Denali National Park & Preserve
- ahschneid
- Aug 18
- 11 min read
We arrived at Denali National Park and Preserve on Sunday August 3rd. We arrived later in the day than most people and had to go to the last loop (Caribou) to find a spot. It ended up being a great campsite, so we can’t complain. The day we arrived we drove into the park 15 miles, which is as far as POV’s are allowed. We saw a moose on our drive, but not close enough for a picture. Monday the 4th, we got some information from the visitors’ center on ranger-lead programs and hikes while we’re here and on hiking trails. We also went to the bus depot to try and correct a mistake made online in getting green bus tickets for Tuesday the 5th. Steve was booked for 10:30am and Anita for 11:30am. The ticket counter could not make the change. They told us to come Tuesday morning and ask the “lady in the orange vest” to put us on standby for earlier buses. We got up at 3:30am Tuesday and were on standby for the first bus at 6am, but it was full. We got on the 7am bus and had a great day. We didn’t get any good pictures of the wildlife we saw because they were too far away to get good pictures, especially in the rain, but we absolutely saw dall sheep on the mountain, caribou, a huge bull moose, a couple of grizzlies and lots of ptarmigan. We took pictures of the bull moose and the grizzlies. The bus we were on was one that you may hop on and hop off. After going the whole 43 miles the buses are allowed to go (the road is closed beyond that because of landslides), we got off the bus on the way back to do a 2.5 mile hike. That’s how we saw all the ptarmigan and even got good pictures. We had our lunch in backpacks and found a shelter to sit and eat. While we were having lunch it started to rain. It rained for about 10-15 minutes and we decided to catch the bus again after lunch.
Our drive between Talkeetna and Denali - 3 August 2025
Our first view of Denali Mountain at about 60 miles away
Our drive between Talkeetna and Denali - 3 August 2025
Our drive between Talkeetna and Denali - 3 August 2025
Our drive between Talkeetna and Denali - 3 August 2025
Our drive between Talkeetna and Denali - 3 August 2025
Our drive between Talkeetna and Denali - 3 August 2025
Our drive between Talkeetna and Denali - 3 August 2025
Our drive between Talkeetna and Denali - 3 August 2025
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bull Moose...in the rain
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bull moose in the rain
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Savage River
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Off the bus... on our hike...
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Off the bus... on our hike...
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Off the bus... on our hike...Ptarmigan
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Off the bus... on our hike...Ptarmigan
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Off the bus... on our hike...Ptarmigan
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Off the bus... on our hike...Ptarmigan
Bus Trip - Denali National Park & Preserve - 5 August 2025
Off the bus... our lunch spot at Sanctuary Campground
Back in the day - bear repellant...actually still used today...
On Wednesday (6th) we drove out to see the peak of Mt. McKinley! Or Denali as some call it! It was a perfect sunny day and we saw it as clearly as possible from Denali National Park and Preserve, which is 75 miles away. We did a couple of short hikes that day too. We walked about ¾ of a mile to the Mountain Vista trail and then another 1.5 miles on the Roadside Trail. That night we had reservations for a “Cabin Night”, which is dinner and a show about Alaskan Pioneers. We sat with a family of three siblings, their spouses and one teenage grandson traveling together. They were all very nice and we enjoyed sharing stories. They had just arrived the night before on a cruise ship. The meal was served family style and we sat at thick wood picnic tables.
Denali AKA Mt. McKinley - Denali National Park & Preserve - 6 August 2025
Denali AKA Mt. McKinley - Denali National Park & Preserve - 6 August 2025
Denali AKA Mt. McKinley - Denali National Park & Preserve - 6 August 2025
Mountain Vista Trail
Denali National Park & Preserve - 6 August 2025
Mountain Vista Trail
Denali AKA Mt. McKinley - Denali National Park & Preserve - 6 August 2025
Mountain Vista Trail
Denali National Park & Preserve - 6 August 2025
Mountain Vista Trail
Denali AKA Mt. McKinley - Denali National Park & Preserve - 6 August 2025
Denali Park Village - Evening of 6 August 2025
Denali Park Village - Evening of 6 August 2025
Cast
Denali Park Village - Evening of 6 August 2025
They performed a song near our table...
Thursday (7th) we got up at 4am to drive to Fairbanks to pick up our new box freezer. We had one on order to be shipped to Homer where our frozen fish is in storage, but the order was cancelled by the vendor. Steve made several calls and finally found one at Home Depot in Fairbanks, so he paid for it over the phone and we got it Thursday. After securing the freezer in the bed of our truck, we drove the 14 miles to the North Pole. It was what we expected with all the Christmas-themed sights everywhere. We got pictures of the sign and the Santa Claus house and headed back to Fairbanks. We wanted to see the University of Alaska at Fairbanks (UAF) Museum because it has information about the young man (Chris McCandless) who died in a bus converted to be his home in Alaska. The movie “Into the Wild” made in 2007 tells his story and we had seen that a few years ago. The museum has the actual bus he lived and died in, but it isn’t on display yet. It’s still being cleaned up and restored. We got home around 4:30pm, with still plenty of daylight and before the rain to get the freezer inside. We’re giving up a walkway to have the freezer, but it opens lots of possibilities. It’s just another part of our lifestyle that’s not like living in a house.
North Pole Alaska - 7 August 2025
North Pole Alaska - 7 August 2025
North Pole Alaska - 7 August 2025
UA Museum of the North - 7 August 2025
UA Museum of the North - 7 August 2025
UA Museum of the North - 7 August 2025
UA Museum of the North - 7 August 2025
UA Museum of the North - 7 August 2025
We traveled on the Parks Hwy between Denali and Fairbanks - 7 August 2025
Hwy between Denali and Fairbanks - 7 August 2025
Parks Hwy between Denali and Fairbanks - 7 August 2025
On Friday (8th), we picked up our mail at the Healy post office. We’ve found that small town post offices are better for getting our mail and big cities. After getting our mail, we stopped by the 49th State Brewery to see the bus that was in the movie about Chris McCandless. You’re allowed to walk through the bus and see his journal entries and pictures from his time in Alaska before his death at the age of 24 in 1992.
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Inside bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Inside bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Inside bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Inside bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Inside bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Inside bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Inside bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
49th State Brewing - Healy Alaska - 8 August 2025
Inside bus used in movie "Into The Wild"
Saturday we got up early and hiked the Savage River Loop trail. At the trailhead there is a sign the advises to “expect” grizzly bears. This was a little concerning, but we had our bear spray and it was a beautiful day for a hike. We made it around the river (2 miles) with no bear encounters. Later that day we went to the 2pm demonstration of the Alaskan Huskies (sled dogs) who are the Canine Rangers at Denali National Park and Preserve. They were impressive in their excitement to run and pull their cargo. It was fun to see and learn about these elite animals. They are the only transportation for park rangers in the winter months when no motorized vehicles are allowed and don’t even work sometimes in 40 below temps. The dogs haul rangers and equipment 30 miles a day and enjoy it. The Denali National Park kennel is home to 39 Alaskan Huskies from puppies to 8 years old. At 9 years old they are retired and go to live in a person’s home.
We saw a moose on our way to our trail head for the Savage River Loop - 9 August 2025
Savage River Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage River Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage River Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Collared Pica
Savage River Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage River Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage River Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage River Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage River Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage Cabin Loop - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage Cabin - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Savage Cabin - Denali National Park - 9 August 2025
Ranger Jeff at Denali National Park Sled Dog Demonstration - 9 August 2025
Denali National Park Sled Dog Demonstration - 9 August 2025
Denali National Park Sled Dog Demonstration - 9 August 2025
We attended mass of St. Mary of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Healy, but on Sunday (10th) morning at 9am inside the Golden Nugget Saloon at Holland America Denali Lodge. This was just a short drive from our campground and on nice paved roads, unlike the actual church in Healy.
Denali Alaska - 10 August 2025
Golden Nugget Saloon at Holland America Denali Lodge set up for mass 10 August 2025
Our drive after church 4 miles north of Healy Alaska 10 August 2025
It was down this road that the body of Chris McCandless was found inside the bus
Our drive after church in Healy Alaska 10 August 2025
Otto Lake
Our drive after church in Healy Alaska 10 August 2025
Otto Lake (Overnight snowfall 4000+ ft locals call this terminal snow)
Our drive after church in Healy Alaska 10 August 2025
Our drive after church in Healy Alaska 10 August 2025
On Monday of our second week at Denali National Park and Preserve we hiked the Horse Shoe Lake trail. It was rated moderate and we found it to be easy. After lunch we went to Otto Lake. We had checked it out on Sunday, and Steve wanted to try fishing it. He donned his chest waders and went out to a few areas of the lake, but had no luck. It was a nice sunny day with people sun bathing and paddle boarding.
Denali National Park and Preserve - Horseshoe Lake Trail - 11 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - Horseshoe Lake Trail - 11 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - Horseshoe Lake Trail - 11 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - Horseshoe Lake Trail - 11 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - Horseshoe Lake Trail - 11 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - Horseshoe Lake Trail - 11 August 2025
Tuesday (12th) we hiked the McKinley Station Triple Lakes trail for one hour. It’s a 9 mile trail one way and we don’t do hikes that long. In one hour we walked just under 2 miles so we got close to 4 miles in that day. We didn’t see any of the three lakes, so we assumed they’re further down the trail.
Denali National Park and Preserve - McKinley Station Trail - 12 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - McKinley Station Trail - 12 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - McKinley Station Trail - 12 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - McKinley Station Trail - 12 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - McKinley Station Trail - 12 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - McKinley Station Trail - 12 August 2025
Denali National Park and Preserve - McKinley Station Trail - 12 August 2025
We had decided on Monday to book a fly-fishing trip with Denali Fly Fishing Guides. On Wednesday 13 Aug, we were picked up at the Riley Creek Mercantile at 7:20am and after a stop to get everyone suited up with waders and then a drive to Cantwell, then a left turn onto the Denali Hwy for 30 miles on a gravel road and finally a hike of about a third of a mile we were knee deep in the water and getting our lessons on fly fishing. It was fun for Anita to learn since this was her very first time trying to fly fish. For Steve it was just a refresher. He looked quite natural fly fishing. Anita got the hang of it and ended up catching three Artic grayling. Steve caught five Arctic grayling. Anita caught the biggest one, for the record. We got back to our truck around 1:30pm.
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Arctic grayling
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Arctic grayling are known for teardrop shaped eyes
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Anita's first Arctic grayling
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
One of the guys from the other half of our party...
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
One of the guys from the other half of our party...
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
The river we fished...
Fly Fishing Trip - 13 August 2025
After that day of fishing, we felt like we had done everything we wanted to do at Denali and seen everything we came to see, so we decided to leave for Talkeetna a day early. We had made reservations for Friday for the “Hurricane Train”, which is a sight-seeing train ride that leaves Talkeetna at 1pm goes to Hurricane with a few stops on the way, then returns to Talkeetna by 7:15pm. We could have left Denali early Friday morning and made it by the time of our reservation, but we decided to drive the 150 miles to Talkeetna on Thursday. We, especially Anita, missed having power. We had been 12 days without power in the national park. They have no campsites with hookups.
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