Alaska in late August/early September
 

We are thinking of planning a very last minute trip to Alaska since wildfires in Montana are forcing to cancel that trip. Is it too late in the season to head to Alaska from August 29-Sept. 8? We'd like to see Denali to do some hiking and go to the Kenai peninsula. Any thoughts you have would be great! I know some places close down right around September 10th or so.

Also meant to add, I am open to other options for locations, but we will fly in and out of Anchorage and want to hike/kayak. Thanks!

I can't figure out how to edit my post, sorry! I just realized we could fly into Juneau instead. I'm not sure what to do there and if it would be too hard to plan something in 4 days, but would love suggestions! Thanks!

We were there a couple of years ago and the weather was great. The tundra was a beautiful pinky purple and the trees were turning yellow in Denali. The moose were in rut and there were lots of sheep close to the road there.

Also, no problems with mosquitoes.

It's a fine time to visit. Fly into Anchorage, get a car and drive up to Denali and start there, then work your way south to the Kenai peninsula. You ought to get good fall color in Denali. Take care of lodgings around Denali as your first order of business, it's still a very busy time around the national park.

Have a look at a glacier tour out of Whittier and a day trip to Kenai Fjords National Park out of Seward. Both are on boats, but they're very different with respect to scenery (Whittier) and wildlife (Seward.)

The silvers will also still be biting in Resurrection Bay and tributaries (Seward) if fishing is of any interest.

Thanks! We are now thinking of doing Denali (Tonglen Lake Lodge) and then a couple of nights at a wilderness lodge in Halibut Cove. That would likely mean skipping the Kenai Fjords. It seems like being in Halibut Cove will give us much of what we can get in Kenai but I know they are different. The other option is to stay in Seward and do a day trip to the Fjords. What would be your recommendations? Thanks!

Oh, either. The Halibut Cove option will involve more driving. Yes, they're different, but that's fine. Halibut Cove - indeed, the whole south bank of Kachemak Bay - is gorgeous.