Encompassing almost a half a million acres in Southcentral Alaska , this wildlife-rich park is one of the four largest state parks in the United States., Beyond the foothills at the edge of Anchorage –Alaska's largest city—is Chugach State Park. While Alaska has wilderness areas that are larger and wilder than the Chugach, no other wildlife-rich habitat on earth is so close to a major city. The park is known for easy access and activities for adventurers of all skill levels. Within minutes of the park are the communities of Anchorage, Palmer ,…, THINGS TO DO, Chugach State Park is amazingly accessible with 16 trailheads that provide access to 280 miles of trails. Activities are vast, including hiking , biking , hunting, fishing , camping, glacier viewing, horseback riding, gold-panning, ATV riding , snowmobiling, berry picking…and the list goes on. The park is also popular with nature photographers who seek to capture the diverse wildlife and rugged…, WILDLIFE, More than 45 species of mammals live in Chugach State Park, including nearly all the terrestrial mammals found in Alaska. Brown bears and moose are so prevalent they often wander into Anchorage neighborhoods. Biologists estimate the mammal population includes more than 1,000 moose, 40 brown bears, and 80 black bears. There are also 2,000 Dall sheep, one wolf pack, and populations of lynx, beavers…, LANDSCAPE, Chugach State Park is carved from the western end of the Chugach Range, which stretches 200 coastal miles from Anchorage to Canada. At 495,000 acres, Chugach State Park has enough space to contain both New York City and Los Angeles within its borders. The park features nine distinct environments including hemlock-spruce forests, muskeg, alpine tundra, the riparian habitat of rivers and lakes,…, HISTORY, By the 17th century, the Dena’ina Athabascan people had spread across most of what is now called Cook Inlet. Captain James Cook was the first European known to write about contact with the Dena’ina community. Cook sailed up Cook Inlet in 1778 hoping to find the Northwest Passage, but had to “turn again,” leading him to name the water body “River Turnagain,” now called Turnagain Arm. With the…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, Chugach State Park has three campgrounds: Eagle River, Eklutna Lake, and Bird Creek. There are also four public-use cabins at Eklutna Lake, a cabin and several yurts at the Eagle River Nature Center, and two public-use cabins at Bird Creek. Eagle River Campground is located 12 miles north of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway and a mile east of the community of Eagle River. Overlooking Eagle River,…, GETTING HERE, Eagle River and Eklutna Lake are accessible by road from Anchorage via the Glenn Highway. Bird Creek and the Turnagain Arm trails are accessed from Anchorage via the Seward Highway. A shuttle service provides transportation from downtown Anchorage to the Glen Alps Trailhead, and local tour operators offer guided hiking trips up Flattop Trail and other local trails. For more information, visit the…
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This gigantic glacier is the largest in the U.S. that can be reached by vehicle., Matanuska Glacier, one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers, is a stable 27-mile long river of ice flowing from the Chugach Mountains almost all the way to the Glenn Highway. With a 4-mile wide terminus visible from one of Alaska's major highways, the Matanuska Glacier is the most popular roadside attraction between, Anchorage, and, Glennallen, , and visitors flock to the area in the summer for the glacier’s brilliant views and epic treks., THINGS TO DO, Most visitors get close with the ice at Glacier Park, a private access area at Mile 102 of the Glenn Highway. A private road leads to a parking lot at the terminal moraine where you can start a guided trek on the glacier. Tour companies offer guided glacier walks that explore this enormous river of ice. Expert guides will get you geared up with helmets, crampons, and poles and lead you safely…, LANDSCAPE, The Matanuska Glacier is a valley glacier, consisting of streams of flowing ice that create the headwaters of the Matanuska River. Now 60 miles south of, Palmer, , the position of the terminus has changed relatively little in the past 30 years. The glacier functions as a weather hole that naturally propels warm valley air upward. Due to this phenomenon, visitors will experience sunnier skies and a warmer environment compared to the rest of the, Mat-Su Valley, , making this a premier destination for those seeking glacial adventures., FACILITIES AND CAMPING, Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site has 12 campsites on a gravel road that loops around the site and is equipped with a water pump, outhouses, fire pits, and picnic tables. Nearby Edge Nature Trail is a 20-minute path that curves through the boreal forest with interpretive signs to glacier-viewing platforms. The only way to access Matanuska Glacier is by joining a guided glacier tour,…, GETTING HERE, Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site is accessible by road at Mile 101 of the Glenn Highway, 93 miles from, Anchorage, and 52 miles from, Palmer, . During the winter the site is closed. Access to Matanuska Glacier is at Mile 102 of the Glenn Highway.
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Light on visitors due to its remote access, this park offers sanctuary for caribou, muskoxen, and more than 145 species of birds, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, one of the finest wilderness areas in the world, straddles the Arctic Divide in the, Brooks Range, , America's northernmost chain of mountains. Second only to, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, in size, Gates of the Arctic covers 13,238 square miles and is entirely north of the Arctic Circle. It extends from the southern foothills of the, Brooks Range, , across the range's ragged peaks and down onto the North Slope. With the exception of the Dalton Highway (famous for its depiction on, Ice Road Truckers, ), the park is far from any roads and is home to only one village,, Anaktuvuk Pass, . Eight more Alaska Native villages dot the perimeter, but all have less than 400 permanent residents. In the simplest terms, Gates of the Arctic is a vast wilderness the size of Switzerland that contains no National Park Service facilities, visitor centers, or campgrounds., THINGS TO DO, Gates of the Arctic is a wilderness park, with no roads or trails, so visitors must fly or hike into the park. Access to the park begins in, Fairbanks, , with several small airlines that provide flights into the gateway communities of, Bettles, ,, Anaktuvuk Pass, , and, Coldfoot, . The remoteness of the park attracts mostly experienced backcountry travelers for float trips, backpacking treks, or base camps set up to enjoy day hiking and fishing. Many visitors join guided trips that a handful of outfitters offer in summer for rafting and hiking, or in the winter for dog mushing and cross-country skiing. Either as an independent traveler or as part of guided expedition, a…, Wiseman, to, Bettles, . The headwaters for the Noatak and Kobuk Rivers are in the park and are popular waterways for rafters and canoers, ranging from Class I to III in difficulty. Of the various rivers, the North Fork of the Koyukuk is one of the most popular due to its location and level of difficulty - the float begins in the shadow of the Gates and continues downstream 100 miles to Bettles through Class I and II…, WILDLIFE, The park and preserve provides habitat for grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, moose, and wolverines. Fishing is considered superb for grayling and Arctic char in the clear streams and for lake trout in the larger, deeper lakes. The only trails in the park are those made by the Western Arctic caribou herd, one of the largest in Alaska, numbered at over 150,000 animals., LANDSCAPE, Most of the park is a maze of glaciated valleys and gaunt, rugged mountains covered with boreal forest, or treeless slopes of Arctic tundra north of the divide. Within this preserve are six Wild and Scenic Rivers, miles of valleys and tundra slopes to hike, and of course, the Gates themselves., HISTORY, The park's name dates to 1929, when conservationist Robert Marshall found an unobstructed path northward to the Arctic coast of Alaska while exploring the North Fork of the Koyukuk River. Upon seeing the two mountains, Mt. Boreal and Frigid Crags flanking the river, Marshall named the portal the “Gates of the Arctic.” First protected as a U.S. National Monument on December 1, 1978, the area was…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, There are no roads, campgrounds, or designated hiking trails in the park. The Arctic Interagency Visitor Center , which provides information about the park, is located in, Coldfoot, along the Dalton Highway, 260 miles north of, Fairbanks, . There is also the seasonal Anaktuvuk Pass Ranger Station and the Bettles Ranger Station and Visitor Center , which is open year-round. , GETTING HERE, Most visitors arrive via scheduled or charter air service from, Fairbanks, to, Anaktuvuk Pass, ,, Bettles, , or, Coldfoot, . Bush charters are available from Bettles and Coldfoot into the park boundaries. The Dalton Highway, open year-round, comes within 5 miles of the park, and some visitors choose to hike in from there, often beginning in, Wiseman, or, Coldfoot, . For more information, visit the Gates of the Arctic National Park website .
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Magnificent wildlife, vast tundra, and the towering Denali are highlights of this world-famous national park., The granite peaks and snowy summits of Denali National Park and Preserve cover 160 miles of the Alaska Range and are so tall they are often lost in the clouds. Dominating this stunning landscape is Denali - the highest peak in North America. Denali majestically ascends 20,310 feet and is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in Alaska. The Denali area is the traditional homeland of the Koyukon…, A note for visitors from 2024 - 2026:, The Denali Park Road will be open until mile 43 through 2026 due to road improvements. Narrated bus tours and transit buses will continue to be available for guests visiting the park and will travel as far as mile 43. The main visitor center will remain open along with four campgrounds and numerous trails accessible via the Park Road. Please check with Kantishna -area businesses about their…, Things to Do in Denali National Park, Visitor Centers, Located just inside the park's entrance are two visitor centers that serve as hubs of information and resources for the park. The Denali Visitor Center is a 14,000-square-foot facility with interactive exhibits and rangers to answer your questions about the park. On the first floor are exhibits devoted to the area's natural and human history and a theater with a movie that provides a glimpse of…, Denali Bus Tours, The majority of the 92-mile Park Road that leads into the heart of the park is not open to private vehicles, so the best way to explore the park is by bus. There are two types of buses into the park: narrated tour buses and non-narrated transit buses.The Natural History Tour and the Tundra Wilderness Tour busses are narrated by onboard naturalists and take you to the top sightseeing spots,…, Wildlife viewing, It’s not just the mountain that makes Denali National Park such a special place. Most visitors come to see Alaska's "Big Five": bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and Dall sheep - all of which can be seen in the park. Grizzly bears are mainly seen on the open tundra while black bears inhabit forested areas of the park. Most of the bears seen by visitors along the Park Road are grizzlies. Denali is…, Hiking & Backpacking, The park's vast wilderness area is home to relatively few designated hiking trails, most of which are located near the park's entrance. Within a couple miles of the Denali Visitor Center are eight trails with various difficulty that explore the lakes, rivers, and alpine scenery around the park entrance. Popular hikes near the park entrance include the Horseshoe Lake Trail and Mt. Healy Overlook…, Biking, The Denali Park Road is open to adventurous cyclists who are interested in a day biking trip or overnight bikepacking trip . Biking the Denali Park Road is challenging and requires careful planning and attention to safety, but rewards with stunning views and access to Denali's backcountry. The Park Road is unpaved and has no shoulders. Cyclists share the road with park buses and should always be…, Adventure Tours, A visit to Alaska is nothing if not adventurous, and adventure tours in Denali take that spirit to the next level. This is the place to indulge in experiences you won’t find anywhere else: take a helicopter or flightseeing tour and land on a glacier. Raft the Nenana River, with its swirling glacier waters roaring through a canyon. Soar across the boreal forest on a zipline. Watch out for wildlife…, Driving into Denali National Park, Visitors are welcome to drive their own vehicles 15 miles into the park to Savage River. From here, they can embark on the flat Savage River Loop that travels 2 miles along the river or climb the steep Savage Alpine Trail for 4 miles to a ridge with sweeping views of the area. Please note that the Savage River parking lot can fill up quickly. Visitors are also welcome to take the free shuttle…, Denali Sled Dog Kennels, Have you ever met a canine ranger? Denali National Park is home to the only sled dog team in the United States used to patrol a national park. Visitors can meet these canine rangers at their kennels and see demonstrations to learn about their unique history and role at the park. The kennels are open year-round near the park entrance. Canine rangers in Denali National Park, Flightseeing, Climbing Denali, the tallest mountain in North America and one of the world's seven summits, is a dream goal for many mountaineers. An easier - yet still dramatic - way to see the summit is through a flightseeing tour, with options for glacier landings . These flights depart near the park entrance or from the charming mountaineering town of Talkeetna , and are a fantastic way to take in the park’…, , Denali National Park Lodging, Most visitors to Denali National Park stay at the many hotels, lodges , and cabins located near the park entrance in an area known as Denali Park . These accommodations typically provide shuttle service to the park and can arrange tours and other activities in the area. If you’d like to stay in the park, there are 6 designated campgrounds, from Riley Creek Campground at the park entrance to…, Getting to Denali National Park, The three main ways to get to Denali National Park and Preserve are by car, train , or bus . The closest major cities to the park are Fairbanks , 120 miles north of the park, and Anchorage , 240 miles south of the park. There are also several smaller communities near the park with lodging, tours, and other services, including Healy , Cantwell , Nenana , and Talkeetna . The entrance to Denali…, When to Visit Denali National Park, The peak time for visiting the park is mid-May through mid-September, when the park buses and other amenities are operational, wildlife viewing opportunities are at their peak, and weather conditions allow for more activities like hiking, biking, backpacking, and camping. If you’re prepared for cold, snowy conditions and dazzling beauty, visiting Denali National Park in winter is a unique and…, Denali National Park History, Generations of Koyukon Athabascans lived in and traveled through what is now the park for thousands of years. The first permanent non-Alaska Native settlement was established in 1905, when a gold rush gave birth to the town of Kantishna . A year later, naturalist and noted hunter Charles Sheldon was stunned by the beauty of the land and horrified at the reckless abandon of the miners and big-…
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The expansive mountains of the Brooks Range extend 700 miles east to west through the heart of Alaska’s Arctic region and into Canada’s Yukon Territory. They travel through millions of acres of wilderness park lands through Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve , Arctic National Wildlife Refuge , Kobuk Valley National Park , and Noatak National Preserve . Hundreds of thousands of caribou…, Brooks Range: Cities & Towns, Anaktuvuk Pass Bettles Coldfoot Wiseman, Brooks Range: Parks, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
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The Denali National Park Area stretches along the Parks Highway from the town of Healy , just north of the park, to the town of Cantwell , just south of the park. These two towns, along with the Denali Park area just outside the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve , serve as the basecamp for people hoping to see the park's abundant wildlife and the tallest mountain in North America.…, Denali National Park AREA: Cities & Towns, Cantwell Denali Park Healy Kantishna, Denali National Park AREA: Parks, Denali National Park and Preserve
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In 1902, Felix Pedro found gold in what is now the Fairbanks area and thousands of prospectors swarmed to Interior Alaska in search of the “mother lode.” Nearly a century later, Fairbanks (population 32,000) is the trade and transportation center for Interior and Arctic Alaska. The city is home to a full array of visitor services including lodging, restaurants, shops, and tour options. The parks…, Alaska Railroad, and is famous today for the Nenana Ice Classic, a popular statewide content in which entrants guess the date of ice breakup on the Tanana River for a chance to win the pot, usually over $300,000., Fairbanks Area: Cities & Towns, Anderson Central Chena Hot Springs Circle Ester Fairbanks Manley Hot Springs Nenana North Pole Salcha, Fairbanks Area: Parks, Chatanika State Recreation Areas Chena River State Recreation Area Creamers Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
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Prince William Sound encompasses 10,000 square miles of protected waterways, islands, fjords, and around 150 glaciers. The region offers habitat for diverse marine life including humpback whales, orca whales, porpoises, sea otters, sea lions, and seals. The rugged coastline and dense temperate rainforests are home to 30 species of land animals including black bears, brown hears, mountain goats,…, Prince William Sound: Cities & Towns, Cordova Valdez Whittier, Prince William Sound: Parks, Alaska State Marine Parks Chugach National Forest
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Sweeping westward 1,200 miles from the Alaska Peninsula , the Aleutian Islands are one world’s most beautiful, dramatic regions. Here, nestled among active volcanoes, sea-sculpted coastline, and mile-after-mile of rugged, wind-swept landscape, the adventurous traveler can explore ancient Alaska Native village sites, visit agate beaches, view an array of wildlife, or enjoy unparalleled fishing…, Aleutian Islands: Cities & Towns, Adak Eastern Aleutians: Akutan, Cold Bay, False Pass, King Cove Sand Point Unalaska / Port of Dutch Harbor, Aleutian Islands: Parks, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
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At 3,670 square miles, Kodiak Island is the second largest island in the United States. The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge takes up a large portion of the island and is home to 3,500 Kodiak brown bears — the largest brown bear subspecies in the world. The island’s verdant landscape and scenic coastline provides opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, backcountry camping, whale watching, and…, Kodiak ISland & Archipelago: Cities & Towns, Afognak Island Akhiok Karluk Kodiak Larsen Bay Old Harbor Ouzinkie Port Lions, Kodiak island & Archipelago: Parks, Kodiak Area State Parks Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
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