An itinerary connecting Kenai Fjords National Park, south of Anchorage, and Denali National Park, to the north, is probably Alaska… Get our latest sent right to your inbox. From the arches of Zion to the geysers of Yellowstone, there are seemingly infinite expanses of protected parks that can be explored within our nation. You have to fly or take a boat to get there. How to Get There: Air services to Cape Krusernstern depart from Kotzebue, Alaska. Park rangers are on-site to maintain a waiting list. Hey there, and welcome to The Parks Expert! By area, Alaska holds more than half of America’s national park lands. The park was originally established to protect its large mammals, not because of majestic Mount McKinley. Speak to a Park Ranger: Call (907) 459-3730. Think diverse wildlife, expansive wilderness, fascinating culture, and ancient volcanoes. Alaska, the largest non-contiguous state of the US, and the country’s largest state by total area is home to eight national parks. Frolicking through fields of wildflowers will divulge unique shorebirds, some making their way north all the way from South America, and the qiviut (inner wool layer) of muskoxen. Remember to respect Native Alaskans, their heritage, and their land. 2.Gates of the Arctic National Park Method: Driving to Alaska with Oscar the Outback, our own vehicle. While most access the park via cruise ship, flying into Gustavus and planning your own visit can be extremely rewarding. Gates of the Arctic National Park is easily one of the wildest places I have ever been to. There are no roads from Nome to the preserve. This also means that help can be very far away. The next three largest parks are also in Alaska. Download Free Checklists and Itineraries! Speak to a Park Ranger: Call (907) 459-3730 or visit the Morris-Thompson Cultural Center in downtown Fairbanks. Check the official websites for each park you plan to visit for the most up to date information regarding the pandemic. It is a truly special place of awe and wonder. I just saw a bunch of photos from a work friend’s trip to Denali National Park last summer, the whole area looks amazing. Alaska's top five most popular parks by visitorship are Glacier Bay, Denali, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias and Katmai. You should prepare to be completely self-sufficient and always carry maps, a compass, a GPS unit, and a satellite phone in case of an emergency. Katmai National Park This Alaskan national park is 4 million acres of geological phenomena. This vast 6 million-acre wilderness also harbors abundant wildlife in a landscape that ranges from lush forests to harsh alpine tundra, with opportunities for: The closest lodging is found in Kotzebue, Alaska. If you visit in June or July, prepare for large quantities of mosquitoes and other insects. Glacier Bay National Park is located on the Southeast Alaska coast, about 65 air miles northwest of Juneau Luckily, Anchorage is in the center of it all and offers many ways to enjoy the parks. The grand elements of Sitka National Historical Park transport you back in time to a world colonialized by Russians. At the closest point, the highway is about 4 miles from the park boundary. Alaska is breathtaking. For an idea of what to pack, check out my post on what to wear in Alaska. Things to Do: Backpacking, birding, boating, camping, hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing. Please check your email for further instructions. Things to Do: Backpacking, bear viewing, boating, camping, fishing, flight-seeing, hiking, hunting, trapping, Where to Stay: Gold Creek Lodge, Brooks Camp, Brooks Lodge. Located about 100 miles from Nome, this is arguably one of the easier remote national parks in Alaska to visit. There are shuttle bus companies operating in the park to help you get around. Charles Sheldon conceived the plan to conserve the region as a national park. Things to Do: Backpacking, camping, fishing, flight-seeing, floating, hiking, hunting. 6.Kobuk Valley National Park From one of these villages, you’ll need to reserve an authorized air taxi. I’ve been dying to go to Gates of the Arctic ever since I saw a NatGeo special on it years ago!! Viewing the bears at Brooks Falls (pictured above) is extremely popular. I’d love to visit Denali! This protected area of Alaska is located in the Alaska panhandle near the city of Juneau. Getting there may be a chore, but your experience in this incredible national park will be worth every minute (and dollar spent). Naturalist, hunter, and conservationist, Sheldon first traveled here in 1906 and again in 1907 with a packer and guide named Harry Karstens. Denali National Park and Preserve is located in the interior of Alaska, concentrated on the highest mountain of Denali (previously known as Mt.Mckinley) and stands majestically at a height of 20,310 feet. Thanks for subscribing! Kobuk Valley National Park was proclaimed a national monument 01 Dec 1978, and established as a national park 02 Dec 1980. Before visiting, please check with individual parks regarding changes to park operations. How to Get There: The visitor center is located at 214 Front St. in Nome. The Alagnak River corridor runs from neighboring Katmai National Park to the Bering Sea along the Alaska Peninsula. Support the villages as much as possible. Denali National Park is located in southcentral Alaska. The largest national park is Wrangell–St. A visit to any of the Alaska national parks will take your breath away. Things to Do: Birding, camping, fishing, flight-seeing, hiking, hunting, kayaking, rafting, Where to Stay: Glacier Bay Lodge, Annie Mae Lodge, Gustavus Inn at Glacier Bay. But, honestly, after reading this I wanna visit all of them . The smallest park is Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri, at approximately 192.83 acres (0.7804 km 2). You never know what to expect on a journey to this untamed land. For many, trips to Alaska’s national parks are the capstone on a lifetime of #parkchasing. Download our free national parks checklists by signing up for e-mail updates. I especially want to see the old mine near McCarthy. Most national parks in Alaska are not accessible by road. While getting there remains the biggest challenge, the visit will certainly be rewarding. Alaska never had a chance to become overdeveloped or spoiled, as conservation was an early initiative in many of its most beautiful natural attractions. National Parks in Alaska: A Complete List of All 16 Alaska has more than just its eight most famous national parks. Most visitors arrive in Skagway on cruise ships. Where to Stay: The park hosts a number of public-use cabins. With such a wide variety to choose from, it can be difficult choosing which ones are right for you and your family. It is home to the world’s largest and most powerful volcanic eruption of the 20th century – the 1912 Novarupta. Kodiak Island lies just off the Katmai Coast to the east. Boat tours in the park will take you through the fjords to see wildlife and glaciers, but the best way to reach the remote areas of the park is by kayak. While floating down the mighty Yukon, one can’t help but imagine what it must have been like to do the same centuries before. With 17 national park units and 16 national wildlife refuges, the options may seem limitless. Understand Alaska’s wildlife and wildlands. Each is unique, distinct, and gorgeous. Today, some of the park’s best hiking trails lead you to the old mines. Top 5 National Parks in Alaska February 6, 2020 12:48 pm by admin Views: 3 The Frozen North has more national parks than all the U.S. states on the Eastern Seaboard consolidated. While attempting to force out the Tlingit people who called the island home, a horrific battle took place. This is especially true if you hope to get up-close-and-personal with these ice sheets before it’s too late. On my backpacking trip, we saw hundreds of caribou antlers, two wolves (one pictured poorly above), two foxes, long-tailed jaegers, and much more. It is arguably the most accessible of all the national parks in Alaska because it is on the road system and there is a road going into the park. Either taking Inside Passage, a ferry system along the Pacific Coast, or driving on a highway through Canada. It also focuses on preserving various wildlife, plants, geology, history, and cultural use. It is one of the best national parks in Alaska that witness most visitors than any other parts of Alaska. If you’re floating the Kobuk River, call and ask about conditions before you arrive. This preserve protects two incredible river systems: the historic and vital Yukon and the rapid Charley. This includes national parks, rivers, monuments, preserves, and historical parks. Only authorized companies may operate in the park. Kenai Fjords National Park lies south and west of Seward, Alaska, 130 road miles south of Anchorage, on the Seward Highway. Wrangell – St Elias National Park is located in southeastern Alaska along the Canadian border and north of the city of Cape Yakataga, Alaska. Speak to a Park Ranger: Call (907) 697-2230 or visit the Visitor Center located on the second floor of the Glacier Bay Lodge in Bartlett Cove. Lake Clark, 50 miles long, and many other lakes and rivers within the park are critical salmon habitat to the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, one of the largest sockeye salmon fishing grounds in the world. Visiting these parks can be incredibly expensive, as many require air travel to remote parts of Alaska. It was designated a World Heritage Site on the 24th of Oct 1979, and wilderness designated on the 2nd of Dec 1980. You can also visit the Morris-Thompson Cultural Center in Fairbanks or the visitor center in Eagle. How to Get There: You can fly to Noatak National Preserve from Kotzebue or Bettles. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park was established as a national park and preserve on 02 Dec 1980. Speak to a Park Ranger: Call (907) 443-2522. You can reach King Salmon by daily commercial flights from Anchorage or Homer. You can drive to Copper Center, the park’s headquarters, from Anchorage or Fairbanks. The wilderness that comprises Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is a composite of ecosystems representative of many diverse regions throughout Alaska. Denali National Park. Read about one of my favorite trails in all of the national parks in Alaska. How to Get There: You can fly to Kobuk Valley from Kotzebue or float in on the Kobuk River. By clicking on or navigating the site, you agree to allow us to collect information using cookies. They were formed during two periods of glaciation when large tracts of ice compounded rock to sand and left the remnants. Gates of the Arctic National Park is located in Central Brooks Range, about 200 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska . Travel options from mid-May through September include scheduled and charter air services, a passenger ferry, cruise ships, tour boats and charter boats. The preserve features one of the largest mountain-ringed river basins and some of the Arctic region’s most diverse plants and animals. Alaska’s state park system is managed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. Its 8 national parks cover and protect millions of acreage, which is there for the public to respect and enjoy. Two National Parks in 1 Week. Alaska Public Lands Anchorage, AK. Today, the area is preserved as Bering Land Bridge. It includes the central section of the Kobuk River, the 25-square-mile (40.3 km) Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, and the Little Kobuk and Hunt River and dunes, which were created by the grinding action of ancient glaciers and carried by wind to the valley. Flights to Kotzebue leave daily from Anchorage. Things to Do: Backpacking, hiking, museum, Where to Stay: Westmark, White House, Skagway Inn, Speak to a Park Ranger: Call (907) 983-9200. A Acadia American Samoa Arches B Badlands Big Bend Biscayne Black Canyon of the Gunnison Bryce Canyon Redoubt and Mt. One day, I hope to see them all. Be sure to read through how to report an incident in case of an emergency. You may also find my post on the best outdoor gear helpful in planning. Furthermore, there are many activities for visitors to enjoy in this remote Alaskan national park. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Sharing 70 miles of coastline with the Chukchi Sea, Cape Krusenstern National Monument protects both beaches and mountainous terrain. There are also boats from King Salmon to Katmai’s famous Brooks Camp. To see what these adventurers experienced, you can hike the Chilkoot Trail into Canada and trace their footsteps. 5.Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve can be reached only by boat or by plane. You can also take a ferry to Skagway from various ports. 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