Denali National Park & Preserve is a must see when visiting Alaska. A trip to Alaska requires thourough research in order to make the moust out of your trip. So should a visit at Denali National Park & Preserve. In my latest post I already wrote about 10 things you should know before visiting Denali. In this post I am giving you 5 tips for your visit - some of them I wish having taken more seriously before I went.
Catch a bus
There is only one road in Denali National Park, the Denali Park Road. The road is 92 miles long in total but only the first 15 miles are accessible with your own vehicle. There is a lottery, which alllows 1,600 lucky winners to drive the entire road for one day in the end of the summer season, but you probably don't want to count on that. The rest of the time, you can catch one of the many park busses, which drive regularly between the different stops in the park. There are narrated tour busses, which offer guided tours as well as transit busses, which you can take to get from one point to the next during your stay in the park.
Reserve your campgrounds in advance
There are several camp grounds for you to stay at, and they offer a great way to experience the park. Some campgrounds are camp-only, whereas others are accessibke with an RV or other vehicle, but you will find one or more campgrounds in the park, which will suit your interests. Other than the established campgrounds, vehicles are not allowed to cap anywhere else. Although reservations might not be necessay, camgrounds can fill up, especially during the summer. If you follow an inflexible schedule, you should book the campgrounds in advance.
Bring good gear
Make sure you bring proper wildlife equipment, such as a good camera or binoculars. They will come in handy to spot wildlife. I only brought my phones with me - which is one of the biggest regrets I have from the visit. Also make sure to bring bear spray, food containers etc. if you are planning on hiking.
Pack for every weather
The weather can change quickly, so make sure to bring clothes for all occasions. Layers are always a great idea, particularly since it can get fairly windy in the open spaces. I went during August but on the days I visited Denali the weather was really windy and grim looking and I ended up wearing every single piece of clothing I brought with me, even though we were in a guided tour bus for most of the time.
Do your research
If you want to see the northern lights, make sure you are in the National Park when it's dark, and maybe at a later time in the year, since you will have better luck spotting them. Also make sure you plan enough time for your visit. The park is honestly massive, so a couple of hours just won't cut it. The beginning of the park is still reasonably busy, especially up to mile 15, as people are allowed to bring their own vehicles that far. If you are loolking for a remote outdoor experience or want to see Wonder Lake, make sure to plan enough time.
Have you visited Denali National Park & Preserve? What are your tips for visiting the park?
Kate recommends: Two in the Far North by Margaret E. Murie is written with great humor and vivacity. Murie grew up in Alaska and spend a lot of time travelling by sled and canoe to collect data about the flora and fauna of the region. Her book offers great insight into what it was like to live in the early part of the 20th century and travels into the now, describing the struggles to maintain the wilderness.