Imagine seeing a glacier from the deck of a cruise ship or taking a leisurely drive where you see a giant moose peacefully nibbling on spruce trees against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Alaska’s national parks offer surreal experiences with some of the world’s most beautiful and rugged landscapes. Where are these gems located and what can you see or do there?
Denali National Park & Reserve
Denali National Park & Preserve is located in south-central Alaska, about halfway between Fairbanks and Anchorage. You can reach the park from both cities by car, bus or train. Although it covers 6 million hectares, it has one entrance and one road.
Denali National Park has varied terrain, from mountains and tundra to fir trees and glaciers. The park’s crown jewel is the mountain of the same name, which has the highest peak in North America.
In addition to the beautiful landscapes, Denali National Park is home to some of the most exciting wildlife in the world. Many visitors hope to observe “the big five” mammals: grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and Dall sheep.
Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve
America’s least visited and northernmost national park, Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, is located north of the Arctic Circle. It extends over 8.4 million acres across the central Brooks Range and is the second largest national park in the United States.
Visitors must fly or walk into the park. Fairbanks has several small airlines that operate bush plane flights to the park or scenic flights over the park.
Gates of the Arctic features undisturbed landscapes painted with snow-capped mountains, blue glacial ice and wild rivers winding through glacier-carved valleys. You may see unique wildlife including grizzly bears, musk oxen, moose, caribou, wolves, arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, Dall sheep, and lynx.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve covers 3.3 million acres along the Inside Passage in southeastern Alaska and showcases jagged, snow-capped mountains, dynamic glaciers, turquoise waterways, and temperate rainforests.
Although Glacier Bay is only accessible by boat and plane, it is one of the state’s most accessible parks thanks to the cruise industry. As such, most visitors experience the park from the comfortable decks of a cruise ship. It is perhaps the most relaxing and unique national park experience in the United States.
Aptly named Glacier Bay, it is home to more than 1,000 glaciers. During the trip you will see a number of important glaciers up close. If you calve once, the sights and sounds will be etched in your memory forever. You may encounter wildlife such as sea otters, humpback whales, sea lions, mountain goats and bears. Sit back and enjoy the show.
Katmai National Park and Reserve
Katmai National Park & Preserve is located on the Alaska Peninsula, near Kodiak Island, and is known for bear watching. The park covers approximately 4 million hectares of forests, mountains, tundra and lakes. It is only accessible by plane or boat. You can arrange flight taxis from Anchorage, King Salmon, Homer and Kodiak.
More than 2,000 bears call the park home. After the salmon runs in the Brooks River, brown bears regularly gather to feed on the salmon at Brooks Falls. Although salmon runs vary annually, they usually take place in July and September.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park, located on the Kenai Peninsula near Seward in south-central Alaska, appears to be stuck in the Ice Age. The 600,000-acre park includes the Harding Icefield, nearly 40 glaciers, coastal fjords, lush forests and icy waters. Unlike some of Alaska’s other national parks, you can drive to Kenai Fjords National Park, a 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage.
Kenai Fjords National Park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including black and brown bears, wolves, moose, mountain goats, humpback whales, orcas, fin whales, seals, porpoises, bald eagles and puffins. The park shines with its unique adventures, such as ice climbing, glacier walks, kayaking in front of a glacier, scenic flights and boat trips between the fjords.
Kobuk Valley National Park
Kobuk Valley National Park is located in northwestern Alaska, approximately 25 miles above the Arctic Circle, and encompasses 1.75 million hectares of pristine boreal forest, tundra and dunes. The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes may seem out of place, but they and the Kobuk River make the park unique. About half a million caribou migrate through the dunes every year. The park is also home to grizzly bears, arctic foxes, moose, wolves and Dall sheep.
Popular activities include backpacking, camping, fishing and floating. The best way to navigate the slow-moving Kobuk River is in a folding kayak or canoe, allowing you to enjoy views of lush forests and tundra along the way.
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Located on the Alaska Peninsula about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, Lake Clark National Park & Preserve offers 4 million acres of diverse breathtaking landscapes, from steep, snow-capped mountains and glaciers to crystal-clear lakes and streams to hot springs and alpine meadows. The park is accessible by boat or plane.
Popular activities include sport fishing, world-class brown bear viewing, hiking, camping and kayaking. Due to its diverse landscapes, Lake Clark attracts many native and transient bird species. If you like wildlife, the park is home to brown and black bears, caribou, moose, wolves, red foxes and Dall sheep.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
America’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is located in southeastern Alaska and covers more than 13 million acres. It is six times larger than Yellowstone and is home to 9 of the country’s 16 highest peaks.
Although vegetation is sparse in much of the park, it is home to much wildlife, including mountain goats and Dall sheep along the steep mountain peaks, caribou feeding on sedges on the slopes of the Wrangells, elk winding through the forested lowlands, and bears roaming freely. stroll through the entire park. You may also see bald eagles, bison, sea lions, harbor seals, and red, gray, and arctic foxes.
For those who love history, visit the Kennecott Mines. These mines produced millions of dollars worth of copper ore and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Plan your adventure in Alaska’s national parks
Alaska offers surreal beauty amid its pristine wilderness, exotic wildlife and stunning landscapes. For most travelers, a trip to an Alaska national park will require a long and well-planned journey. Your efforts will be rewarded with unforgettable experiences on the trip of a lifetime.
Scott McConkey is a travel writer and founder of Miles with McConkey, where he provides travel ideas and travel guides. His wife Julie makes travel videos. They hope to inspire you to travel more.
