and places to stay once you get there. The park features 9 of the 16 tallest mountain peaks in the country. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park - Highs in 50s/60s, lows in 30s/40s. View of turquoise lakes flying into Lake Clark National Park. Theyre gorgeous and otherworldlyseems like an impossible sight in the middle of the Arctic. Highlights plus less visited destinations. We recommend July & August for the best chance of catching some days without rain. You can drive to 3 of Alaskas 8 national parks. As this is the quickest way to visit the park, I explain how in more detail in my one-day Glacier Bay itinerary. The hike from the footbridge to the Kennecot mine is 5 miles. You might be wondering: What is a National Park? How is that different than other National Park units? You can expect one (short) email per week. Can you guess? This Alaska National Park is another one sculpted by glaciers and volcanic activity. Youre right! Complete Guide to Alaska's National Parks - TripSavvy No, you cannot drive to Katmai National Park. These eight Alaskan national parks are home to stunning natural beauty and some of the last remaining examples of true, untouched wilderness in the United States. As long as you bring the appropriate gear and practice Leave No Trace principles, you can have free reign of the land to explore as you see fit and are able. We found a lot of great hiking trails from Port Allsworth that made for a really low-key stop, just absorbing all the amazing nature. Departs from Bartlett Cove, Check in at Gustavus at 11:30, depart at 12:30, arrive at 5:00pm, Cost Varies, but is roughly $240 per person, 433 Harold Bentley Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701 T: 1 907-451-1502. Glacier Bay National Park | How to Experience The Park | ALASKA.ORG Kobuk Valley is another jaw-droppingly beautiful Alaska national park that is nearly impossible for the average person to access. With long days, less precipitation (but still precipitation), and actual sunshine, Summer is by far the best time to visit Alaskas national parks. One such place was Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, which is located in Skagway. As just mentioned late summer is the best time to visit Lake Clark National Park, as its when the salmon run up the waterways of the park and bears enthusiastically stock up on calories before the coming winter. Gates of the Arctic National Park is extremely remote and as such requires some work to get there. The drive to Wrangell St. Elias National Park (Kennecot) from Anchorage (the closest city with a major airport) is nearly 7 hours long, so buckle in and pack lots of snacks & drinks! The road requires 1.5 hours to drive minimum each way so keep that in mind when planning a trip. Travel Alaska is a registered trademark of Alaska Travel Industry Association. Us too! Many of them are remote and are only reachable by expensive air charter, but luckily, a few of the best ones are accessible by car. Or, jump to itinerary below. Good news here folks! There are two main ones: There are a few other independent properties in the Gustavus area too: theGlacier Bay Country Inn, theGustavus Inn at Glacier Bay,Glacier Bays Bear Track Inn,Wild Alaska Inn, theBlue Heron Bed and Breakfast,Cottonwood Lodge & Cabin Rental, andAimees Guest House. Denali is home to some epic backcountry camping adventures for those with For more Denali National Park camping information visit the park services website. We recommend July & August for the best chance of catching some days without rain. The amount of wildlife there is spectacular. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The park is over 6 million acres in size, but has just one road, making it both accessible and protected from overtourism that would threaten the delicate ecosystems here. Katmai National Park has several salmon runs, but the most prolific is the red/sockeye salmon, which typically peaks in late June and into July. The basic rule is they are allowed where cars can go so be sure to check before taking your pooch on your trip to the park! A boat tour is optimal. The main park road opens in late May and usually stays open through late September each year, but the best time to visit Denali National Park is in late August and early September when the tundra begins changing color for autumn and the animals are more active while they prepare for the winter months. Kenai Fjords National Park & Glacier Bay National Park can be accessed by cruise ship and ferry. We highly recommend staying at the Glacier Bay Lodge where rooms go for as little as $250/night. Book a private tour to Anaktuvuk Pass located in the heart of the national park. You can reach Denali National Park by train, on the Alaska Railroad, or car (or bus), along the Parks Highway, which connects Anchorage and Fairbanks. Ask any Alaskan to pick a favorite, and the conversation turns personal pretty quickly. Along each of these roads are numerous roadside camping areas, some of which have picnic tables and pit or vault toilets. The best ways to see Alaska's national parks - Business Insider We recommend the months of July & August for the best chances for clear days. Getting to Katmai typically requires multiple flights and thousands of dollars which puts it squarely out of reach for most Americans. Some of the country's most famous landmarks, such as the Grand Canyon in Arizona, are contained within these federally protected places, so it's easy to see why so many people flock to experience. It is accessible by boat exclusively. The most expensive and most scenic transit option to Wrangell is going by air. Ma Johnsons Hotel (http://www.mccarthylodge.com/), Details: Meet in front of hotel at 8:30am. As with Gates of the Arctic, this means that the logistics of visiting are almost as challenging as the remote, backcountry youll have on your own in the park there are no roads, no landing strips, and no other amenities to support you once you arrive. With 17 national park units and 16 national wildlife refuges, the options may seem limitless. Like Denali, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve is one of the most popular parks in Alaska in part because so many of the cruise companies make it a stop on their itineraries. The rest of the drive is accessible via bus & the Denali National Park Road Lottery (see below). Once you arrive at Denali though, youll need to switch to a designated tour bus if you want to travel into the park itself. Another National Park unit in the Arctic, Cape Krusenstern National Monument shows evidence of human habitation for at least 5,000-9,000 years underscoring Iupiat legends and stories about their traditional lands here. For those not sailing on a cruise ship, travel toBartlett CovefromGustavus. $30 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months we suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be found at the entrance gates to most national parks). I had the chance to visit Glacier Bay for the first time in 2021, and am eager for a return trip to spend more time in the area. The reason: we didnt have a boat, says Kirk Hoessle, president and chief exploration officer at Alaska Wildland Adventures, which operates theKenai Fjords Glacier Lodgein the Southcentral park. With that being said this is one of the most incredible Alaska national parks full of massive mountains and enormous glaciers. Thanks a bunch for stopping in and for the kind words! I agree it usually doesnt deter from recommending a place but certainly factors into the decision matrix and hopefully will help with over-tourism and push folks to visit during shoulder seasons etc. Jokes aside, there are no hotels in Gates of the Arctic National Park; backcountry camping is the only way to stay in the park itself. Stay at a Denali Park Backcountry Lodge The more time you can spend near the mountain, the better chance you have of seeing it. The breadth of this mountain is hard to appreciate and so is the size of the park itself at 6.1 million acres. Its huge! Kenai Fjords is the most accessible of Alaskas national parks. 1. Kenai Fjords National Park is the other most accessible Alaska National Park, as its a short drive from Anchorage to reach the gateway town of Seward; this is the park my family and I used to visit the most often when I was growing up in Alaska. It seems to us this park would have been more fitting for a wilderness designation than a National Park. And dont forget to check out theAlaska vacation plannerfor more ideas. Katmai National Park is another Alaska National Park thats relatively inaccessible; most people visit by plane and a few come by boat (if they have the time and the budget to do so). Will. But perhaps in a broader sense, its the parks complete, untrammeled, healthy ecosystem there arent many places left like this on Earth.. Katmai has the largest concentration of brown bears of any park in the United States. My first impression became a lasting one: that Alaskas beauty isnt just in the national parksits everywhere. Looking for another Alaska National Park where you can escape the crowds? Depending on where you're coming from and how much time you have, the best way to see Alaska is by cruise ship and adding some time on land. Ive included scores for each Alaska national park just for reference from our post ranking all of the national parks (see below) from best to worst. The birds. See below map with the locations of all eight of Alaskas National Parks. While most people only visit Katmai as part of a day trip, you can also book a multi-day stay that includes a flight from Anchorage to King Salmon, Alaska (where the Katmai Visitor Center is located) followed by a shorter floatplane flight to the one park lodge. Add in the vast array of wildlife present in the park and youve got a real home run. Thanks, Piu! Getting to Kenai Fjords National Park is easy.