AK National Parks Day to Day program

⇒  14 days trip, small group up to 10 people
⇒ Starts on SUNDAY, finishes on SATURDAY

Day 1: Kenai Fjords National Park

Depart Anchorage, drive to Seward Small Boat Harbor (120 miles, 2 hours)
Kenai Fjords National Park Tour, (6 hours)
Drive Seward to Trail Lake Campground, dinner at camp

Beginning in Anchorage we will make the scenic 2 hour drive to Seward’s small boat harbor where we will embark on the Kenai Fjords National Park Tour. A day on the water will bring us to an unforgettable setting not accessible by road. Here the northern fringe of the Pacific Ocean meets the mountainous landmass of Alaska, creating a geographically dazzling landmass that is part ice age, part sea accretion and uniquely Alaskan. Within the many fjords and scattered stony islands a vast array of maritime flora and fauna carve out a rugged existence. Migratory humpback whales, predatory orcas, Stellar sea lions, sea otters and northern seals are just some of wildlife you might see right off the bow of the boat as you cruise through the maze of islands and bays to the towering face of a tidewater glacier at the head of the fjord . On land, mountain goats travel the grassy slopes from shoreline to ridgeline while black bears that call the Kenai Fjords home are sometimes  seen, scouring the coves for an easy meal or traversing the snow fields which linger into summer. After the cruise we’ll return to port and set our camp for the next two nights.

Day 2: Exit Glacier Hike

Drive to Exit Glacier (approx 35 miles, <1 hour)
Hike Harding Icefield Trail (4miles one way, approx 3,000 ft elevation gain)
Visit Seward after hike, (shower option at harbormaster) Dinner at Rays
Evening drive back to camp at Trail River CG

On Day 2 we will stay on land and hike beside a valley glacier, climbing  higher and higher through the lush meadows of wildflowers and berry bushes which thrive in this coastal northern rainforest towards our ultimate goal  above treeline where the trail ends in a stunning overview of the Harding Icefield.
Over 700 square miles in size and one of the last remaining icefields in North America, the Harding Icefield overlook offers a truly unique perspective which has been thousands of years in the making. We’ll descend back to town after the day long hike and enjoy some delicious local fare in one of Seward’s excellent seafood restaurants along the harbor.

Day 3: Scenic day on Ferry across Prince William Sound to Valdez

From Seward to Valdez via AMH Ferry
Depart Seward to Whittier (60 miles, 1.25 hours plus tunnel)
Lunch in Bear Valley, picnic
Ferry departure 1:30pm, arrive Valdez 7:15pm
Dinner  in town, indoor accommodation

Day 3 we will make a short drive finishing in a long tunnel to access the port town of Whittier where we will board the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry to make the day long voyage across picturesque Prince William Sound.
Known affectionately as “the Little Switzerland of Alaska” because of its likeness to the pointed peaks of the Alps, the mountain ringed harbor of Valdez will greet us on our early evening arrival.

Day 4: Kayaking along Icebergs

Kayak, Columbia Glacier Day Tour( 10 hours, typically 9am start, 7pm finish)
Dinner, Indoor accommodation in Valdez

After a night’s rest in town, we’ll return to the harbor where a water taxi will transport us back into the Sound for a day of kayaking among the icebergs and along the coves of the Columbia Glacier bay.  Perfectly suited to the first time kayaker but visually impressive enough to please the seasoned paddler, a day kayaking at Columbia Glacier will leave you with a renewed sense of space and time, beginning amongst the freshly calved icebergs,  some as big as houses, and paddling on into the outer bay coves where forests grow as they have since before the ice age.  After a short hike to stretch our legs we’ll return to Valdez by water taxi for a well earned meal in town and a night’s rest.

Day 5: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Depart Valdez, scenic drive to Chitina (120 miles, 2.25 hours)
Stops en-route to include Thompson Pass overview, Worthington Glacier (short hike to glacier face)
Lunch at Liberty Falls SP or TBD between Kenny Lake and Chitina
Drive McCarthy Road, Chitina to McCarthy (60 miles very rough, 2.5 average drive time)
Arrive at base camp, establish camp, dinner

Next day we travel the road away from the Sound and into the mountainous interior to our second National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias NP, America’s largest National Park, 6 times the size of Yellowstone and greater by a quarter than the country of Switzerland. Together with its adjoining neighbor on the Canadian side of the border, Kluane NP, Wrangell-St. Elias comprises the largest contiguous protected landmass and the world. Nine of America’s 16 tallest peaks rise within the park’s boundary, making this truly a mountain wilderness. After a 60 mile drive on the former rail bed the Copper River & North West railroad, now a dirt road in the classic Alaskan sense, the road ends and the mountains begin.   McCarthy, the quintessential end of the road Alaskan village, is accessible only by footbridge and serves as the gateway to National Park.  Kennicott,  notched into the ridgeline just a few miles above the village of McCarthy, was the site of the most lucrative copper operation ever only a century ago. Construction of the CR & NW (dubbed the “Can’t Run & Never Will” by skeptics at the time who believed the route was impossible to build) was required to transport the ore to market by ship from the inland mountains, threading a needle’s eye between advancing glaciers, mountain ranges, dense northern forests, bogs and delta. Truly an engineering marvel of its time upon completion in 1911, the McCarthy road travels 60 miles of former rail bed from Chitina to the road’s end at the McCarthy footbridge.  Many of the historic buildings of the Kennecott operation still stand, including the multi story mill at the center of the copper operation where tours inside are available.

Day 6: Glacier Hike or Ice Climbing

Ice activities on Root Glacier. Options: Full day Ice climbing or half Day glacier hike with Mill tour
Access across footbridge, shuttle to Kennecott (5 miles one way)
Return to base camp, dinner

On the Alaska National Parks tour we will spend 2 full days visiting McCarthy and Kennicott, with one day devoted to a glacier hike or introduction to ice climbing on the easily accessible Root Glacier.  One of the 3 glaciers that spill down from the mountains towering above town in the spectacular Stairway Icefall, an excursion onto the Root Glacier is a highlight of every trip. For those who opt to glacier hike an afternoon tour inside the 13 story mill building crucial to the Kennecott Corporation’s copper enterprise is possible. The ice climbing is a full day experience that usually ends with an opportunity to descend into the glacier in a moulin, an unforgettable experience.  A memorable day will end in our camp beside the glacier’s outwash plain surrounded by mountains with stories to tell.

Day 7: Hike Copper Trail to Bonanza Ridge

Morning departure to Kennecott, access across footbridge, shuttle to Kennecott
Hike Bonanza ridge trail (4.5 miles one way, approx 3,000 feet elevation gain)
Return to McCarthy via late afternoon shuttle
Evening meal in McCarthy

Thursday night open-mic
Walk back to camp (1.5 miles, flat)

On our second day we will turn to the heights above Kennicott and climb the old copper trail to the top of Bonanza ridge, hiking the same route used by the mine workers to access their bunkhouse beside the ruby green veins that ribbon the very top of the ridgeline. Though the bunkhouse is now in ruins the ridgeline remains as impressive as ever, offering an unparalleled perspective into the glacial valley below and the incredible mountainous expanse beyond.

At the heart of this ruggedly unique natural setting is a colorful community of people every bit as colorful and endearing as their setting, and no trip to McCarthy would be complete without some time spent visiting the historic village. After a few days of rewarding outdoor activities we’ll spend our final night in McCarthy with dinner in town, a toast to our good fortune and perhaps even some live music at the weekly open mic in this entertaining oasis of a bygone era.

Days 8 & 9: On the Denali Highway

Day 8) McCarthy to Denali Highway
Depart McCarthy morning, drive McCarthy Road to Chitina (60 miles, very rough, 2.5 hours)
Lunch at Chitina River overlook
Drive Chitina to Wrangell St Elias Visitor Center (56 miles, 1 hour)
Visit Wrangell St Elias Visitor Center
Drive Wrangell St Elias VC to Glenallen (15 miles)
Drive Glenallen to Denali Highway Junction (71 miles, 1.5 hours)
Drive Denali Highway to Tangle Lakes (20 miles, paved, 30 minutes)

Day 9) Tangle Lakes to Denali NP
Morning departure, drive Denali Highway (80 miles, 2 hours to Cantwell)
Short hikes and lunch en-route
Cantwell to Denali National Park entrance (28 miles, 30 minutes)
Afternoon at Denali NP, Visitor Center, entrance area hikes
Denali NP to Healy 15 miles, camp DOC

Departing the Wrangells we will drive west, making our way into the Alaskan range via the Denali Highway. Paralleling the mountains, we’ll enjoy this lightly travelled dirt road with short hikes and scenic stops, sensibly splitting the drive from McCarthy to Denali National Park into two days with a night at the picturesque Tangle Lakes along the way.  First created after the construction of the Alaska Canada highway for post-war motorists driving to Denali Park from the lower 48, the Denali Highway  is a scenic route too often ignored by the average tourist  either in a hurry or intimidated by the scarcity of services along the way.  Though it is a slow road it is still the most direct route and we’ll arrive at Denali National Park in the afternoon, with time to visit the park for a short hike or whitewater raft a class III river before setting camp for the next two evenings.

Day 10: Denali Park

Denali National Park
Visit Eielson Visitor Center on Park Road via shuttle bus system (66 miles one way, 8 hour round trip)
Return to camp, dinner

Day 10 is devoted entirely to Denali National Park and the day long tour to the remote Eielson Visitor Center via the sole road within its boundary. Denali National Park is as large as the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined with only one 90 mile long dirt road in its entirety, access to which is restricted to private vehicles. Instead,  the park utilizes a unique shuttle bus system which is designed  to minimize road traffic and maximize wildlife viewing. Caribou herds, Dall sheep, Moose, Grizzly bears and occasionally Wolves are all visible from the park buses which travel the park road along the northern side of the Alaskan range. On a clear day, roughly 40% of the time in summer, the trip out to Eielson culminates in a breathtaking view of the tallest peak in North America, Denali (formerly known as Mt. McKinley). When visible from the visitor center at Eileson, Denali’s stunning, sheer north-face, known as the Wickersham Wall, presents its dramatic ice encrusted visage just across the valley floor. On the return trip from Eielson, the unique bus system allows you to hop-off and on  buses returning to the park’s entrance so you can make the most of your day in this landscape without equal in our national park system.

Day 11: Knik Valley

Denali NP to Knik River Lodge
Depart Healy, drive to Knik River Lodge (240 miles, 4.5 hours) Lunch, scenic  stops en-route
Evening  jetboat tour to Knik Glacier (5:30 pm departure, 8:30pm return)
Accomodations Knik River Lodge

Day 11 we will drive south through the Alaska Range with a few more scenic opportunities to see Denali from its southern flank along the way, while the Talkeetna and Chugach mountains slowly rise taller on the southern and eastern horizons.  As the slow crepuscular glow of dusk reaches into the heart of the Knik valley we’ll drive to the road’s end and then travel by jetboat to the amphitheater of ice at its headwaters known as the Knik Glacier, where a rosy touch of alpenglow can light the ice with an astounding  spectrum of color and create one of the most beautiful panoramas you can imagine. Back at the road’s end we’ll spend a night in the lodge cabins and enjoy a meal featuring the freshest ingredients from the surrounding farms of the Mat-Su Valley, Alaska’s agricultural heartland since its founding by pre-statehood farmer pioneers.

Day 12 & 13: Lake Clark National Park

Day 12) Knik River Lodge to Lake Clark NP
Drive Knik River Lodge to Merrill Field Airport (50 miles, 1 hour)
Transfer to Charter flight to Pt. Alsworth, Lake Clark NP (1.5 hour)
Afternoon arrival  at Lake Clark campground, orientation
Day 13) Lake Clark National Park
Activities to include: Kayak on lake, hike to  Tanalian River waterfall (2.5 miles one way, 250 ft  elevation gain) or Tanalian Mountain summit (4.3 miles one way, 3,750 ft elevation gain)

Bear viewing flight (4 hours total, 2 hours on ground viewing bears)
Skiff rental available to experienced boat operators

Exiting the Knik Valley the morning of Day 12, we will make the short drive to Anchorage’s original airport on the outskirts of town where we will trade our vehicle for a sky caravan and leave the road system behind to make the scenic hour and a half flight across the Cook Inlet. After travelling through the spectacular Tordrillo mountains we will arrive at the most beautiful National Park you have probably never heard of (unless you are a fan of the One Man’s Wilderness story of Dick Proenicke which frequently airs on PBS), Lake Clark National  Park. Because it is off the road system, Lake Clark remains a hidden jewel well off the beaten path. The vast majority of Lake Clark’s annual summer visitors are migratory salmon making their way inland from Bristol Bay. The tiny town of Pt. Alsworth on the shores of Lake Clark serves as our base camp  for two days to explore this idyllic setting. Established hiking trails lead from town through peaceful woods to an impressive waterfall or all the way to the summit of Tanalian Mountain where a commanding perspective on the length of breadth of the lake and mountain surrounding sawaits  Kayaks are available to explore the landscape from the shoreline at a leisurely pace while fisherman will be right at home casting from the shore. For the experienced boat operator, a skiff is available for rental for the day.

While the days in Lake Clark, away from the van and roads and activity of the Alaskan summer are a time to really unwind and relax, perhaps the ultimate highlight of your Alaskan tour awaits in the final days just a short plane journey away. Fly-in bear viewing along the Cook Inlet coast. Lake Clark lies within the heart of the world’s largest annual salmon spawn meaning brown bears are not far away. Bush planes equipped to make beach landings operate regularly from the airstrip at Pt. Alsworth so included in the cost of our Alaska National Park tour is a 4-hour bear viewing flight, a once in a lifetime experience to see brown bears in their natural habit.

Day 14: Scenic flight back to Anchorage

Lake Clark NP to Anchorage
Morning in Lake Clark, mid-day flight to Anchorage (1.5 hours)
Afternoon program in Anchorage, transfer to hotels, airport

Departing Lake Clark on the morning of day 14, one more scenic flight through the mountains returns you to Anchorage with some time in the afternoon to visit the city as you choose, perhaps spending some time at the award winning Native Heritage Center or taking in a bit of the heart of historic downtown before a transfer to your hotel for the evening or a drop-off at the airport for an overnight flight home.

Whatever your vision of the Alaskan wilderness, we believe our Alaska National Park tour will show you the Alaska you have always imagined and like the best vacations, the memories you make will serve as rich inspiration for further dreams.