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Denali National Park and PreserveCity/Region: Anchorage
Famous for its spectacular mountain vistas, abundant wildlife, glaciers, vast expanses of sub-arctic tundra, and North America's highest mountain, Mt McKinley, Denali National Park and Preserve is a real wilderness area that attracts millions of visitors a year. More than six million acres encompass grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, wolves and numerous species of birds. The main attraction is the snow-covered massif of Mt McKinley, towering 20,320ft (6,096m) above
the peaks of the Alaska Range, the definitive symbol of untamed Alaska. On a clear day its twin peaks can be seen from Anchorage, 149 miles (240km) away. The Alaska Range divides the park into north and south sides, the majority of visitors accessing the north where the main visitors center is located. Mountaineers seeking out the challenges of Mt McKinley need to access the park from the south side, and other peaks offer excellent climbing opportunities for those not wishing to risk the mountain that affords one of the world's most difficult climbs. The park region also offers a wide variety of activities including day hikes or backcountry hiking, camping, mountain biking, white-water rafting and ice climbing. Early June or late September is the best time to avoid the crowds.
Phone Number: (907) 683 2294 (park headquarters)
Website: www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm
Transport: Denali is five hours by road from Anchorage; several buses and vans run a daily service to Fairbanks via Denali from Anchorage. Parks Highway Express leaves from the Anchorage Youth Hostel. The Alaska Railroad train leaves daily at 8.15am
Hours: Open daily, year-round. The Visitor Center is open 10am to 4pm daily (mid-September to May), 9am to 5pm (15-27 May), 9am to 9pm (28 May to 15 September)
Admission: $10 per person or $20 per family, valid for seven days
Glacier Bay National ParkCity/Region: The Inside Passage
Resort Name: Juneau
When the early explorers and pioneers of the 18th century sailed this way, Glacier Bay was hidden under a huge sheet of solid ice, more than 4,000ft (1,219m) thick and up to 20 miles (32km) wide. Today the branching 65-mile (105km) long fjord is the work of the fastest-receding glacier on earth, the melting ice of the Grand Pacific Glacier opening up a spectacular carved terrain of steep rock walls lining deepwater fjords. Sliding out of the mountains are 16 active glaciers that fill the sea with different shaped icebergs, creating the icy blue landscape that is world-renowned. At the head of the fjord is the massive ice wall of the Grand Pacific Glacier, slowly melting and sculpting the still-unfinished land as it backs away from the sea, a natural work of art in progress. An added attraction is the variety of aquatic life including humpback whales, sea otters, seals and porpoises, while bears, moose, mountain goats and many species of birds inhabit the land. This rugged landscape can only be accessed by boat or small plane as most of the park is made up of water. Because opportunities to see this huge wilderness are limited, facilities can be crowded, especially on the tour boats; activities are also expensive, and wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Gustavus is the small settlement that services the park, but the park headquarters is at Bartlett Cove from where boats can be arranged or alternate means provided to enjoy the park experience. Kayaking or camping in the backcountry, ranger-led programs or walks, hiking and fishing are all available.
Phone Number: (907) 697 2661 (Glacier Bay Visitor Center)
Website: www.nps.gov/glba
Transport: The Alaska Marine Highway ferry does not service the area, but a passenger ferry operates between Juneau and Gustavus/Bartlett Cove a few times a week. Tour boats and charter boat services are also available from Bartlett Cove and many people visit the park on a cruise ship. Air taxi companies provide a year round service for small plane hire from Juneau
Hours: The park is open 24 hours year round. The Glacier Bay National Park Visitor Center is open daily from 27 May to 11 September, with limited services in winter
Admission: Free
Anchorage Museum of History and ArtCity/Region: Anchorage
The world-class Museum of History and Art is the largest museum in Alaska and is one of the most visited attractions in Anchorage. The exhibits cover Alaskan history, art and culture, from Native American beginnings to American colonization.
Address: 121 West 7th Avenue
Phone Number: (907) 343 4326, or 343 6173 (recorded information)
Email Address: museum@AnchorageMuseum.org
Website: www.anchoragemuseum.org
Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm, until 9pm on Thursdays (15 May to 15 September); Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm (16 September to 14 May)
Admission: $8 (adults), $2 donation suggested for children 17 years and under
Hubbard GlacierCity/Region: The Inside Passage
There is surely no more spectacular experience on the planet than to witness the calving of a titanic glacier. A stopover to watch nature's incredible marvel, the Hubbard Glacier, in action as the incredibly high wall of ice thickens and advances towards the Gulf of Alaska is one of the unforgettable lures that draws thousands of holidaymakers to opt for an Alaskan cruise every year. The Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America, beginning its 75-mile (121km) journey to the sea on the tallest mountain in Canada, Mount Logan, and finally shedding tons of its bulk in awesome ice falls across the six-mile (10km) wide head of Yakutat Bay. Every day cruise liners pull in, their passengers bundled up in their warmest clothing and festooned with cameras and binoculars, as they hang over the deck rails to witness the stunning sight of the luminous blue-green ice wall as it creeps inexorably forward. Those who visit at the right time could be fortunate enough to see one of nature's most awesome events, when a chunk of ice cracks and falls thunderously from the wall into the ocean as the mighty glacier calves, startling the seals basking on ice floes. In contrast to what one would expect with many glaciers shrinking due to global warming, the Hubbard is growing and advancing, controlled apparently more by mechanics than climate. It is predicted that if the Hubbard Glacier continues to advance it will close the entrance of Russell Fjord and create the largest glacier lake in North America. Many cruise ships snare a chunk of ice so that their passengers can end the memorable day by getting up close and personal with the Hubbard Glacier, and enjoy a chunk of her ice in their evening cocktail.
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