The bears return to some of the same spots year after year, so it makes bear-viewing thrilling yet easy. You won’t see many signs of humans, though, and that’s the point of this park. Let’s go, 1-866-317-3325 (toll-free) The GoldStar Dome Service on the Alaska Railroad is one of the most luxuFrom a peaceful coastal beach to the tallest peak in America rious ways to enjoy Alaska’s spectacular scenery. 28:07 Wonder Lake - Various Artists - The Spirit of Alaska 28:26 National Parks Traveler promotion Kayaking to glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. Package prices may vary from the published rates with hotel and tour selections. Denali bus tours often travel to the end of the road and the Kantishna area, which has a lodge and incredible views of Denali, just 25 miles away. And that’s just the start of what makes this remote Alaska park so astounding. I regret when driving around American Samoa that I didn’t turn left up the hill to visit the national park there. P.L. Home to Denali (formerly named Mount McKinley), Alaska’s famously striking attraction and North America’s tallest peak at 20,310 feet, this 6 million acre park is set in the center of the state and embodies Alaska’s vastness, wilderness and gorgeousness. Travel into Denali National Park & Preserve on the Denali Backcountry Adventure, a narrated tour of the park by bus. Arrive in Fairbanks. It has so many special settings and so much spectacular wildlife that it is home to eight Alaska National Parks covering 54 million acres — not to mention 50 National Historic Landmarks, 16 National Natural Landmarks, 24 official National Park Service units, and nearly 100 state park areas! That said, both areas have plenty of traffic. That includes the wonders within its waters, and many great white glaciers. Day tour in Denali National Park to Kantishna. Dan Wenk (Acting) President George W. Bush. In Alaska alone, national parks are facing more than $100 million in needed repairs, from Glacier Bay to Wrangell-St. Elias to Bering Land Bridge National Preserve to Denali. National Park Service. Overnight in Anchorage. Sandwiched by the Baird Mountains and Waring Mountains above the Arctic Circle in Northwest Alaska, Kobuk Valley is 1.7 million acres of surprising Alaska amazement. Many visitors pass through Glacier Bay National Park by cruise, but Glacier Bay Lodge is the perfect spot to stay a few days (3 … But Phil Francis, chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, said the Park Service has the authority to manage wildlife within parks and preserves. Alaska is enormous, and it’s practically bursting with out-of-this-world natural beauty and wonder. Detail from our America National Parks map. Glaciers and wind, which deposited the silt and sand into the concentrated area surrounded by mountains. Luckily, Anchorage is in the center of it all and offers many ways to enjoy the parks. Alaska doesn’t get much more extreme than in the Arctic, where weather, wildlife and the land itself can be beautifully unbelievable one moment and brutally unforgiving the next. Glacier Bay’s pull isn’t exclusive to the water. At 670,000 acres, set on the Kenai Peninsula, Kenai Fjords National Park is one of Alaska’s smallest national parks. Southeast is also home to bears (brown and black), moose and sheep, as well as some of Alaska’s most luxurious lodges, coolest campgrounds and inspiring hiking trails. It’s one of America’s largest national parks, yet it’s also one of the least-visited. Gates of the Arctic reached national park status in 1980, protecting 8.5 million acres of land to “maintain the wild and undeveloped character of the area, including opportunities for visitors to experience solitude,” notes the National Parks Service, which also safeguards the habitat for fish and wildlife, including thousands of caribou that have traversed the area for ages. Overnight in Denali. Some glaciers are miles long and nearly a mile wide, starting high in the mountains and dipping into the seawater, where they calve into chunks that splash down and bob scenically in the water. Set above the Arctic Circle in the rugged Brooks Range 200 miles north of Fairbanks, the Gates of the Arctic National Park embodies these extremes. Kenai Fjords National Park redefines most expectations of a “traditional” national park. Discover Alaska’s National Parks from the highest mountains to the harshest glaciers, in national parks like Denali, Kenai Fjords, and Wrangell-St. Elias. Mostly unpaved, Denali Park Road travels 92 miles into the heart of the park, offering views of Denali and its giant mountain neighbors, tundra and alpine terrain, and the area’s animals — bears, caribou, moose, sheep, wolves, and more. An itinerary connecting Kenai Fjords National Park, south of Anchorage, and Denali National Park, to the north, is probably Alaska's most popular land trip for first-time visitors. Pull up on a beach for lunch and a break. Diverse and bountiful. And in Glacier Bay National Park, there’s even world-class activity in the air. There are big bears (the grizzlies of Lake Clark National Park and Katmai National Park), bigger whales (Kenai Fjords National Park, Glacier Bay National Park), and really, really big mountains (Denali National Park, with its namesake peak that’s North America’s tallest, Denali; and also Wrangell-St. Elias National Park). Available early June - early September 2021. A short train ride to Portage follows the float tour, and a motorcoach transfer from Portage to Girdwood gets you back in time for dinner. Book an excursion, or explore shops, museums and restaurants at your leisure. Denali National Park is also easy to reach, set off the Parks Highway, one of the state’s main roadways, and along the Alaska Railroad route. Facts Regarding Recent Changes to State Wildlife Management in Alaska's National Parks and Refuges (August 2017) The State of Alaska is among several parties with lawsuits pending challenging U.S. Want to get even closer? Alaska's National Parks. The park touches sea level at the Gulf of Alaska and reaches its highest point at 18,008 feet on the summit of Mt. St. Elias. Alaska’s national parks offer the full spectrum of landscapes – from Alaska’s alpine awesomeness and marine magic to countless mountains, endless blankets of tundra, tons of towering trees, glaciers galore, and every kind of scenery the state is renowned for — even some unexpected sand dunes! Alaska Public Lands Anchorage, AK. In Anchorage and on the Kenai Peninsula, there’s a familiar hum of automobiles and buzzing of planes while in Lake Clark, it’s the wildlife – from amazing salmon runs of Bristol Bay sockeye to the hundreds of hungry, hulking brown bears hunting them each summer. Denali National Park Gates of the Arctic National Park Lake Clark National Park & Preserve Glacier Bay National Park Katmai National Park & Preserve Seward & Kenai Fjords Wrangell St. Elias National Park Upon arrival, cruise Kenai Fjords National Park. It has so many special settings and so much spectacular wildlife that it is home to eight Alaska National Parks covering 54 million acres — not to mention 50 National Historic Landmarks, 16 National Natural Landmarks, 24 official National Park Service units, and nearly 100 state park areas! Alaska has 8 national parks out of a total 24 National Park Service units (see Everything Everywhere’s Alaska National Parks Guide for details on them all). TOUR PRICE: $3,799 GoldStar Service // $3,275 Adventure Class. Lunch included. There’s a reason “Inspirational Quotes” is one of Pinterest’s most popular categories. Alaska has so many impressive landscapes, and Denali National Park does not disappoint. National Parks. Method: Driving to Alaska with Oscar the Outback, our own vehicle. Here’s a snapshot of each park’s offerings and a few of their equally interesting stories. But Kenai Fjords gets even more exciting beyond its glaciers and marine life. The unquestioned jewel of those magical marine miles is Glacier Bay National Park, 3.3 million acres of everything that’s distinct about this region. Some Alaska parks are easily accessible by car, RV, bus, train and bike, while others are so remote that they can only be reached by plane or boat. On this week-long Alaska rail itinerary, explore some of the nation's most treasured wild lands: Denali National Park & Preserve and Kenai Fjords National Park. One of the park’s highlights is Exit Glacier, which is a very short drive from Seward. There are hiking trails and campgrounds around the park, and with them chances to see moose, sheep and bears. Parks to visit: 8 Duration of journey: Month of August, 2017 (yep, we’re planning way ahead). For more information from the National Park Service, call 907-697-2230 or visit the Glacier Bay National Park website. Float among the icebergs at Spencer Glacier and down the Placer River. A big, bright chunk of that acreage is held by the Harding Icefield. How’s this for national park prestige? Once you soak up all the inspiration from this roundup of our favorite travel quotes, feel free … Plans and other documents still available are listed on the web pages given below. There are lodges and cabins, as well as campgrounds, around the park. The park contains six campgrounds, numerous lodges at the park entry, and another lodge deep within the park. Sand dunes in Alaska? Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. The charming fishing town of Seward, just a two-hour drive south of Anchorage, is the gateway to the park and a gem in its own right. Plus, an add-on opportunity for a 5th national park with a visit to Gates of the Arctic National Park. And then there’s guided exploration of nearby glaciers, classic Alaska hiking, backpacking and camping in every direction, mountain biking, rafting, and even fishing and hunting. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Kentucky redesignated from a national historic site. Contrasting the Great Kobuk, Little Kobuk and Hunt River sand dunes are the lush wetlands that follow the Kobuk River, which cuts its way through the south end of the park. There are hundreds of millions of acres of publically owned lands across the West and Alaska, including National Forests, Bureau of Land Management lands, National Parks and National Monuments. You don’t have to climb to see it up close, though. But it turns out this classic destination is not the most popular park in Alaska. In Alaska, The U.S. Once there, enjoy a buffet lunch before traveling back to the Park entrance. 2:16 Western National Parks Association promotion 2:40 WildTribute.com promotion 3:05 North Cascades Institute promotion 3:34 Traveler's Lynn Riddick and Dr. Bryan Watts discuss Chesapeake Bay bald eagles and how national park units benefit them. Wrangell St. Elias National Park Nestled in Alaska's southeastern corner, Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the country's largest national park. Later, enjoy an evening of rip-roarin' entertainment and hearty grub at a local dinner theater. This place is so special, it was designated a National Park way back in 1918 after the area was devastated by volcanic activity. In addition to the 15 national parks, one wild river, and 120 state parks, (including recreation areas, and historic parks), Alaska is home to 16 national wildlife refuges and two national forests. You’d never know that now, as the volcanoes are quiet, the area has returned to vibrant visuals, and a hearty population of huge bears spend the summer hunting those fat, fighting salmon. And while the region became a national park in 1980, there are the plenty of opportunities to learn about the human history that spans thousands of years: from explorers to the area’s Tlingit culture, which is on display at the Huna Tribal House and other places in Bartlett Cove. Alaska’s parks, forests, and refuges are rich and varied. Take the Denali Star, the Alaska Railroad's flagship train to Denali National Park. And believe it or not, really ambitious Alaska travelers who have a few weeks for their visit can see all eight parks, and enjoy the best each has to offer, in just one trip. NPS and Alaska Geographic. We booked the Gold star National Parks by Rail through Alaska Railroad for a 6 day and 5 night trip for 6 people. Out of more than 400 National Park System “units,” Alaska has around two dozen areas with a collectible stamp for your National Park Service Passport. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is America’s largest national park at 13.2 million acres, which, according to the National Park Service, is the size of Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks plus the country of Switzerland combined. These include national parks, preserves, wild rivers, and historical sites. Alaska's Glaciers and Denali Cruise Package, Ride the Coastal Classic, Denali Star and Glacier Discovery Trains, Wildlife viewing tour in Denali National Park, Glacier and wildlife cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park, Iceberg float at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop. Humans have followed the herds for 10,000 years, so there’s a rich history here, not to mention ancient artifacts and fossils that date back to the Ice Age. 111-11. Though just 120 air miles southwest of Anchorage and even closer to Kenai Peninsula towns like Homer, Soldotna and Kenai, arriving in Lake Clark National Park from an Alaska city feels like stepping into a completely different universe. McKinley. The Mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.. One of its many massive glaciers, Malaspina, is larger than Rhode Island, while another, Nabesna, is nearly 80 miles long. And the wildlife you’ll experience? Some documents are available in print, some are only available on-line and others are available in both formats. And like these glaciers, the list of this park’s personality traits goes on and on…, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park view from McCarthy. It was formed to protect the area’s Dall sheep from overhunting, then evolved and expanded as visiting and viewing the peak started becoming the popular pursuit it is today. With 17 national park units and 16 national wildlife refuges, the options may seem limitless. This park really has it all. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) is a United States federal law passed on November 12, 1980, by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on December 2 of that year. Alaska and the islands take a bit more. Whether by hiking trail or flightseeing plane, views of the icefield resemble an ocean of snow, glacial crevasses and mountains set well above sea level. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Katmai is situated in Southwest Alaska, where Bering Sea/Bristol Bay salmon and the volcanic peaks of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes are abundant. Most Alaska national park tours offer hiking and biking, wildlife viewing, rafting and kayaking, fishing, and other forms of Alaska outdoor fun and adventure. Today, there are 19 national parks and national historic areas in Alaska, covering 54 million acres of land. Lake Clark National Park is 4 million acres of variety: mountains and glaciers, forests and tundra, and oh so many rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. Glacier Bay National Park on an Alaska Grand Tour. Kobuk Valley National Park view (Source: everything-everywhere.com). Equally impressive and even more active is the area’s marine wildlife: Humpbank whales, orcas (killer whales), harbor seals, Stellar sea lions, sea otters, harbor porpoises and many fish. On this week-long Alaska rail itinerary, explore some of the nation's most treasured wild lands: Denali National Park & Preserve and Kenai Fjords National Park. In the viewing areas at Brooks Falls, visitors (which include vacation travelers, Alaskans, professional photographers and scientists) can hear the bruins grunting at one another, snapping their jaws, and even crunching on their fresh catch. Big bears are a big draw to Katmai National Park, which hosts thousands of enthusiastic visitors and holds international fame thanks to indelible images of bears snatching salmon from the wild waters of Brooks Falls (not to mention a strategically-placed web cam that broadcasts the action live around the world). In the mid 1800's, with economic and social changes gripping the developed eastern states of the union, people were increasingly looking west to the vast underdeveloped lands and the romantic vision of a new opportunity. We work with agents and advisors to provide the best Alaska experience for your clients. Many officially became national parks as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980, but each has its own unique origins. Public lands, including national parks and forest lands in Alaska, are a crucial part of our state's thriving tourism industry. Please call for quote: 800.544.0552. The park is known as one of America’s wildest places but is also a paradise for seasoned and savvy hikers, backpackers and mountain climbers who bound around the Brooks Range, and kayakers, canoers and rafters who travel the Noatak River. Either taking Inside Passage, a ferry system along the Pacific Coast, or driving on a highway through Canada. Overnight in Girdwood. Four major mountain ranges cross the park – Wrangell, St. Elias, Chugach and the Alaska Range – and nine of the nation’s 16 tallest peaks are set here. 1-907-277-3000 (local calls), 600 Barrow Street, Suite 200 Even the silence is extreme here – there are no signs of people: towns, roads, WiFi or cell service, lodges, trails, bathrooms or ranger stations. “We are appalled by the Secretary of the Interior’s decision to adopt these cruel and unsportsmanlike hunting practices on National Park Service preserve lands in Alaska. Lake Clark offers some comforts of civilization like lodges and dining, cabins, and transportation on planes, boats (water taxis, kayaks, canoes, rafts) and ATVs. Hundreds of thousands of caribou also traverse the area, a mind-blowing sight. Alaska, the Land of the Midnight Sun, has the nation's largest glacial system, world-class wildlife … No matter where you are in the park, keep your eyes open for wildlife. Ready to come for a visit to one of our amazing national parks? Last year, when NPCA surveyed its supporters on the national park site they most wanted to visit anywhere in the country, Denali National Park and Preserve got far more votes than any other park. Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, it's home to one of Alaska's great volcanic mountain ranges, the Wrangell Mountains -- an area covering 4,000 square miles. National Park Service Climate Change Response Strategy. 6 new parks added; 1 park deauthorized. This consideration led Congress to provide, in Title XI of ANILCA, for the continuation of appropriate types of access across and into Alaska’s national park areas. And while there are countless roads in Alaska’s urban areas, there are none in Lake Clark. Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America's Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources https://on.doi.gov/11R6yjx. In 1910, the first national park in Alaska was created—the Sitka National Historic Park. No. Visitors can drive, take a bus/shuttle, or even fly into the park and to the copper mining ghost towns of Kennecott/McCarthy at the end of the scenic 60-mile McCarthy Road. This was my fourth trip to Alaska. Brooks Falls Bears in Katmai National Park. Visitors can spend days exploring the dunes, but there are also backpacking, camping and hiking options, as well as fishing and boating in the summer, and for the very bold traveler, snowmachining and dog mushing in the winter. Along the way, you'll have the chance to watch for wildlife by land and sea, and float among glacial icebergs on a guided rafting tour. Overnight in Anchorage. Bears, moose, caribou and sheep are everywhere. Glacier Bay Lodge. In some national parks, the federal government owns the surface lands and private companies own some of the mineral rights below the surface. ©2020 Alaska Railroad. Overnight in Denali. There’s exceptional access to five parks in … Evening train departure to Anchorage. I had previously done the Denali backcountry trip with the park service but thought the private one through this tour was fantastic. That's because these parks and the area in between offer so much of what visitors come to Alaska to see, and in spectacular places: at Kenai Fjords, waterways full of whales, marine birds, and glaciers; and at Denali, broad swaths of … After visiting the Exit Glacier Nature Center, visitors can literally walk up to Exit Glacier, feel cold radiating from it and the icefield above, and hear it snapping, crackling and popping. The Inside Passage through Southeast Alaska is one of the world’s most spectacular stretches of waterway, traveled by thousands of cruise ship passengers. On the water, large boats and small water taxis take visitors on glacier tours, fishing trips, and drop-offs at lodges or camping areas. The Richardson Highway, Glenn Highway and Edgerton Highway all travel the outskirts of the park, which is met in the east by the Kluane National Park on the Canada border. This park is covered by icy glaciers, bordered by the marine-life-filled waters of Resurrection Bay in the Gulf of Alaska, and, of course, dotted by fjords, dramatic inlets squeezed inside high, tight glacier carved cliffs. There’s just one road inside Denali National Park and like the mountain, it’s a grand one. Visitors certainly won’t run out of things to do once they’re settled in: there are guided tours of the mining areas and infrastructure, opportunities to learn about the area’s boom and bust copper mining history, as well as the Alaska Native cultural presence. The Anchorage Interagency Visitor Center helps visitors and residents to have meaningful, safe, enjoyable experiences on public lands, and encourages them to sustain the natural and cultural resources of Alaska. Depart early on the Coastal Classic Train to Seward. In popular bear areas, platforms are set up so visitors can see the action up close and safely. One of the best features of Wrangell-St. Elias is its accessibility for visitors. Learn all about the area’s past and present at the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Kotzebue, home to the park’s headquarters. The area’s timeless run of salmon also spawned nearly 10,000 years of fascinating human activity, as evidenced by numerous archaeological sites and current Alaska Native residents. Travel via the Glacier Discovery Train to the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop. The most intimate and unique way to travel through the park is by kayak. Several of these plans are now out of print. Thanks for visiting "Stories from Alaska" where you'll find lots of inspiration and ideas for your Alaska vacation! December 5, 2008. How are there sand dunes in the northern reaches of Alaska? Along the way, you'll have the chance to watch for wildlife by land and sea, and float among glacial icebergs on a guided rafting tour. Nothing. While the towns certainly have their own natural splendor, Lake Clark’s landscapes and legacy are deeper, richer and amplified. Getting close to this activity is easy, whether by kayak, boat and yacht glacier tours, and guided fishing trips. Even getting into the park is an expedition as most take a small plane from Fairbanks to Bettles, stop by the park’s ranger station and visitor’s center there, then continue into the park via air taxi (often a float plane). 2010a. Size is just the start of what makes this park so phenomenal. The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation has management plans for each of its larger park units. Wrangell St. Elias National Park was created in 1980 to protect and spotlight its incredible environment as well as its cultural resources like archeological sites, cultural landscapes, ethnographic resources, museum objects and structures. In all, Alaska contains over 322 million acres of public lands. For every sentiment, it seems there’s someone who has already put it perfectly to words. See hanging and tidewater glaciers, sea otters, sea lions and perhaps even a whale. Countless birds flock through the area, and flightseeing trips give passengers a bird’s eye view of one of our country’s grandest national parks. As you watch, amidst the silence, massive chunks of ice fall and crash into the water, making a sudden thunderous boom. Congress created the park in 1917, though not to showcase what was then known as Mt. Alaska's State Parks. Glacier Bay National Park, west of Juneau, is the glacial prima donna among our national parks. They include some of the nation’s most iconic landscapes, and they are also critical to state and local economies. The hotels were great and the activities were well planned. Title XI of ANILCA addresses: (1) growth and development of Alaska’s transportation system; (2) routes of access to non-federal lands within or adjacent to park areas; and (3) “special access” for traditional activities. All prices are subject to change without notice. Camping wherever possible. No matter which Alaska national park you prefer and how you decide to discover each of them, each provides a healthy escape from the mundane, busy, daily urban life with as much peace, quiet and fresh air as you can breathe in. See wild Alaskan brown bears in their natural habitat of Chinitna Bay on a fly-out bear viewing excursion. The morning is at your leisure before your journey back to Anchorage on the Denali Star Train. Your guide will interpret the history, flora and fauna as you make your way to the heart of the park, Kantishna. Overnight in Fairbanks. And that’s the draw for around 10,000 visitors that come to the park every year – escape, adventure, untouched vistas. The US government had tried in the past to make land in the west available for private purchase but the costs were still prohibitive for many families and settlement of the west had been slow. Alaska Park Science: Scientific studies on climate change in Alaska's national parks. Take a flightseeing tour out of Anchorage, Talkeetna or the park entrance, some of which offer glacier landings alongside the famous peak. You can rough it and camp at all the parks, or at a few, opt to rest comfortably at campgrounds, cabins, or lodges. Soon after, the United States authorized the establishment of more parks and historic monuments, but they were not managed by a central agency. Sign up with your email and we'll keep you posted on what's going on The National Park Service administers 419 units and more than 500 concession contracts.One company operates lodges in Grand Canyon National Park (shown here in 2015) as well as Yellowstone and Zion. That’s a whole lot of iconic Alaska to explore, history to relive, animals to observe, and postcard-perfect landscapes to soak up. Alaska is enormous, and it’s practically bursting with out-of-this-world natural beauty and wonder. Yes, Kobuk Valley National Park has vast patches of sand dunes, some piled 10 feet high. Nightlife here though takes place under the Midnight Sun and hustle and bustle includes watching bears feed on salmon and strolling on beaches and tundra, perusing one of the park’s volcanoes, seeing birds fly by outside your tent, or catching a salmon of your own along Cook Inlet or in one of the park’s numerous lakes and streams. For about half the year, temperatures hover around zero. Watch for views of Denali and keep an eye out for wildlife. Bluish rivers of ice slowly push their way to the water’s edge. That's roughly the size of Connecticut. Some visitors come and go in a day – it’s a scenic 2-3 hour flight from Anchorage – while others stay at nearby lodges and enjoy multiday adventures that include more bear viewing in other areas, flightseeing, camping/hiking, and even fishing for some of those plump salmon. In the summer, the Midnight Sun blasts big and bright 24 hours a day; in other seasons, it’s practically all dark or dusky, except for some displays of dancing northern lights. Three other factors make a huge difference in visitation: location, location, location. Anyone can drive the first 15 miles of the road, if weather allows, to Savage River and its campground but after that, Denali Park visitors can only enter by foot, bicycle, or one of the park’s official tour buses, which come with narrated or non-narrated options. Sand dunes in Alaska! Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service efforts to override Alaska's authority to manage state-trust fish and wildlife species. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Under the Midnight Sun, with the latest updates about new multi-day tours and day trips from Alaska Tours. By area, Alaska holds more than half of America’s national park lands. Seriously! Content and Images © All Alaska Tours Inc. | Website Design and Development by, Subscribe to the “Under the Midnight Sun” Newsletter, Our message to you during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experience Alaska's diverse, wildlife, natural history and native culture. All Rights Reserved. A flightseeing tour over the park provides a priceless perspective of its peaks, glaciers and forests. Alaska poses unique challenges for stamp collectors, because many of these sites are remote and costly to visit. This is truly an Alaska national park unlike any other. View caribou, birds and float mighty rivers in this 8.4 million- acre swath of the Arctic. Highlights: Visit 4 National Parks including Kenai Fjords, Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias and Katmai (or Lake Clark National Park for bear viewing). Anchorage, Alaska 99501. Paddling into a fjord is an unforgettable experience: surrounded by glaciers, mountains and forest, an occasional puffin flying by, a salmon jumping, or an otter crunching on a shell. at the Alaska Railroad. On land, there’s seemingly endless rain forest and majestic mountains, many wrapped by glaciers, those rivers of ice carving their way toward water. Within this vast landscape, Alaska’s many national parks, preserves, monuments and national historical parks are home to a host of natural, cultural, and historic wonders. That said, you could also spend a dozen days sightseeing in just one park and never run out of new experiences or memorable moments. 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