wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Thank you so much. Very useful information.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Great information and your wildlife photos are great.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

I did check their tours, unfortunately I think they are out of budget.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Thanks but the wife and I are not RVers. I remember a quote from on of those Dirty Harry movies "a man has to know his limitations".

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Thanks but we think John Hall is a bit out of budget.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Thank you.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

We thought about doing driving from Texas to Alaska as well. Like you said a trip of a lifetime.

ricardo00

Thanks wds0410!

D_Bird Loc: Fairbanks, Alaska

The Anchorage Daily News just had an article about the Denali National Park. The slide at 43 mile has been a problem that has closed the road a number of times since 1916. This winter it has caused a large drop in the road. As of the publishing in the paper the Park Road will be closed at 30-mile until a solution can be found and completed. It is not up to the State of Alaska. This is a National Park and it has to be a National Park solution. The state is ready to aid and assist the park if needed.

The Park Service has stated they are going to have programs that will insure that visitors have a great trip.

The entry about the bus service being terrible. They are school buses with school bus seats. There are at least two different services available. The "brown" bus is a guided tour. There are a number of lengths for these tours. You stay on the bus, (there are rest stops along the way), and a guide tells you about things on the way. The "green" bus is a shuttle type. They also have different lengths and turn around a different places along the road. This bus, you can ask the drive and he will let you and your party off the bus anywhere along the way. It does not have to be a designated stopping place. You can then flag down another green bus going the direction you want and IF they have room they will pick you up. (They will not let you off the bus where a bear has been hanging around.) The driver will tell you he is there to make sure you enjoy a good trip and that the bus stays on the road. He does not have time to be looking for wildlife. If you see an animal, scenic view, or something shout out so he can hear you. Tell him which way you are looking. And the bus will stop. I have been on this shuttle bus 6 times. All six times I did see bear or bears if not right beside the bus then only a few yards away. Moose, Caribou, Fox, Lynx and wolf have been in ditch right beside the bus at times. It's a great way to see the park.

That being said - - be sure to check with the Denali Park Service about what is available this year. I do know that climbing and hiking permits have been canceled for 2020. There will be nobody climbing Denali or the other mountains this season. And as of a couple days ago they did not know if there will be any tours beyond 30-mile. (Most of the scenery and much of the wildlife is seen between 40 and 80 mile.)

I did not see any suggestion of the Denali Highway. That is the old access road to Denali Park before the Parks Highway was built. It connects between Paxson on the Richardson Highway and Cantwell on the Parks Highway. It is a gravel road with some pavement at each end. (One end it is 21 miles, I think that is the Cantwell end.) The total length is 135 miles and there are roadhouses at Susitna River, Maclaren River and Tangle Lakes. Lots of great scenery along this road.

Any of the highways that pass over high summits, (Parks, Richardson, Denali, Glenn and Dalton), should have or start having the fall colors in August and September. (Look at Mike's pictures on UHH when see Alaska Scenes. His icon is a fox.)

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

For those with the time and proper vehicle, the Denali Hwy is a great drive through some great scenery. It’s a gravel road and its condition varies with the weather and traffic. Actual road maintenance is sporadic. I’ve seen it in horrible shape and I’ve seen it in very good shape. In any case, it’s well worth the drive. The Tangle River Lodge is a good place to spend the night. They have a good restaurant and serve a great breakfast. There is decent fishing there. Bring a flyrod.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

The major cruise lines operate hotels as part of their tour packages, but are located outside of Anchorage. The cruise lines are cutting back or eliminating their cruises to Alaska and not opening their lodges. Don't know if this will affect you, but it appears that there will be less tourists in Alaska this summer.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

If you can, drive to Alaska, using the Alaskan Marine Highway! Super Scenic!!! (http://fares.alaskaferry.com/?source=AKFV). Our favorite town was Wrangell. Anan Bear Observatory is there, as well as the Stikine River (very scenic!), and more. There is also Ketchikan with the Misty Fjords, Juneau with Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay nearby. Haines/Skagway; the road north of Haines is spectacular(!), bring your passport, as it goes thru Canada to get back into Alaska. The drive from Glennallen to Valdez starts off kinda(?) plain, but then goes WOW! You can take a shortish ferry from Valdez to Whitter/Kenai peninsula. I recommend 'Alaska Saltwater Lodge Small Group Whale Watching, Wildlife & Glacier Tour', out of Seward. Smallish boat, 6ish people but Excellent! Homer,scenic and lots of eagles/moose (drive carefully!). Oh my, Katmai NP, words can't describe, simply SPECTACULAR!!! And Lake Clark. You can fly from Homer to these two NP's, but allow 3-5 days, due to flights are VERY frequently cancelled due to weather conditions, 1 hour flight each way, but oh so worth it! I second (or 3rd) the Denalli Highway. Drive back home thru Canada, Northern Rockies, and then thru Banff/Canadian Rockies area. Driving/using the Marine Highway (one way), allows for time at each location, and the HUGE plus of stopping when you want, and where you want! If you are in Alaska around/after the middle of September, near North Pole, there is a flood control area that is excellent for viewing the Aurora, also just on the northeast edge of Fairbanks, is the gold mining area, excellent for viewing the Aurora. Be careful and have a GREAT time! This will let you see what most visitors never see... and many Alaskans! Hotel prices drop significantly around/after the 1st of September.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Given that the U.S. Canadian border is closed, at least for now, driving the Alaska Hwy is out of the question. But if things get back to some semblance of normal and they open up the border, then driving the Alcan is a great thing to do. There is some of the most boring scenery on the fact of the earth, and some of the most spectacular. An alternate route is driving the Cassiar Hwy that runs 400 miles from Hwy 16 in British Columbia, just east of New Hazleton, north to the Alaska Hwy a few miles west of Watson Lake. Great scenery and lots of animals to see.

For those who would want to use the Alaska Marine Hwy, on the ferry, funding for the ferry system has been reduced, so fares will likely go up and the schedule most likely will be changed. It used to be that you could get off the ferry at any stop along the way, spend a day or two, then catch the next ferry north. Or south. And continue on. It would be wise to consult the schedule for this summer. There won’t be any cruises this summer, so the ferry will be the only way to see SE Alaska, if at all. And there is the border thing, because if you get off the ferry in Haines or Skagway with the intent to drive back into Alaska, and the border is still closed, you could have a problem. So if anyone is considering a driving trip through Alaska, consider the alternate plan and fly to Anchorage and rent a car or SUV. If you like to camp, bring camping gear with you, as it’s doubtful any of the lodges and motels along the highway system will be open.

This Covid-19 thing is devestating. Be careful all.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Ugh. You are right, that virus just about ruins the best of all well laid plans! I agree that the Alcan is mostly boring. Northern Rockies are beautiful, but not much else along that road. The Cassiar Hwy, watch out for black bears!!! I had to brake for two, and someone else didn't brake in time... If at all possible, the Marine Highway is the BEST, if there is the option. Particularly if this is a 'once in a lifetime' trip. Hopefully, Canada will open up to travel soon. I wonder about short flight hopping down the peninsula would be cost effective? I know the flight to Glacier Bay from Juneau was relatively cheap (ferry had a change of plans for me, or would have used it)(I had reservations, they changed, then failed to notify me, but I checked in time to make flight arrangements). We 'got off at Ketchikan (2 nignts), Wrangell (5 nights), Juneau (4 nights + 2 Glacier Bay), then Haines; Back on at Valdez. British Columbia Ferry changed their schedule on me, also...
Make reservations in advance, with a VALID credit card, not a 'throw away'! I just got a room in Fayetteville, Arkansas, due to Booking.com OVERBOOKED a hotel to ten other people who did just that, I got the room because my credit card was 'good'.
Might make note, when traveling Alaska and the Alcan, particularly at night, the bison (British Columbia and Yukon), moose, and other large animals, are near/on the road!

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

I enjoyed Haines a lot. In 2007 I took 2 local tours--the Classic Cars tour of the city and up to the Lutak Inlet (to see the bears), and the Takshanuk Mountain Trail tour (4x4, with fish luncheon). I don't know if those tours are still available, but if they are I highly recommend them. The major cruise lines don't stop at Haines any more, I think--more's the pity. My pictures at Haines are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/sets/72157603186276458/