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! No. 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. Let’s go, 1-866-317-3325 (toll-free) Overnight in Girdwood. 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. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Alaska is enormous, and it’s practically bursting with out-of-this-world natural beauty and wonder. Camping wherever possible. Several of these plans are now out of print. 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. For every sentiment, it seems there’s someone who has already put it perfectly to words. 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. And while there are countless roads in Alaska’s urban areas, there are none in Lake Clark. 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. Sign up with your email and we'll keep you posted on what's going on 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. Alaska is enormous, and it’s practically bursting with out-of-this-world natural beauty and wonder. Book an excursion, or explore shops, museums and restaurants at your leisure. Travel into Denali National Park & Preserve on the Denali Backcountry Adventure, a narrated tour of the park by bus. 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. Arrive in Fairbanks. As you watch, amidst the silence, massive chunks of ice fall and crash into the water, making a sudden thunderous boom. 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. 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. The park touches sea level at the Gulf of Alaska and reaches its highest point at 18,008 feet on the summit of Mt. Bears, moose, caribou and sheep are everywhere. Once you soak up all the inspiration from this roundup of our favorite travel quotes, feel free … In 1910, the first national park in Alaska was created—the Sitka National Historic Park. 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. By area, Alaska holds more than half of America’s national park lands. 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 park really has it all. Dan Wenk (Acting) President George W. Bush. 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. McKinley. The Inside Passage through Southeast Alaska is one of the world’s most spectacular stretches of waterway, traveled by thousands of cruise ship passengers. No matter where you are in the park, keep your eyes open for wildlife. 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. Parks to visit: 8 Duration of journey: Month of August, 2017 (yep, we’re planning way ahead). St. Elias. 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. I had previously done the Denali backcountry trip with the park service but thought the private one through this tour was fantastic. Overnight in Denali. 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. While the towns certainly have their own natural splendor, Lake Clark’s landscapes and legacy are deeper, richer and amplified. 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. 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. 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. 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. And that’s just the start of what makes this remote Alaska park so astounding. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Public lands, including national parks and forest lands in Alaska, are a crucial part of our state's thriving tourism industry. View caribou, birds and float mighty rivers in this 8.4 million- acre swath of the Arctic. And the wildlife you’ll experience? Yes, Kobuk Valley National Park has vast patches of sand dunes, some piled 10 feet high. Alaska, the Land of the Midnight Sun, has the nation's largest glacial system, world-class wildlife … That includes the wonders within its waters, and many great white glaciers. Pull up on a beach for lunch and a break. 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. We booked the Gold star National Parks by Rail through Alaska Railroad for a 6 day and 5 night trip for 6 people. 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. Lake Clark offers some comforts of civilization like lodges and dining, cabins, and transportation on planes, boats (water taxis, kayaks, canoes, rafts) and ATVs. Plus, an add-on opportunity for a 5th national park with a visit to Gates of the Arctic National Park. 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. 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'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. A big, bright chunk of that acreage is held by the Harding Icefield. Glaciers and wind, which deposited the silt and sand into the concentrated area surrounded by mountains. 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. 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. It’s one of America’s largest national parks, yet it’s also one of the least-visited. Want to get even closer? 6 new parks added; 1 park deauthorized. 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. 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. Overnight in Fairbanks. Watch for views of Denali and keep an eye out for wildlife. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Kentucky redesignated from a national historic site. TOUR PRICE: $3,799 GoldStar Service // $3,275 Adventure Class. 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). Kobuk Valley National Park view (Source: everything-everywhere.com). Package prices may vary from the published rates with hotel and tour selections. Getting close to this activity is easy, whether by kayak, boat and yacht glacier tours, and guided fishing trips. 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. One of the best features of Wrangell-St. Elias is its accessibility for visitors. Soon after, the United States authorized the establishment of more parks and historic monuments, but they were not managed by a central agency. One of its many massive glaciers, Malaspina, is larger than Rhode Island, while another, Nabesna, is nearly 80 miles long. 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. This place is so special, it was designated a National Park way back in 1918 after the area was devastated by volcanic activity. 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. Most Alaska national park tours offer hiking and biking, wildlife viewing, rafting and kayaking, fishing, and other forms of Alaska outdoor fun and adventure. Even the silence is extreme here – there are no signs of people: towns, roads, WiFi or cell service, lodges, trails, bathrooms or ranger stations. Alaska's State Parks. Anchorage, Alaska 99501. 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. Alaska Park Science: Scientific studies on climate change in Alaska's national parks. 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. That said, both areas have plenty of traffic. Kayaking to glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. Some documents are available in print, some are only available on-line and others are available in both formats. Take a flightseeing tour out of Anchorage, Talkeetna or the park entrance, some of which offer glacier landings alongside the famous peak. They include some of the nation’s most iconic landscapes, and they are also critical to state and local economies. Plans and other documents still available are listed on the web pages given below. 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. 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. We work with agents and advisors to provide the best Alaska experience for your clients. Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America's Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources https://on.doi.gov/11R6yjx. Either taking Inside Passage, a ferry system along the Pacific Coast, or driving on a highway through Canada. 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. Once there, enjoy a buffet lunch before traveling back to the Park entrance. The bears return to some of the same spots year after year, so it makes bear-viewing thrilling yet easy. Luckily, Anchorage is in the center of it all and offers many ways to enjoy the parks. Take the Denali Star, the Alaska Railroad's flagship train to Denali National Park. Alaska poses unique challenges for stamp collectors, because many of these sites are remote and costly to visit. 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. Many officially became national parks as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980, but each has its own unique origins. In Alaska, The U.S. Float among the icebergs at Spencer Glacier and down the Placer River. 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.
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