Located at the northeast side of Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska and home to the world’s richest sockeye salmon fishery, the community of Naknek is all about fishing., ABOUT NAKNEK (YUP'IK: NAKNIQ), Accessible by road from nearby King Salmon , Naknek sits on the north bank of the Naknek River. The village comes alive during the red salmon run from mid-June to the end of July. Almost 70 percent of the world’s sockeye salmon is caught in Bristol Bay and Naknek is home to six salmon processors. Thousands of people flood the area during the fishing season, sending millions of pounds of salmon…, THINGS TO DO, The excellent fishing near Naknek isn’t just for commercial operators – several high-end fishing lodges offer guests the opportunity to fish for some of the pink, king, silver, and sockeye salmon as well as fly fish for rainbow trout, Arctic char, and grayling. Most of these lodges are all-inclusive and provide guides to help you get to the very best fishing spots. Charter boat operators based in…, HISTORY, The abundance of salmon attracted Yup'ik and Athabascan people to the region more than 6,000 years ago and Russian traders by 1821. The first salmon cannery opened on the Naknek River in 1890, and by 1900 there were 12 canneries in Bristol Bay.
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Popular with locals, this spot offers excellent fishing for Alaska salmon and Arctic grayling., Approximately 44 miles southeast of Fairbanks along the Richardson Highway is the Salcha River State Recreation Site, a popular weekend getaway for residents of Fairbanks and Delta Junction ., THINGS TO DO, In the summer, the 61-acre recreation site provides anglers access to the Salcha River, which is fished for king, chum, and coho salmon as well as Arctic grayling, sheefish, and northern pike. Other popular activities include camping, boating, and picnicking. Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing on the frozen river are popular activities in the winter. Limited camping is available at the small…, WILDLIFE AND LANDSCAPE, The Salcha River is a fast and clear 125-mile tributary of the Tanana River. Accessible by boat or on foot from the road, the river is a popular sportfishing destination due to its rich runs of salmon, northern pike, and Arctic grayling. The river’s surroundings are fairly dense forest, home to moose and caribou., HISTORY, With the onset of the Fairbank’s gold rush of the late 1800s, prospectors utilized the Salcha River in the summer months. A roadhouse, store, and military telegraph office were established at the mouth of the river., FACILITIES AND CAMPING, Salcha River State Recreation Site has a campground with six campsites, a picnic area, and a boat launch. The boat launch is popular and well used throughout the summer. The recreation site also has a public use cabin that is furnished with a wood stove, table, and bunks. The cabin is located near the boat launch and is available to rent year-round., GETTING HERE, Salcha River State Recreation Site is accessible by road at Mile 323.3 of the Richardson Highway, 44 miles southeast of Fairbanks . Explore more things to do in the community of Salcha . For more information, visit the Salcha River State Recreation Site website .
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Float the mighty Yukon River or paddle the Charley River in this remote preserve., Straddling the Yukon River in Interior Alaska, Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve includes more than 2.5 million acres along the Canadian border., THINGS TO DO, Floating the Yukon or Charley rivers is one of the most popular activities in the preserve. Camping, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, and exploring historic sites are also popular options. The preserve is a prime breeding ground of the endangered peregrine falcon and calving ground of the Forty-mile caribou herd. The Charley River is a designated National Wild and Scenic River and has been…, WILDLIFE, The Yukon-Charley Rivers are home to the largest nesting habitat of American peregrine falcons in North America. The falcons nest on the bluffs above the rivers, and are evidence of the species’ rebound from the effects of DDT, which was outlawed 1972. In August 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the American peregrine falcon from the list of endangered and threatened species due to…, HISTORY, The national preserve extends between the gold-rush communities of Eagle and Circle , protecting 128 miles of the 1,979-mile Yukon River and the entire length of the 108-mile Charley River. Best known for its rich gold rush history when thousands of hopeful miners floated the Yukon, staked their claims, and searched for gold, the preserve is still home to old mining cabins, roadhouses, and…, FACILITIES AND CAMPING, There are no roads, designated campgrounds, hiking trails, or visitor services in the preserve. Backcountry camping is permitted. Visitors who float the Yukon and Charley Rivers typically camp on gravel/sand bars along the river. The preserve has seven public use cabins that are available on a first come, first served basis. The Nation Bluff, Glenn Creek, Kandik River, Slaven's Roadhouse,…, GETTING HERE, The preserve can be reached from Eagle or Circle , both of which are accessible by road and by air taxi from Fairbanks . Eagle is 170 miles north of Tok on the Taylor Highway near the Canadian border and is accessible by road during the summer. Circle is accessible by road year-round and is located at the end of the Steese Highway, 160 miles north of Fairbanks . Floating the river is…
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Fiords, bays, lakes, glaciers, mountains, and hundreds of islands provide a rich and unspoiled beauty, The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is a place of great distances and greater dramas. Extending across 4.9 million acres, the refuge comprises grasslands, islands, glaciers, fiords, and active volcanoes. It is a place of contrasts, where relics of World War II slowly rust in deserted valleys, while nearby, great forests of kelp teem with life. This area has long been a place of refuge…, Aleutians, , and north to Cape Lisburne in the Arctic Ocean. Traveling between its farthest-flung points would be the equivalent of taking a trip from Georgia to California. The refuge consists of five separate units and includes the spectacular volcanic islands of the Aleutian chain, the seabird cliffs of the remote Pribilof Islands , and remote coastlands washed by the Chukchi Sea. No other maritime…, WILDLIFE, Stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the southeast panhandle, the refuge protects breeding habitat for 40 million seabirds, representing more than 30 species, and a variety of marine mammals including Steller sea lions, fur seals, walrus, sea otters, harbor seals, humpback whales, belugas, gray whales, blue whales, and polar bears. This abundant wildlife resides in or migrates through the area’s 2…, THINGS TO DO, There are a number of opportunities to explore the expansive refuge. Wildlife viewing, birding, and hunting are popular activities within the refuge. Although the wildlife viewing is excellent, access is difficult and visitor facilities are sparse throughout most of the refuge. Boat tours and other activities depart from easily-accessible towns that show visitors just a taste of the vast refuge.…, Alaska Marine Highway, ferry for Kodiak and pass through the Barren Islands, which is part of the refuge and home to the largest seabird colony in the northern Gulf of Alaska. The Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea are home to millions of seabirds and the northern fur seal. Sometimes referred to as the 'Galapagos of the North,' these islands are a mad scene each summer as a million fur seals swim ashore to breed…, Aleutians, , with scheduled jet service from Anchorage and once a month , Alaska Marine Highway, ferry service in summer. Spectacularly craggy cliffs, sea stacks, pinnacles, and snow-topped volcanoes make up the scenery, while rare whiskered auklet colonies along with countless other birds offer fantastic birding opportunities. Further west in the Aleutians is Adak Island , over half of which is Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge land. This island is one of the only places that…, LANDSCAPE, The refuge is broken up into five units, comprised of a vast array of landscapes. The Gulf of Alaska Unit contains scattered small islands extending along 800 miles of coast from the rainforests of the Inside Passage across the arc of Prince William Sound and the fjord-edged Kenai Peninsula to islets off Kodiak Island . The Alaska Peninsula Unit extends more than 400 miles along the south…, HISTORY, More than 9,000 years ago, marine mammals and birds fed and clothed Alaska's earliest coastal peoples and gave rise to prosperous Alaska Native civilizations. Unangan & Sugpiaq , Yup'ik , Inupiat , Dena'ina Athabascan , Haida , and Tlingit all have roots on this refuge. From the 1700s-1900s, fur-seeking trappers encroached on Alaska Native lands and decimated fur-bearing wildlife…, Aleutian Islands, . The military remained after the war to build a large base, now decommissioned, on Adak Island in response to the Cold War threat posed by the nearby Soviet Union. In the 1960s and 70s, three underground nuclear bombs were tested on the refuge island of Amchitka. The ecological consequences of these blasts are still being investigated. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter created the Alaska Maritime…, GETTING HERE, Most of the refuge is remote and access is usually by boat. The most visited areas of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge are highlighted in the “Things to Do” section. For more information, visit the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge website .
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From Fairbanks to Coldfoot you'll get to explore the history, culture, and nature that Alaska is most famous for., Day 1: Fairbanks, Fairbanks is accessible via commercial flight from many cities in the Lower 48 and via Anchorage . Upon arrival, check in to a cozy lodge or modern hotel , and if you're in town from August to April, be sure to ask the front desk for a northern lights wake-up call—if the aurora is out, they’ll ring your room so you can run outside and get your first glimpse! If you have time today, pay a visit to…, Day 2: En Route to Coldfoot Camp, Today you’ll join a tour by bus along the famed Dalton Highway (featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Ice Road Truckers” show). The all-day drive will offer plenty of opportunities to stop for photos, including at the mighty Yukon River, along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and upon crossing the Arctic Circle. Upon arrival in Coldfoot , you’ll be checked in to your base for the next two nights at…, Day 3: Coldfoot, Due to its location, Coldfoot is one of the best places on earth to witness the aurora, so be on the lookout when it gets dark. During the day, Coldfoot Camp offers plenty of activities to keep you entertained, including an excursion into the Brooks Mountain Range (the far northern end of the Rocky Mountains), a dog sledding experience with a local musher, or a trip to nearby Wiseman for more…, Day 4: Fairbanks, Today you’ll hop a plane back to Fairbanks , where you can find plenty more to do (just see all the activities mentioned above) or head from there to other Alaska destinations.
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Retrace the earliest days of the Klondike Gold Rush with this four-day itinerary through Skagway and the nearby ghost town of Dyea, including a historic train ride that gets you close enough to see the footpath that Gold Rush prospectors wore into the rocks as they trekked in search of fortune., Day 1: Skagway, Arrive in Skagway via cruise ship , or by regional flight from nearby, Juneau, , and explore the town’s many historical buildings, all part of, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, , the most-visited national park in the nation. Built in 1898, the Mascot Saloon has been restored by the National Park Service and turned into a museum that looks into the vices — gambling, drinking, and prostitution — that followed stampeding gold prospectors. Other restored buildings include Moore’s Cabin (Skagway’s oldest building) and Jeff “Soapy” Smith’s Parlor Museum, a monument to one of…, Day 2: Skagway, Drive, catch a shuttle, or take a taxi to reach Dyea, located 15 miles out of Skagway. In 1898 Dyea was Skagway’s rival and the staging area for prospectors heading up the Chilkoot Trail to the gold fields. After the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad picked Skagway as a departure point, Dyea became a ghost town. It still has historic cabins and the Slide Cemetery, the burial site of 47 men…, Day 3: Skagway, Board one of the historic, narrow-gauge White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad vintage trains on a trip into the mountains for breathtaking views of glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, crumbling old trestles, and historic sites. You’ll be able to see where prospectors wore the original Klondike Trail into the rocks as they trekked to the gold fields. If you opt for one of the train’s longer…
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If seeing a glacier up close is every traveler's dream, what about seeing five? That's the object of this six-day itinerary through Southeast and Southcentral Alaska , which showcases the state's prettiest, most active glaciers along with dog mushing, scenic train rides, and museums., Day 1: Petersburg, Start your trip in, Petersburg, , a hard-working fishing town that was founded by Norwegian settlers. It’s accessible by daily commercial jet flights, Alaska Marine Highway ferry , and small cruise ships . Petersburg is also the starting point for an exciting jet boat trip to the face of the LeConte Glacier, an unusually active tidewater glacier that's famous for its underwater calving, which sends submerged icebergs shooting…, Day 2: Juneau, Catch the daily commercial flight from, Petersburg, to, Juneau, , Alaska's capital city. You’ll arrive in good time to spend the afternoon at the, Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, , where you can choose from a selection of day hikes, go kayaking in the lake at the glacier’s foot, take a guided trek into the glacier ice caves, and maybe even see a bear fishing salmon out of a nearby stream. Spend the evening browsing the many excellent, locally owned shops and restaurants in downtown Juneau. Overnight in Juneau., Day 3: Juneau, Start your morning with a trip to the magnificent Alaska State Museum in downtown Juneau. The museum offers a fascinating, informative look into some of the most challenging and transformative times in Alaska’s history. In the afternoon, take a short helicopter ride to a nearby glacier, where you’ll experience the unusual thrill of, mushing across the snow, in a dog sled, even at the height of the summer. End the day by catching the evening flight to, Anchorage, , where you’ll spend the night., Day 4: Anchorage, Consider taking advantage of Anchorage’s many urban amenities with a rest day: Visit the Anchorage Museum and tour recreated village sites at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, or stop by the Alaska Aviation Museum to learn about the outsize role small “bush” planes and their daring pilots have played in the state’s history. You can also sit and watch float planes taking off from the shores of…, flightseeing, trip to North America’s highest peak, 20,310-foot Denali . Or, if you'd like to stick closer to town, rent a bicycle and pedal the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which starts downtown and ends at heavily wooded Kincaid Park, one of the best places in town for seeing a moose. Just make sure to keep your distance because these gigantic animals can be aggressive., Day 5: Seward, Board an Alaska Railroad train for a scenic day trip to the port town of, Seward, . Along the way you’ll pass by the Spencer Glacier whistle stop, a train-access-only backcountry area where travelers stop to kayak or raft among the icebergs cast off by the glacier. You can book your tickets to stop here, or continue on to Seward and catch a shuttle to the Exit Glacier Nature Center in, Kenai Fjords National Park, . Here, hiking trails take you very close to the toe of the glacier; or you can take a day cruise from Seward to see marine wildlife and the piedmont, alpine, and tidewater glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park . Take the train back to Anchorage in the evening., Day 6: Valdez, Catch the earliest regional flight from Anchorage to, Valdez, , another friendly Alaska port town—this time on the northern shore of lovely, Prince William Sound, . The wildlife viewing , kayaking , and fishing are all excellent here. But if you haven't had your fill of glaciers yet, there is one more in store: take an all-day cruise to the face of the Columbia or Meares Glaciers, where you’re all but guaranteed to see chunk after chunk of house-sized ice calving into the sea. Once your cruise returns, enjoy one of Valdez’s excellent restaurants—as you…
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This four-day, no-car itinerary through Southcentral Alaska balances the best of urban and outdoorsy fun with day hiking and fine dining in Anchorage , a full day in the quirky climbing town of Talkeetna , and a once-in-a-lifetime flightseeing trip around North America’s highest peak., Day 1: Anchorage, Start today with a heart-thumping hike along Anchorage’s most popular and well-known day hike: Flattop Mountain. This short but steep 1.7-mile trail climbs 1,280 feet from the Glen Alps parking area in Chugach State Park to the top of Flattop Mountain. Enjoy a picnic lunch atop the mountain’s broad, flat “peak” as you take in panoramic views of Cook Inlet, Turnagain Arm, and the city of Anchorage…, Day 2: Talkeetna, In the morning, you’ll board the Alaska Railroad ’s northbound Denali Star train en route to Talkeetna , an artistic backcountry hamlet about 110 miles north of Anchorage. You’ll reach Talkeetna around midday, which leaves you plenty of time to explore the locally owned shops and galleries that line the town’s main streets to shop for locally-made art, souvenirs, Alaska Native artwork, jewelry,…, Day 3: Talkeetna, This morning, hop on a flightseeing tour that’ll get you up close and personal with Denali. Tour options vary, but whether you opt for a glacier landing or a looping circumnavigation of Denali’s upper reaches, you’re certain to come away with a new appreciation for the size and scale of the mountain and the vast tundra and river landscapes of Denali National Park . In the afternoon, book a…, Day 4: Anchorage or Denali National Park and Fairbanks, After soaking in the charm of Talkeetna, your options include riding the Alaska Railroad south back to Anchorage or continuing north by train to Denali National Park or Fairbanks . In Denali you can embark on a wide variety of adventures including spectacular wildlife viewing on bus tours into the park, hiking, rafting, ATV tours, flightseeing, horseback riding, and more. Once you've had your…
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This six-day itinerary takes you on three of, Alaska's prettiest highways, with stops for adventures in Kenai Fjords National Park and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park , plus a flightseeing adventure to Denali ., Day 1: Anchorage & Seward, Your adventure begins in the morning with a scenic day trip aboard the Alaska Railroad to Seward. Most of the trip parallels the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway and All American Road that traces the shoreline of Turnagain Arm, showcasing glittering water on one side and steep, rocky cliffs on the other. Once you arrive in Seward , you have two options for exploring Kenai Fjords National…, Day 2: Wasilla & Talkeetna, Rent a car and make the 115-mile drive north to Talkeetna , the small community that serves as the staging area for climbers attempting to summit 20,310-foot Denali. For most of the way you’ll be driving on the Parks Highway, another of Alaska’s designated National Scenic Byways. Along the way, stop in Wasilla to visit the headquarters of the, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, . Once you reach Talkeetna, take a flightseeing trip for an up-close, breathtaking look at Denali. Overnight in a lodge, roadhouse, or cabin ., Day 3: Talkeetna to GlenNallen or Copper Center, Retrace your steps on the Parks Highway, this time driving through the small community of Willow , then up and over Hatcher Pass . The scenic drive through Hatcher Pass gives you amazing views over rolling mountaintops and alpine tundra. Leave yourself time to tour Independence Mine State Historical Park , a gold mine that was active until the 1950s, and enjoy lunch at a mountain lodge or beside…, every August. It’s also a great place to fuel up and rest before you continue on the Glenn Highway, another National Scenic Byway. Consider stopping to view the Matanuska Glacier , Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier, before you continue on to the small communities of Glennallen or Copper Center , where you’ll spend the night., Day 4: McCarthy/Kennicott, From Glennallen, it’s an easy 70-mile drive to Chitina , the launching-off point for air-taxi trips to the small towns of McCarthy and Kennicott . Both towns are located in the largest national park in the United States, the 13.2-million-acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park , which includes nine of the 16 highest peaks in the U.S. Once your plane lands, take a tour of the old copper mill or a…, Day 5: Valdez, From Chitina, it’s 120 miles of paved highway to the seaside town of Valdez. Leave yourself plenty of time for this drive; you’ll want to stop often and take in the beautiful views, especially on the last 30 miles of road, which include the Worthington Glacier and two famous roadside waterfalls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horsetail Falls. Known as “Little Switzerland” for its dramatic mountain…, Day 6: Valdez to Whittier, Board an Alaska Marine Highway state ferry for the six-hour cruise to the quirky port town of Whittier , where almost the entire town lives in one massive building. The entire Alaska Marine Highway System is a National Scenic Byway, and quite possibly the best sightseeing cruise in the world. Keep an eye out for, wildlife sightings, , including humpback whales and orcas, as you sail through the rich waters of Prince William Sound . The ferry can accommodate vehicles (if you book your tickets before all the car berths fill up). Once you arrive in Whittier, you’ll drive through the longest combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America on your way back to Anchorage . The drive is about 60 miles in total., Optional Add-On, Consider detouring between Days 2 and 3 to visit Denali National Park , which is just 150 miles north of Talkeetna . You’ll want to stay at least two days. On the first day, you’ll have time to take a short adventure tour into the park after you arrive. On the second day, you’ll take a long bus tour deep into the park’s wilderness. On day three, you can get back on course with your driving…
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