Mention “bucket list” travel and a vacation to Alaska is probably on most people’s list. With scenery and experiences that cannot be found in any of the rest of the United States, Alaska is a destination with endless chances to experience the incredible.
Within this state that has so much jaw-dropping scenery, few places represent the immense size and scenic majesty of Alaska better than Denali National Park and Preserve. This vast enclave of 9,419 square miles features a little of everything that makes America’s biggest state so breathtaking: thick blankets of forest, mossy tundra, slow-moving glaciers, swathes of barren rock and snow-capped mountains.
Central to it all is Denali itself – at 20,320 ft. it is the highest peak on the North American continent. Standing head and shoulders above the crowd, “the Tall One” dominates the landscape of central Alaska. On clear days, it can be seen from as far away as Anchorage and Fairbanks. Within the park, however, it appears and disappears as the Denali Park Road winds its way among the smaller mountains along the north edge of the Alaska Range. While clear skies are common in deep winter, summer skies are often cloudy with veterans of the park saying that often only one in three days offers glimpses of the mountain.
Denali can be a destination for both winter – when dog-sledding and skiing are popular activities – as well as summer. That being said, generally prime visiting season is from late May to early September when as many as 400,000 travelers journey to Denali. In addition to the tourists, summer also brings a number of activities to enjoy beyond the incredible scenery: visitors can experience everything from mountaineering to hiking, cycling and fishing, as well as camping in one of the most remote areas of the U.S.
With a destination so magnificent, it’s understandable that logistically there is a lot to consider when visiting Denali in particular – and for that matter, Alaska in general. To start, for most of us, this will truly be a once in a lifetime “bucket list” vacation, and so making sure that we see and do as much as possible when visiting is incredibly important. Few of us will make the trip to see Denali without also seeing as much of the rest of Alaska as possible while there. When to go – and the weather associated with your travel dates – is key to making sure you experience the things that are most important to you. Soaking up the scenery – and knowing where to best do that is also important. Knowing the best places to visit, and where to stay, along with how to best enjoy the history and culture that makes Alaska so unique – there’s so much to consider on a trip like this.
For this reason, many find that a guided tour or cruise (or a combination of both) is the best way to experience Alaska. Travelers may find themselves cruising along the three-mile face of the Columbia Glacier, or sailing by the calving tidewater glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park – and of course, ascending into Denali National Park. Other memorable experiences might include panning for gold, seeing a mushing demonstration at the home of an Iditarod champion, and even spotting a few whales.
A lifetime of memories is waiting for you when you visit Denali National Park and the truly amazing Alaska, where you’ll discover native cultures, mountains, animals, glaciers and the unparalleled splendor of America’s 49th state.
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