about alaska
Alaska, known as the Last Frontier, is a non-contiguous state of the United States of America. It borders Canada and is the most northwestern part of the USA. It is known for its unparalleled natural beauty and incredible outdoor activities. From icy fjords, calving glaciers, majestic wildlife, towering mountains, crystal lakes, fantastic hiking, fishing and outdoor activities you will be mesmerized by all this state has to offer. Alaska is enriched with incredible National Parks. These protected areas are packed with abundant wildlife and untouched natural beauty.
how to get to to the National Parks
There are eight national parks in Alaska. Only three of the national parks in Alaska are accessible by car. These are Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords and Denali National Park. The other national parks can only be accessed by boat or air taxi. The other iconic national parks are Glacier Bay, Katmai, Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, and Lake Clark.
Denali National Park
This park located in the interior of Alaska is known for Denali which is North America’s highest peak measuring at 20,310 feet. The park itself spans over 6 million acres and is a have for wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, sheep and more. It is accessible by a single road via bus tours. It is a great place for hiking, wildlife watching and capturing natural beauty.
Getting here
It is about a 2 hour drive from Fairbanks and about a 4 hour drive from Anchorage
Where to stay
The nearest community to Denali is Healy which is about 11 miles north of the park entrance. Cantwell is located about 30 miles south of the park entrance. There are campgrounds available in the park but no NPS operated lodges. There are some lodges in the park operated privately.
What to do
Take a bus tour as it is one of the best ways to see the park. There are several different options of bus tours included guided and non-guided. There are some incredible hiking trails. It is great to visit the visitor centers as well. There is dog sledding dogs.
Kenai Fjords National Park
This park located near Seward, Alaska is known for its incredible glaciers, rugged mountains and beautiful waters. The park itself spans 669,984 acres and is a home for wildlife including whales, seals, moose, bears and more. Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield Trail are accessible by road while most of the park can be explored via boat tours. It is a great place for hiking, wildlife watching and capturing natural beauty.
Getting here
Exit Glacier is about a 12 mile (20 minute) drive from Seward and a 132 mile (2 hour 40 minute) drive from Anchorage. Boat tours go out of Seward.
Where to stay
Seward, Alaska is a great base town for exploring the Kenai Fjords National Park.
What to do
Take a boat tour as it is one of the best ways to see the park. There are several different options of boat tours to various different glaciers that are a part of the park. Exit Glacier is accessible by car with a short hike. For a more challenging hike you can explore the Harding Icefields.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
This park is the largest national park in the United States. The park itself spans 13.2 million acres. This expansive and untouched wilderness is home to massive glaciers, mountain ranges and diverse ecosystems. It has 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the USA. Visitors can explore historic mining sites, glaciers and backcountry trails.
Getting here
McCarthy road is a gravel road so check your car rental policy. Most car rentals do not include this road and it is recommended to take a shuttle bus. You can shuttle in and out of the park or opt to fly in or out on small plane or you can do a combination of the two.
Where to stay
McCarthy is a small town within the park with a few options for lodging. There are also some options just outside of McCarthy near where the shuttle drops you off. There is a 3 star hotel the Kennicott Glacier Lodge is in Kennicott as well.
What to do
Exploring Root Glacier is definitely a highlight of this park. You can take a tour or put on your own crampons and do it yourself. There are several trails including the Erie Mine Trail. Exploring the historic mining town of Kennicott is a must as well.
National Parks
These three national parks should definitely be on your driving tour of Alaska. Each one has its own unique charm and beauty. Denali charges a fee but the other two parks did not require an entrance fee. We have the National Park America the Beautiful Annual Pass which I recommend for anyone visiting a couple parks within a year. If you do a Denali narrated tour the cost of entry is include with the bus tour. The Kenai Fjords is best explored on boat aside from Exit Glacier. There is a fee for these boat tours. There is no entrance fee to Wrangell-St. Elias but you do have to pay for shuttle or plane into the park. Trust me, you will not regret visiting these iconic national parks! Make sure to add them to your bucket list!
