Bordering the Canadian provinces of British Colombia and the Yukon to the east and sharing a maritime border with Russia on the Bering Strait to the west, Alaska is truly epic in every sense of the word. This is a pioneering landscape of surreal natural beauty. Vast national parks sprawl across the state, which is the largest in America, landmarked by soaring, snow covered mountains, huge glaciers, and remarkable wildlife. It’s a place that evokes the spirit of adventure but with a little careful planning, Alaska’s outstanding experiences are easily accessible.
Anchorage
For visitors arriving by air, Anchorage is the gateway to your Alaskan adventure. This wilderness capital city lies between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet, so whilst still offering the urban city experiences including excellent museums, the Alaskan wilderness is quite literally on the doorstep.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is six million acres of spectacular wilderness. Accessed by one winding road, Denali is home to a wealth of wildlife including moose, caribou, and bears. Visitors are only permitted to self-drive the first 15 miles into the park, beyond this there are a variety of tour buses, which is the best way to see both the landscape and wildlife of Denali.
Fairbanks
Alaska’s second largest city was founded during the heady gold rush era in the 1900s and it’s the only city in Alaska’s remote interior. From late August to mid-April Fairbanks is regarded as one of the best places on earth to see the Northern Lights.
Juneau
Lying on Alaska’s famed Inside Passage, Juneau is unique in that it is only accessible by water or by air. Visitors can enjoy a wealth of outdoor experiences including hiking, seaplanes, and visits to the Mendenhall Glacier. It is also home to some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing in Alaska.
Katmai and Kodiak
Katmai National Park and Preserve is home to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, formed after a volcanic eruption in 1912 along with Alaska’s largest protected population of brown bears. It’s accessible by air from Anchorage, and Brook River Falls offers excellent bear viewing in July and September. Likewise, Kodiak Island is a prime wildlife viewing spot with brown bears so large they have been renamed Kodiak Bears, elk, golden eagles, and mountain goats all making this island their home. Only a tiny proportion of the island is inhabited, the rest is protected by the Kodiak National Wilderness Refuge.
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula offers the opportunity to enjoy easily accessible adventures in the Alaskan wilderness. Dominated by the snow-capped peaks of the Kenai Mountains, the region’s gateway town is Seward, and glacier cruises to Prince William Sounds and the Kenai Fjords National Park are popular excursions. This is an area renowned for its prolific marine life including humpback and grey whales, orcas, sea otters and myriad bird life.
Wrangle St. Elias National Park
This is the largest of Alaska’s national parks and is a beautiful and rugged region that borders Glacier Bay National Park, the Kluane National Park in Canada, and the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within its boundaries lie more than 150 glaciers, nine of the highest mountain peaks in the USA, and the former gold and copper mining settlements of Kennicott and McCarthy that thrived in the early 20th century.
Getting Around
More than half of all visitors to Alaska arrive by cruise ship, for a state with few roads and a magnificent coastline it makes perfect sense. If the thought of a large vessel isn’t for you then look to one of the smaller, expedition ships, which will get you up close and personal with the outstanding marine life. For independent travellers the road network linking Anchorage, Fairbanks, the spectacular national park of Denali and the wildlife-rich haven of the Kenai Peninsula is superb. Outstanding drives include the Top of the World Highway between Canada and Alaska and the Alaska Highway. Seaplanes and scenic flights are a popular way to cover areas inaccessible by road.
More From The Expert – Catherine Blackburn
Visit my website at Catherine Blackburn Travel, follow me on Facebook, or give me a call on 01295 231525
