What are the essentials of Denali?
Nov 27th, 2007 | 06:29 AM
#3
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,880
Likes: 0
What are the essentials of Denali?
For me it's the amazning mountain, the wildlife (especially wolves and grizzlies) and, in the fall, the tundra changing colors. Others will want to tweak this list a bit but for many these are the essentials ...
How many days to stay there?
Many people are there for just two nights, long enough to do a full day drive-thru inside the park on a shuttle bus. This is a typical cruise ship add-on package, for example. Maybe 1/3 of these visitors see the mountain (which is often shrouded in clouds) and it's always a gamble with the wildlife but most see a grizz and moose, maybe more. Some years wolves have a den near the road and it's 50/50 you'll see a wolf on any given day, other years the dens are further away and it's longer odds.
The more days you stay the better your chances at seeing my 'essentials'. I have friends who spend two weeks there each year camping and feel that's not enough, but many people will get bored after 2-3 days of butt-numbing rides on the shuttle bus ... wife and I typically spend a couple of days at the entrance and then go to the Kantishna side of the park at the end of the road and stay at a lodge there a week or more, which is ideal but expensive and time-consuming.
Bill
For me it's the amazning mountain, the wildlife (especially wolves and grizzlies) and, in the fall, the tundra changing colors. Others will want to tweak this list a bit but for many these are the essentials ...
How many days to stay there?
Many people are there for just two nights, long enough to do a full day drive-thru inside the park on a shuttle bus. This is a typical cruise ship add-on package, for example. Maybe 1/3 of these visitors see the mountain (which is often shrouded in clouds) and it's always a gamble with the wildlife but most see a grizz and moose, maybe more. Some years wolves have a den near the road and it's 50/50 you'll see a wolf on any given day, other years the dens are further away and it's longer odds.
The more days you stay the better your chances at seeing my 'essentials'. I have friends who spend two weeks there each year camping and feel that's not enough, but many people will get bored after 2-3 days of butt-numbing rides on the shuttle bus ... wife and I typically spend a couple of days at the entrance and then go to the Kantishna side of the park at the end of the road and stay at a lodge there a week or more, which is ideal but expensive and time-consuming.
Bill
Nov 27th, 2007 | 07:29 PM
#4
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
YES, MY FAULT, I did not give much information.
My dad, uncle, and I are going around August 7th 2008. We will have an RV. We are guessing 3 to 4 days of staying in the Park. Hopefully at the Teklaniki campground 30 miles in. Our other 6 Days will be elsewhere in alaska including Halibut fishing in Homer. Can you take an RV all the way to Wonder Lake or do you have to have the special pass from the campground there to drive out there? From what i understand, there are no spots for RVs at the Wonderlake Campground...does this mean there are no hookups and you can still park or No rvs allowed at all?
My dad, uncle, and I are going around August 7th 2008. We will have an RV. We are guessing 3 to 4 days of staying in the Park. Hopefully at the Teklaniki campground 30 miles in. Our other 6 Days will be elsewhere in alaska including Halibut fishing in Homer. Can you take an RV all the way to Wonder Lake or do you have to have the special pass from the campground there to drive out there? From what i understand, there are no spots for RVs at the Wonderlake Campground...does this mean there are no hookups and you can still park or No rvs allowed at all?
Nov 27th, 2007 | 07:57 PM
#5
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,880
Likes: 0
We are guessing 3 to 4 days of staying in the Park. Hopefully at the Teklaniki campground 30 miles in
This is a good option for a couple of days since you're already in the park, then you have to catch the shuttle busses each morning to see more (you can't move the RV once it's in the campground, until you leave).
Can you take an RV all the way to Wonder Lake
You can't take ANY private vehicle to Wonder Lake in August, with the exception of professional photographers lucky enough to draw a permit.
or do you have to have the special pass from the campground there to drive out there?
There is no RV camping allowed once you leave the paved road at mile 14 except for Teklenika. Private vehicle access is very limited inside Denali except for near the entrance. You can tent-camp at Wonder Lake but have to ride the Camper Shuttle bus to get in.
From what i understand, there are no spots for RVs at the Wonderlake Campground...does this mean there are no hookups and you can still park or No rvs allowed at all?
No RVs allowed at all (no private vehicles at all in August, except as noted above). You are lucky you have a permit for Tek, most people with RVs don't get that far as it fills up quickly.
Bill
This is a good option for a couple of days since you're already in the park, then you have to catch the shuttle busses each morning to see more (you can't move the RV once it's in the campground, until you leave).
Can you take an RV all the way to Wonder Lake
You can't take ANY private vehicle to Wonder Lake in August, with the exception of professional photographers lucky enough to draw a permit.
or do you have to have the special pass from the campground there to drive out there?
There is no RV camping allowed once you leave the paved road at mile 14 except for Teklenika. Private vehicle access is very limited inside Denali except for near the entrance. You can tent-camp at Wonder Lake but have to ride the Camper Shuttle bus to get in.
From what i understand, there are no spots for RVs at the Wonderlake Campground...does this mean there are no hookups and you can still park or No rvs allowed at all?
No RVs allowed at all (no private vehicles at all in August, except as noted above). You are lucky you have a permit for Tek, most people with RVs don't get that far as it fills up quickly.
Bill
Nov 28th, 2007 | 06:13 AM
#6
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 0
One day to take the bus trip and one day to do some hiking, see the visitor center and the kennels (unless you are an avid hiker, then you might want more time).
With a RV, you can see plenty of other beautiful places and wildlife in Alaska. Denali is a great naional park but it gets a lot of coverage and commentary by guidebooks and tourists because for the thousands of cruise ship travelers to Alaska, its often the only "inland" place they visit.
With a RV, you can see plenty of other beautiful places and wildlife in Alaska. Denali is a great naional park but it gets a lot of coverage and commentary by guidebooks and tourists because for the thousands of cruise ship travelers to Alaska, its often the only "inland" place they visit.
