Denali
Mar 17th, 2008, 01:35 PM
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Denali
Hi,
We are going to Denali first week of September. Can you tell me please will I have a good chance to see wildlife this time of year in the park? Is it worth going at that time? And how many days would you recommend spending there?
thank you.
We are going to Denali first week of September. Can you tell me please will I have a good chance to see wildlife this time of year in the park? Is it worth going at that time? And how many days would you recommend spending there?
thank you.
Mar 17th, 2008, 01:45 PM
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Can you tell me please will I have a good chance to see wildlife this time of year in the park? Is it worth going at that time?
This is my favorite time of the year to visit Denali. The tundra should already have changed colors to red-orange-yellow and the antlered game like moose and caribou are restless and moving about more in anticipation of the rut, so easier to see. Much better chance that the Mountain is out of the clouds in September too.
Usually the grizzly bears are feeding on blueberries that time of year and are more easily seen than earlier in the summer. Twice we've seen 18 bears on a single drive thru the park this time of year.
how many days would you recommend spending there?
We'll be there for seven nights but staying inside the park near Kantishna. If staying outside at the east entrance then this is likely too many days though. I'd advise riding the shuttle bus in each day.
Bill
This is my favorite time of the year to visit Denali. The tundra should already have changed colors to red-orange-yellow and the antlered game like moose and caribou are restless and moving about more in anticipation of the rut, so easier to see. Much better chance that the Mountain is out of the clouds in September too.
Usually the grizzly bears are feeding on blueberries that time of year and are more easily seen than earlier in the summer. Twice we've seen 18 bears on a single drive thru the park this time of year.
how many days would you recommend spending there?
We'll be there for seven nights but staying inside the park near Kantishna. If staying outside at the east entrance then this is likely too many days though. I'd advise riding the shuttle bus in each day.
Bill
Mar 17th, 2008, 01:47 PM
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BTW here's a link to some photos we took at Denali in late August and early September ... http://www.hiltonphotography.net/ala...nali/index.htm
Bill
Bill
Mar 17th, 2008, 04:00 PM
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Hi - we drove from Anchorage, visited Palmer for the State Fair (great), on to Talkeetna, and Denali for 5 nights. We left labor day weekend, and saw lots of wildlife, including the moose (rutting season). Recommend the park bus. We stayed at the Motel Nord Haven about 10 minutes away (exceptionally clean)and very friendly. We saw bears, goats, caribou migrating, and lots of moose. We saw great rainbows, very little rain.
Mar 18th, 2008, 06:56 AM
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Denali is excellent in Sept. And my big priority, no bugs at Wonder Lake. 
Look at at least 2 nights there.
Here is a photo sample with Denali park taken 9-1-05 http://community.webshots.com/user/budgetqueen
Look at at least 2 nights there. Here is a photo sample with Denali park taken 9-1-05 http://community.webshots.com/user/budgetqueen
Mar 19th, 2008, 03:11 PM
#7
To adequately see the highlights of the park, you really only need 2 days. On one day, take the school bus out to Wonder Lake and back. (Be sure to bring binoculars!) That will take up most of the day. On the other day, do some hiking (ranger hikes and/or on your own) and/or take a rafting trip (but beware, the rafting tour companies require full prepayment to make a reservation and they don't cancel those trips unless it's lightening, which is pretty rare; so even if it's raining and/or very cold, not uncommon late in the afternoons then, you'll have to go anyway or forfeit your deposit).
When we were there at the end of Aug last year, the colors were just starting to turn, but they hadn't had any snow yet which the locals said was unusual. Great time of year to be there.
The thing I didn't fully appreciate about Denali until going there is that this park is absolutely massive, but unlike all the National Parks in the lower 48 I've been to, there is but one road in the entire park accessible to tourists and that's the one the school bus takes. The public is allowed to drive only the first 15 miles of this road. Just the busses can go further.
Plus there are essentially no marked trails off those first 15 miles. So the hiking opportunities for the average person are very, very limited.
So here's this ginormous park but the average person will be able to see far less than 1% of it. If you're a serious back packer/camper, you can go off on your own well into the park altho I think a permit is required. But most of us aren't into that. Now there are ranger hikes described in their website where a ranger takes a group on hikes lasting upwards of 3 hours in areas of the park not readily accessible to the public. There are also some easy hiking trails near the park entrance which are worth doing. For more hiking info see: http://www.denali.national-park.com/hike.htm
We did a short loop trail along the Savage River near the 15 mile marker (which is as far as you can drive). Best time to go is supposedly late afternoon, early evening. We did and saw some sheep (with binoculars)up high, but not much else. It was a nice little hike.
Unless you're into the Ranger hikes or backpacking or repeatedly taking the school bus tour, there's not a lot to do there beyond a couple of days.
When we were there at the end of Aug last year, the colors were just starting to turn, but they hadn't had any snow yet which the locals said was unusual. Great time of year to be there.
The thing I didn't fully appreciate about Denali until going there is that this park is absolutely massive, but unlike all the National Parks in the lower 48 I've been to, there is but one road in the entire park accessible to tourists and that's the one the school bus takes. The public is allowed to drive only the first 15 miles of this road. Just the busses can go further.
Plus there are essentially no marked trails off those first 15 miles. So the hiking opportunities for the average person are very, very limited.
So here's this ginormous park but the average person will be able to see far less than 1% of it. If you're a serious back packer/camper, you can go off on your own well into the park altho I think a permit is required. But most of us aren't into that. Now there are ranger hikes described in their website where a ranger takes a group on hikes lasting upwards of 3 hours in areas of the park not readily accessible to the public. There are also some easy hiking trails near the park entrance which are worth doing. For more hiking info see: http://www.denali.national-park.com/hike.htm
We did a short loop trail along the Savage River near the 15 mile marker (which is as far as you can drive). Best time to go is supposedly late afternoon, early evening. We did and saw some sheep (with binoculars)up high, but not much else. It was a nice little hike.
Unless you're into the Ranger hikes or backpacking or repeatedly taking the school bus tour, there's not a lot to do there beyond a couple of days.
Mar 20th, 2008, 02:56 AM
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In response to dcd- my partner has limited walking ability so hiking is out for him. We are planning to stay three nights, starting 9/1..so we would have a full two days there.
I would like to take the hike... what else would be available for him to do in the area? If not, we can leave and slowly make our way back to Anchorage or go a little North... any suggestions? We need to be back in Anchorage on the 4th for a 5 p.m. flight home. Or should we just stay in Denali area... also what hotels/motels would anyone suggest?
I would like to take the hike... what else would be available for him to do in the area? If not, we can leave and slowly make our way back to Anchorage or go a little North... any suggestions? We need to be back in Anchorage on the 4th for a 5 p.m. flight home. Or should we just stay in Denali area... also what hotels/motels would anyone suggest?
Mar 20th, 2008, 07:04 AM
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I would head to Talkeetna your third night. Then spend the day with some of the smaller attractions. Hatcher Pass/Independence Mine is well worth the time. Eklutna Spirit House tours very interesting. With a 5pm flight, you need to be at the airport at 3pm. Anchorage is a very congested airport, best with a 2 hour window.
Mar 20th, 2008, 09:01 AM
#10
We stayed 2 nites at the Denali Lakeview Inn in Healy which is outside the Park about 15-20 minutes away. Very convenient. I'd recommend this Inn: http://www.denalilakeviewinn.com/
Check out tripadvisor for other places: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g3...ka-Hotels.html
Have you considered one of the flightseeing trips out of Talkeetna? On the Wow factor, it's way up there. Like BQ suggested, you could spend the first 2 nites in Denali and then head to Talkeetna the following morning which is a couple hours drive. The flightseeing tours are at various times of the day but are heavily weather dependent. Not so much in Talkeetna but around Denali. There are several companies offering flights: http://www.talkeetnaaero.com/
http://www.flyk2.com/
If you booked an early afternoon flight, that might give you some insurance if your flight is cancelled due to bad weather; you might be able to take a later flight that day, if seats are available which they probably will be that time of year.
We stayed at the Eye of Denali in Talkeetna which was very nice: http://www.eyeofdenali.com/ We stayed in the house which would probably be too much room for you guys. Again, check trip advisor for other recommendations: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g3...ka-Hotels.html
Check out tripadvisor for other places: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g3...ka-Hotels.html
Have you considered one of the flightseeing trips out of Talkeetna? On the Wow factor, it's way up there. Like BQ suggested, you could spend the first 2 nites in Denali and then head to Talkeetna the following morning which is a couple hours drive. The flightseeing tours are at various times of the day but are heavily weather dependent. Not so much in Talkeetna but around Denali. There are several companies offering flights: http://www.talkeetnaaero.com/
http://www.flyk2.com/
If you booked an early afternoon flight, that might give you some insurance if your flight is cancelled due to bad weather; you might be able to take a later flight that day, if seats are available which they probably will be that time of year.
We stayed at the Eye of Denali in Talkeetna which was very nice: http://www.eyeofdenali.com/ We stayed in the house which would probably be too much room for you guys. Again, check trip advisor for other recommendations: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g3...ka-Hotels.html
