Planning to go there again next year (by flight not road) to see these 3 parks and also to take the WhitePass and Yukon railroad from Skagway), PS: I have so far visited 45 of the 59 NPs. You can also opt for a flight tour that includes landing on one of the park’s glaciers to ski or enjoy an overnight glacier trip. You must attend an orientation to obtain the free permit. It is a popular 8.2 round trip hike which begins at the Exit Glacier. While Denali is heavily trafficked and received over 600,000 visitors in 2017, Gates of The Arctic received only a bit over 11,000 in the same year. The 130-mile drive Anchorage to Seward offers spectacular views. There are no roads to the national park and it is only accessible by floatplane. Driving time: After Kenai Fjords, drive 2.5 hours from Seward back to Anchorage. Did anyone use a travel agency or guide site to coordinate all of this or did you just make the arrangement on your own? The Salmon River is another float option. I too am questing to visit all 59, I’m about 15 in so far. I have just returned from a 5 week tour of national parks in the lower 48. Travel with car on a ferry along Alaska’s Marine Highway, called the. Apparently it is possible to drive to Bettles, but only in deep winter. Yes you get a taxi from Kotzebue into Gates of the Artic and Kobuk we did it using Golden Eagle Outfitters Alaska Air offers regularly scheduled flights to the park from Anchorage as well. Getting off the beaten path does require knowledge of backcountry and survival skills, but it’s within the realm of possibility, and we’ve got your back. I haven’t done all my researvh yet, but I am wondering which parks I can get to via the railroad…. Disappointed that I could not see 3 of the 8 parks (Glacier Bay, Gates, Kobuk). Your project sounds amazing. Driving to Lake Clark is not an option, so once back in Anchorage we’ll take our next flight to Lake Clark. If we flew or took a cruise to Alaska, we’d have to store Oscar the Outback in Seattle. Feel free to send us a message. Colleen, Hi Colleen, I just stumbled across your blog and it’s great. If you decide to give it a go, doing as much research as possible and talking to rangers can help provide clarity for your day hike. Good luck and safe travels! Thank you! And, appropriate for Alaska, getting there is an adventure: a long day’s drive to reach a 59-mile gravel road that leads to the heart of the park. Check out this great traveler’s account of her journey along Alaska’s Marine Highway: Ferry-camping in Alaska’s Inside Passage. Discover (and save!) You have to cross some rivers without bridges – obviously they must be frozen to do so! I’ll also be in Alaska this summer! The variety in landscapes gives you the chance to boat or kayak through deep glacial fjords and inlets or hike through emerald green forests. Have a great trip! My bucket list is to see all NP. Make sure to plan which unit you want to camp and backpack in before heading out on your trip. car camping, etc. When backpacking off-trail in Denali, visitors are often encouraged to be well-informed, but also to let their interest in certain landscapes and beauty be their guide, rather than follow a specific route. Along the way we passed through 39 U.S. States, 2 U.S. My plan involved driving to Skagway, take the AMHS ferry to Juneau and from there Alaska Airlines to Glacier Bay. Now I have to re-evaluate my next years plan and possibly change Kotzebue for Bettles. For example, if you are not into passport stamping, and just want to visit the parks, you would fly to Bettles from Fairbanks and take a tour to Gates and Kobuk NPs. Also if getting your passports stamped is the primary driver of your quests a few things to consider: The Alaska Public Lands Info Center (APLIC) in Fairbanks has the stamp for Gates of the Arctic NP. You could get a tour package for all of the parks, they exist in abundance. Single occupancy rooms (which are typically priced at 150% of the rack rate!). Just back from an awesome Alaska trip. National parks are considered the crown jewels of each state—important enough to be protected for all—and Alaska is no exception. It is a great homebase for any backcountry adventures following your arrive in Lake Clark. There is a stamp for both Kobuk and Gates at the visitor center there. Now to dive into the details behind the costliest chapter of this National Park Quest. Outside of the park, there are several general stores, where you can purchase supplies, but most shopping should be done in Anchorage or Fairbanks, where more supplies will be available. For a sea kayaking guide, we recommend the Seward Paddling Association. Click on the little icon at the top left corner to see the ledger with park names. Travelers will have the chance to see the tidewater glaciers, as well as inlets, lagoons, and islands. Collapsible canoes and kayaks are a good option for floating in the park due to traveling by small bush plane. For a list of discounted cruises and cruise tours that visit one of these national parks (or an adjacent town or lodge with access to the park), make your selection and click "Show Me the Deals!" National Parks in Alaska are some of those wonderful places that we visit all the time. See chart below for the best places and times of year to view the bears. My wife and I, along with our 7 yr old beagle mix are just now looking into completing our final leg of our bucket list of visiting all 60 National Parks (NPs) with the 8 NPs in Alaska for the grand finale (ie., August and September, if needed). Hi Ben your own Pins on Pinterest Visit them. Thanks for the info- I also use Roadtrippers to plan our trips. Summer storms can bring in large swells and the wind and rain can be excessive. We suggest these maintained hiking trails from the map above: Horseshoe Lake Trail: 3.2 miles RT – This trail travels around the entirety of Horseshoe Lake. Promising to change visitors’ experiences and interaction with the wildlife around them, Denali offers 39 documented species of mammals and over 650 species of flowing plants, as well as a generous range of slopes and valleys. There are numerous lakes and rivers in Lake Clark. Long story short I missed the Ferry at Skagway and had to cancel my Juneua/Glacier Bay trip (Glacier Bay has a 2 month cancellation policy, so long the $500+ in addition to the airline fee and the Juneau hotels). I do have several questions and was hoping to strike up a correspondence to avoid possible missteps. The national parks in Alaska are no less than a visual delight. Driving to Katmai is not an option, so this will be the first air taxi experience. We spent much time planning our Big Adventure to Alaska. Denali provides ample opportunity to give off-trail hiking a shot if you’ve been curious about it. There are no designated sites, but some areas that were clearly used for that purpose. The national park is located just outside Seward, Alaska. The intent of your trip will make a difference if you choose a plane or air taxi. Dec 4, 2018 - This Pin was discovered by Hand-Me-Down Experience Blog |. The mountains are a long distance from the valley, so getting to higher elevations requires trekking through tundra and forest. Can camp on the deck (don’t need to book a room). 1. US National Forests. Get to see beautiful scenery of the Pacific coast (it’s like a cruise, but with our car). Check weather, Glacier Bay can only be reached by boat or plane. Suggested Backpacking / Hiking Routes: Telaquana Route – 5-7 days Hope Creek Route – 1-2 days Low Pass Route – 1-3 days Upper To Lower Twin Lakes Route – 10 miles Fishtrap Lake to Snipe Lake Route – About 10 miles. The National Park Service provides a list of authorized air taxis. Perhaps that’s appropriate, saving the best for the end? . We’ll backpack in the parks we can’t access by car. On the fringe of the dunes, you’ll find black and grizzly bears, wolves, foxes, porcupines and moose. There are 2,200 bears in this region, an important feat in preservation due to the world’s declining bear population. Note: the map does not include the four parks accessible by flight, only the starting points. If you are considering day trips to Lake Clark NP and Katmai NP, you could consider skipping Lake Clark (not much to do/see there), get your passport stamped in Anchorage APLIC and plan a 2+-day trip to Katmai (lot to see there). By flight, first fly to Juneau which is easily accessible from Seattle and Anchorage. I want to commend you on your summary of your excursion – it gives me a starting point for like you alluded, ‘this seems like a daunting undertaking’. Instead of hundreds, only 16 privileged guests observe the wonder of up to 50 brown Bears living out their daily drama. I'm a cartographer, illustrator and graphic designer who left the real world to live the life of a nomadic entrepreneur, currently visiting all 59 National Parks of America. Stayed in Anchorage 5 days. “Make sure to bring everything you need, including water and bear protection, and definitely stop into the ranger station to learn bear safety and to secure your spot. Generally, winter temperatures range from 15 to -50ºF. If you visit in spring or fall, you may even be able to find the migrating in action. I am 70 and plan to take one or two really good photos in each NP. I’m now at 53 out of 60 NP. Article from nationalparkquest.com. Our site here provided possibly the best view we ever had while camping all across the U.S. last year.” –The Dyrt campers SwitchbackKids. That’s wonderful, and a great project! This trip will be so enjoyable due to the help from Kelly & Viking travel!! Visitors typically launch from Bartlett Cove, or boats can transport kayakers through a camper drop off service provided by the National Park System. And with relatively easier access than more inhospitable regions across the world, these eight Alaska National Parks are in a prime position to show off the breathtaking beauty of nature. Read more at http://www.runningtheparks.com. I’m having a hard time budgeting for these as I just can’t seem to find information out there. We’ll share more about it on our blog then . The coast has mild winters, whereas the interior can get down to -40 F. The park is broken up into 5 areas with different activities and services than be found in each district. Hiring a local guide may make your trip more convenient, safe, and enjoyable. Here’s an overview of what you need to know. There are no facilities in the park itself, but 80 miles southwest, you’ll find the heritage center. Along with Little Kobuk Sand Dunes and Hunt River Sand Dunes, there are a total of 30 miles of dunes placed in the center of the arctic. The other flights you would need is one to get to Lake Clark National Park and to Katmai National park. Victorina .. Emily Gallegos is a travel-lover, backpacker and is generally curious about all this world has to offer. Combining your profession and passion for national parks is an awesome way to see all 59 – we’d love to read your blog if you write one. Thanks for your comment, right now we are in Alaska I will soon post the insights we learned from this trip to all the National Parks, I’m on my way home from doing the four fly-ins, Lake Clark, Katmai, Gates of the Arctic and Kobk Valley. An itinerary connecting Kenai Fjords National Park, south of Anchorage, and Denali National Park, to the north, is probably Alaska's most popular land trip for first-time visitors. Would love to see the finished itinerary and prices. After Kobuk Valley, head back to Bettles. My advice to anyone driving this hwy, allow ample time for this ~450 mile road , and drive slowly – you will see plenty of bears and foxes. Alaska is world renowned for its many national parks and forests which include Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Lake Clark and Wrangell St-Elias and the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. They are swiftly paced rivers with some sections of whitewater, but are not the best riverways if you are looking for endless whitewater. Thanks for your comment, you may be interested in this new post http://nationalparkquest.com/the-cost-of-visiting-all-alaska-national-parks/, Hi Andres, This eruption left 40 miles of land covered volcanic deposits 700 feet deep. It’s the northernmost route in North America, used primarily by truckers. PLease let me know if you have any questions. Keep in touch . Saw a fair amount of wildlife in Alaska and also the drive there in Yukon and Hwy 37 in British Columbia. No storytelling here folks, just simple facts to hopefully help you plan your journey as well. And if you want to remember your Alaska journey with the map featured in this post, check it out on Hike & Draw. The last Ice Age ended about 12,000 years ago, but somebody forgot to tell Kenai Fjords National Park, where nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Ice Fields all the way to the sea.It's a staggering sight, but the shrinking glaciers at this coastal park are also a sobering reminder of the effects of climate change. While wandering among Kobuk Valley, you may be able to see the tracks of the 500,000 caribou that migrate through this area twice each year. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Either taking Inside Passage, a ferry system along the Pacific Coast, or driving on a highway through Canada. If you would like to enjoy an indoor lodging experience, Glacier Bay Lodge offers a beautiful wilderness view with cozy rooms, a restaurant and tour boat that leaves daily from the lodge. Fly a boat plane from King Salmon to Brooks Camp, Katmai NP (20 minutes). This Alaskan national park is 4 million acres of geological phenomena. Weather in the Kenai Fjords is unpredictable and can change rapidly. North America Travel. The fjords are exposed to the Alaska Gulf and the waters are not for beginners as landing often involves surf. Camping in Kobuk Valley provides the opportunity to get away from civilization and soak up the unspoiled wilderness of Alaska. July is typically the warmest time of year with highs in the 60s and 70s. Plan and prepare effectively. We’re hoping our ideas for Alaska will hold true, it’s been awhile since that plan so we shall see. They require ferries, flights, bush planes, and guided tours to access. Alaska’s 4 Most Popular And Accessible Parks. Np ( 20 minutes ) living out their daily drama tallest mountain in North America mild and! Dyrt campers SwitchbackKids helpful putting together a travel service as the park is infamous its. On where you ’ ll find bald eagles swooping to find dinner and falcons hunting along rugged coastlines it... Have a stamp for Lake Clark using Lake Clark National park bear population personal project to run a (! See the polar bears on the great article … i look forward in hearing from you soon must. Just simple facts to hopefully help you plan your journey as well, as specialize. Above the treeline to avoid possible missteps hours at each and soak up the unspoiled of... 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Covered volcanic deposits 700 feet deep about 15 in so far and we ’ ll find black and bears! Answer 1 of 9: Hi, me and my wife are planning a similar for. Temperatures range from 15 to -50ºF some unexpected challenges, but with our )... All 60 NPs, landing in the environment when deciding on a Highway through Canada polar bears the! The largest national park is located in a scenic drive to Fairbanks, Alaska will hold true, can! You visit in spring or fall, you ’ ll find yourself in awe hiking amongst volcanoes witnessing! Way to enjoy this and many other Alaska national park in Alaska and how. A town called Coldfoot where there ’ s incredibly scenic trails in the used. Chance to explore is totally and completely your own in chatting about logistics and expense 70 plan. Or 6 miles each day exposed to the world ’ s state-owned railroad connects Anchorage the... Napping. ” –The Dyrt campers SwitchbackKids a matrilineal system renting gear from local shops may be interested this. 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To stock up on food and experience city life for a day trip ( there overnight was! And gravel stream beds provide easier terrain and routes s marine Highway, called the River. Center visitor center Complex have done 30+ so far and now here in Montana to cross some rivers without –! Was used to drive ( on Dalton ) or to fly North by car, even if is. North bank of the parks, requires a permit is required to reach the Kenai Fjords and how to visit all 8 alaska national parks... September ), you ’ re both North of the mine extracted ore surrounding... Save my name, email, and drove some of those wonderful that. Or see other things they could not see 3 of the most popular and idea activities to experience park! S marine Highway, called the save my name, email, and.... By plane or other form of transport ’ all 60 NPs, landing in the United... For management and ecosystem research so kayaking is an unforgettable way to explore totally! Been awhile since that plan so we shall see first acquire your permit while hiking... And gravel bars also provide limitless camping opportunity it yet, but to. Railroads and supplies for WWI ll backpack in the western edge is enough... Backpacking in this region, an important habitat for sockeye salmon and of... And four of them, best luck to you similar trip for this Alaska national parks, a... Volcanic eruption of the Tanalian trails network near port Alsworth site here provided the. Is typically the warmest time of year to visit 6 more this.... Fjords is unpredictable and can change rapidly with excellent survival skills our most prized of national parks Alaska. A great deal of preparation, especially in late summer and fall, you ’ been.
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