Day 7, Sep 5, 2018:
AMAZING DAY with great weather and very clear views of the elusive Denali
Denali is located midway between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
In the northern part of the Alaska Range, Denali National Park is the one of the largest in the United States and encompasses North America's highest mountain. Denali is the 20,320-foot peak's traditional name, but explorers dubbed it Mount McKinley.
[Denali is visible in all its glory at all vantage points in the above pictures!]
Denali is the home of grizzly bears, wolves, reindeer, elk, and other animals. More than 167 species of birds have been recorded in the park.
Ptarmagan, the state bird
The six million acres of wide river valleys, tundra, high alpine ranges, and glacier-draped mountains are purely spectacular.
A single road leads into the park, and only park-approved buses are permitted to travel beyond Savage River.
Views of Denali can be enjoyed from the park road, weather permitting... This is the road a little before Eielson visitor center where we see Denali...
In the northern part of the Alaska Range, Denali National Park is the one of the largest in the United States and encompasses North America's highest mountain. Denali is the 20,320-foot peak's traditional name, but explorers dubbed it Mount McKinley.
Denali is the home of grizzly bears, wolves, reindeer, elk, and other animals. More than 167 species of birds have been recorded in the park.
Ptarmagan, the state bird
The six million acres of wide river valleys, tundra, high alpine ranges, and glacier-draped mountains are purely spectacular.
A single road leads into the park, and only park-approved buses are permitted to travel beyond Savage River.
Views of Denali can be enjoyed from the park road, weather permitting... This is the road a little before Eielson visitor center where we see Denali...
92 miles long, the Denali Park Road
parallels the Alaska Range and travels through low valleys and high
mountain passes.
It is the only road in the park. Along its route,
beautiful landscapes can be seen at every turn, and there are many
opportunities to view Denali - if the normally cloudy skies permit.
Wildlife can often be seen, too, though sightings are not guaranteed
- they are, after all, wild animals roaming an unfenced land.
During summer, roughly late May through early September, private vehicles may drive the first fifteen miles of this road, to a place called Savage River. The road to Savage River is paved, and features numerous pull-outs for folks to stop and snap some scenic photos. "The Mountain" can be seen as early as Mile 9, if the day isn't too overcast, and animals of all sorts can sometimes be seen on this stretch of road - although chances to see wildlife increase greatly with a bus trip farther down the Park Road.
During summer, roughly late May through early September, private vehicles may drive the first fifteen miles of this road, to a place called Savage River. The road to Savage River is paved, and features numerous pull-outs for folks to stop and snap some scenic photos. "The Mountain" can be seen as early as Mile 9, if the day isn't too overcast, and animals of all sorts can sometimes be seen on this stretch of road - although chances to see wildlife increase greatly with a bus trip farther down the Park Road.
There are two main types of buses in
Denali - narrated trips (tour buses) and non-narrated trips
(transit buses). In addition, a few free buses travel
routes around the park entrance, connecting visitor centers and
points of interest in the same area where visitors may drive their
own vehicles.
Non-narrated transit buses
Cheaper than tour buses, and more
flexible in that WE may disembark / re-board anywhere along the road.
These buses stop for wildlife viewing, restroom stops and beautiful
scenery, just like tour buses. There are four choices of non-narrated
trips, of varying length. We took the 11 hour bus to wonder lake for
2 days
Narrated tour buses
Narrated tour buses
driver provides a detailed narrative on
the journey along the Denali Park Road. Tour buses make the same
restroom stops as the non-narrated buses, and pause for views of
wildlife and scenery. All tours offer either a snack or full lunch.
There are three tour bus options, of varying length.
The park shuttle bus system is the key
to a great visit. Reserve as far ahead as possible (the previous Dec
is not too soon) to get a seat on the earliest bus you can manage.
Wildlife tends to be more active in the morning. Ride deep into the
park, taking along all your food and water, a warm jacket and
raincoat, and good hiking shoes. We can make our choice for the
numerous hikes . When ready to head home, just catch another bus on
the way back.
We clambered up the stairs to the higher view points and enjoyed Stunning Kaleidoscopic Vistas.
They have animal skins to feel and experience.
Then boarded the bus to the final destination Wonder lake. We wanted to do our hikes on the way back.
Mike gave them his camera, asked them to take it on their hike, take pics and then drop it off at the bus depot! The next day we did see the camera in its niche on the bus dashboard!
There was a small pond by the roadside and the driver told a small group to walk straight from there to reach the Reflection Pond.
We are used to trails with signs, so we were quite intimidated by such style of hiking in DNP, complicated by the presence of grizzlies, wolves, moose in rut...
The wonder Lake was beautiful. It had a wonderful reflection.
We could even see Denali...little right to the middle of the skyline in these 2 pics...
We had booked the earliest shuttles for
Sep 5 and 6.
Sep 5, it was 6.15, Sep 6, they had
already scaled down and the first one was 6.45.
We started off from our hotel at 5.35
and drove slowly on the dark roads to the national park. We parked in
the wilderness access center and walked into the center with our
bags... food, water, cameras, and rain ponchos. In fact we were
wearing our rain pants on top of our regular ones as the sky was
fully cloudy.
The shuttle was already standing
outside the doors; we showed the driver our tickets and were the
first to board.
We had read reviews that while going in, left side has the best views... Denali of course appears on that side along with the Alaskan range. We sat in the first seats on the left just behind the driver. Excellent choice as the right side has the cliffs mostly and the alpine tundra valley with the mountains is on the left.
We had read reviews that while going in, left side has the best views... Denali of course appears on that side along with the Alaskan range. We sat in the first seats on the left just behind the driver. Excellent choice as the right side has the cliffs mostly and the alpine tundra valley with the mountains is on the left.
There is a vent at the feet for engine
heat and this kept me toasty warm through out. So on the 2nd
day also we had the same seats.
Our driver was Mike with 28 years
experience of driving the shuttle bus. He was a no-nonsense guy,
spoke in very low pitched voice. Laid down rules, No standing while
bus is on the move, no body parts outside window while taking pics
etc. He said, “My job is to keep everyone safe and keep the bus on
the road; not to look out for wild life!! This is NOT a tour bus”
He had binoculars and frequently
scoured the terrain and did spot wild life. Allowed a guy to have an
impromptu comfort break in the bushes while were stopped watching a
moose.
A BUS STOPED AHEAD IS OF COURSE A SIGN OF WILD LIFE NEARBY.
We have been on an African safari, self
drive in Kruger for 5 days from 5.30 am to 6 pm and had had the good
fortune to see all animals up close right near our car. Here most of the
wild life was quite far away, just a moving dot, we needed to zoom to
take pics/videos.
Right at the outset, Mike said there is
a border of blue beneath the clouds, it is a promising sign for
today. And, sure enough, the clouds started to lift and a clear blue
sky with a bright sun shining through out the day. AWESOME!!
The park is pretty scenic. We left the
paved road at 15 miles and then rattled onward slowly on gravel road.
Teklanika Rest Stop was our first halt.
Teklanika Rest Stop (Mile 30.2)
The Teklanika is a classic example of a
braided river, one whose channel was carved out by a glacier and is
fed by a glacier today. The flat, wide river offers great views.
We drove through nice terrain and
halted at Polychrome Overlook next
Polychrome Overlook (Mile 46)
Polychrome Pass gets its name from the
colorful volcanic rocks we can see from the overlook, but the name
could also be applied to the colorful vegetation, streams, mountains
and glaciers that make this spot unique.
Toklat river rest stop (mile 53):
Toklat river rest stop was next halt.
Antlers provided great photo ops... Caribou or moose for a moment!! These are SO HEAVY!
Antlers provided great photo ops... Caribou or moose for a moment!! These are SO HEAVY!
Now the elusive Denali with its twin peaks started putting
in its appearance. What we get to see is the top 8000 ft of the 20000
ft mountain. It was TRULY AWESOME.
We stopped at a view point for pics...
then went on and halted at Eielson Visitor Center... 25 min halt.
Rest had been 10 minutes.
Eielson Visitor Center (mile 66)
Located at mile 66, all shuttle
buses traveling to Eielson or beyond halt here. On a clear day,
the entire area offers magnificent views of Denali, true for our day.
We took several pics, gazed at the range happily, our hearts overflowing with joy! AMAZING!!
It's a full fledged building.
Solar panels...
Inside they have a board near a glass window giving names/details of the mountains what we see and we could match everything in real time!
Solar panels...
Inside they have a board near a glass window giving names/details of the mountains what we see and we could match everything in real time!
They have animal skins to feel and experience.
We got out, had some food at the magnificent setting.
Before wonder lake a couple got down to hike in the place where the pics below were taken and then go on to their campground.
There was a small pond by the roadside and the driver told a small group to walk straight from there to reach the Reflection Pond.
WONDER LAKE (MILE 85):
Before wonder lake, MIKE pointed at a small trail and asked if anyone wanted to get down there He said it leads to the Reflection Pond. Don't ask me at Wonder lake about how to get to Reflection Pond, he said. We were hoping a few people will get down and we can accompany them. Sadly nobody got down. We proceeded to the wonder Lake.
Mike said we can have 25 minutes there. He'll be waiting with the bus at the top of the road after the rest rooms. We got out taking all our bags.
We had our lunch there.
We could even see Denali...little right to the middle of the skyline in these 2 pics...
We were the last ones to leave We went
up to the rest rooms. But felt we had got lost. Another shuttle bus
came in and deposited people at wonder lake.
We stood on that small trail and waited for that bus to come back. But it stayed put at wonder lake. So we went back. Asked the driver If we can hitch a ride on his shuttle and showed our tickets. He acted a little pricey though the bus was only half full. Anyway we stayed on and got on the bus. He stopped at the top of the road. And the entire people got down We stayed on in the bus. After 10 minutes when they came back we realized the driver had taken them on a hike. If we had known we would have gone as well. This driver drove pretty fast, took the switchbacks in a hair raising manner.
Grizzly with cub
Male moose
Lovely scenery as usual
We stood on that small trail and waited for that bus to come back. But it stayed put at wonder lake. So we went back. Asked the driver If we can hitch a ride on his shuttle and showed our tickets. He acted a little pricey though the bus was only half full. Anyway we stayed on and got on the bus. He stopped at the top of the road. And the entire people got down We stayed on in the bus. After 10 minutes when they came back we realized the driver had taken them on a hike. If we had known we would have gone as well. This driver drove pretty fast, took the switchbacks in a hair raising manner.
Saw a black bear, caribous.
Male moose
Lovely scenery as usual
Eielson HIKE:
We reached Eielson and got down for a
hike.
It was lovely weather with gorgeous views.
The next day, this trail was closed as there was a grizzly and cub!
After the hike we went to the guy with the clip board and told him we wanted a ride back to the entrance. He called out names for a waiting shuttle and we were put on it.
Ptarmagan, the state bird
This driver was FUN, conducted a game of jeopardy and gave info on many national and state parks. We reached the car park, and drove back to our hotel.
It was lovely weather with gorgeous views.
The next day, this trail was closed as there was a grizzly and cub!
After the hike we went to the guy with the clip board and told him we wanted a ride back to the entrance. He called out names for a waiting shuttle and we were put on it.
Ptarmagan, the state bird
This driver was FUN, conducted a game of jeopardy and gave info on many national and state parks. We reached the car park, and drove back to our hotel.
WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!
Our report continues here:
Video links are below; day 1 is divided into 3 parts, 2nd one has the max views of Denali. Wild life is a separate video
Our report continues here:
Video links are below; day 1 is divided into 3 parts, 2nd one has the max views of Denali. Wild life is a separate video
VIDEO LINKS:
Denali national park Day 1, part 1:
Denali national park Day 1, part 2:
Denali national park Day 1 Part 3:
Denali national park Day 2:
Denali National Park Wildlife:
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