Visiting Denali

[Chilkoot]

Originally Posted by Data1000

It's not a bad place, but with so many wonderful options in Alaska, I'd ask other travelers their opinions before deciding on Denali.

Since Denali is only visible about 1/3 of the time it would be a very long trip if that’s the only reason you’d take one of the shuttles into the park. As Heathen mentioned it can be a wildlife jackpot at times regardless of how the weather is although a majority of the sightings are from mile 30 and beyond.

It sounds as though you might have been on the Natural History Tour that is 4.5 hours long but only goes to mile 17. It only goes a couple more miles into the park than you can drive and ends at a “vantage point to see” Denali which is still quite a distance away.

If it weren’t for the wildlife, I’d hang in Talkeetna too. To clarify, the shuttle busses are boarded at the Wilderness Access Center. The gated entrance to the park is about 15 miles further up the road.

[bongo]

Kesugi ridge in Denali State Park has great views of the mountain, but there is nothing quite like the mountain from Wonder Lake in Denali National Park, especially waking in a tent with that mountain right there!

[cjs123]

Bongo, that's sounds spectacular. I've never been to Denali National Park so reading this thread with interest. Saw Denali by train on a picture-postcard clear day in 3/2011. Didn't expect to see it again like that; sure enough in 2/2012 all the peaks were hidden on the train trip, so took a view flight a couple of days later and Denali was dazzling on that bright, clear morning. Didn't see it 1/2013 on the southbound train but again, didn't expect to.

Always think Talkeetna would be a fun place to stop when the train rolls through; maybe one day when I get up there in summer (next trip will be 3/14 so a summer adventure will have to wait) I could hang out there for a little bit. Also would like to take the train from Anchorage to Seward; I hear the landscape is gorgeous.

[AKStafford]

We won a spot in the road lottery last fall and loved being in the park. The weather was horrible with winds and rain, so the mountain was not visible.
Here's the pictures we took:
AKStafford: Denali National Park ~ The Views
AKStafford: Denali National Park ~ The Moose
AKStafford: Denali National Park ~ The Bears

[cjs123]

What a great opportunity--especially love those moose shots!

[EastCB]

Thanks for all the help. I may postpone the trip until August. I did a 5 week trip many years ago in July but didn't make it to Denali. Can't wait to come back!!!1

[cjs123]

Originally Posted by cjs123

Saw Denali by train on a picture-postcard clear day in 3/2011...in 2/2012 all the peaks were hidden on the train trip, so took a view flight a couple of days later and Denali was dazzling on that bright, clear morning.

Managed to get a couple of photos uploaded from my ancient PC (train/plane shots).