We headed out at about 10:00...our first mission was to get "the lay of the land". Denali National Park and Preserve has one road, simply called the Denali Park Road, and it is the main avenue for visitors to see and experience Denali. The road is 92 miles long, and only the first 15 miles of it are paved. That paved portion, leading from the park entrance to Savage River, is open during the summer for public (non-commercial) vehicles to drive. Summer travel beyond mile 15, which is hugely recommended, is by shuttle or tour bus, or under human power. So if we want to really "see" the park, we needed to book a bus tour.
Our first stop this morning was the Wilderness Access Center where all bus trips and tours are booked. We decided to book the 12 hour Kantishna Shuttle Bus trip for tomorrow morning. The cost of the shuttle trip is $50/person versus the tour "Kantishna Experience" which is $159/person. The difference between the two is that the "tour" feeds you and also has a Park Ranger who narrates the trip. We decided that we could pack our own food and drinks! Some "shuttle" drivers will provide information on the park as they drive. "All shuttle buses, regardless of destination, are designed to move people around within the park. Shuttles make regular restroom stops and wildlife-viewing stops, just like the tour buses. Unlike the tours, however, you're not limited to staying on the shuttle bus in which you originally started. This is the type of bus you want to take if you're interested in a day hike, or just want to experience the park on your own terms rather than as part of a tour group."
While at the Wilderness Access Center, we also managed to book another night at the campground. We originally had four nights booked but when I called to cancel one night due to our truck "episode", they only had the three remaining nights available. As luck would have it...or perhaps it was someone's computer glitch...we ended up not having to pay for the extra night. We had already paid for four but normally if you cancel within 24 hours of arriving, you lose that night's fee. But somehow there was a $28 credit in the computer for us....bonus!
After watching a short film on the park, we decided to drive the 15 miles to Savage River. It is also as far as private vehicles are allowed to go. It was a gorgeous drive...and a beautiful day...There's the bridge over Savage River...and the end of the line..
There is a small parking lot and trailhead for Savage Canyon Trail. We pulled in but there wasn't a spot to park, however, we found out that there is a parking lot across the bridge on the other side of the river, so we headed over there...
We parked the truck, gathered our backpack, cameras and walking stick...and were off on a hike. This is a map of the hike we are doing...we are starting from the left side, walking into the canyon, crossing the footbridge and walking back on the other side...
We weren't long into our hike, when we came across some people who said that there was a Caribou down by the river. We actually got better shots of him from the other side of the river...so stay tuned...
And more wildlife...an Arctic Ground Squirrel...
Once at the footbridge to cross over to the other side of the river, we decided to go a little further on an "unmaintained" trail...
Steve wanted to see into the next valley...I chose to only go up part way, finding a nice comfortable rock to sit on, drink some water and soak in the sunshine and the view...
Time to carry-on...we crossed the footbridge and continued back on the other side of the river...
Then we came across the Caribou ...much better pictures of him from this side of the river...
There are signs everywhere telling you to keep your distance from the wildlife. This guy left the trail and continued to shadow this Caribou along the river bank for well over an hour.
And another Arctic Ground Squirrel...
The trail was only 2 miles but it was lovely...such beautiful scenery...we had a great hike!
More pictures of the beautiful scenery as we drive back...
We stopped at another trailhead...Mountain Vista loop trail is an easy walk with interpretive signs along the way describing Savage Camp.
After a nice little hike there, we continued on to the park entrance and the Visitors Center. This is one of the tour buses...
The Denali Visitors Center is huge and very impressive having interpretive displays telling about the park and its history...
There is a lovely theatre where we watched a short film on the seasons within the park...
There is also a restaurant and book store next to the visitors center...
The Grande Denali Lodge perched up on the hillside....and the train arriving in the foreground...
Well, after a full day we arrived home just after 4:00. We relaxed outside for a bit and Steve started doing a little research on our route home. Rather than take the Alaska Highway all of the way back to Dawson Creek, we think we will take the Stewart-Cassiar Highway (Highway 37) which heads south into BC about 12 miles before Watson Lake, Yukon.
After dinner we thought that we would drive back into the park to see if we could see any moose. A lady we spoke to on the trail this morning said that she saw some last night around dusk. After pulling over and scouring the hillside at a number of spots, we spotted a total of 9 moose...looked like only two were bulls, the rest were cows...
It was darn near bedtime by the time we got home...we'd had a long, full day and I was tired! We are really looking forward to our Kantishna Shuttle Bus trip tomorrow!
