Today we travelled by bus (only 12 of us) to the Backcountry Lodge in Denali National Park and Preserve. The Park encompasses 6 million acres of Alaska’s interior wilderness. Its centerpiece is 20,310-ft.-high Denali (formerly Mount McKinley pictured left), North America’s tallest peak. Denali means ” The High One” and it is notoriously difficult to see the top. Here’s hoping. With terrain of tundra, spruce 9forest and glaciers, the park is home to wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, fox and Dall sheep.

There is a single 90 mile road winding through the Park on the north side of the  Alaska Range. Only first 10 miles is paved and rest is gravel, reasonably well maintained. 30 miles of road has some of the highest peaks alongside which plunge straight down to tundra. It is pretty spectacular and especially polychrome area with multicoloured mountains, steep valley and glacial activity. The road allows access to be controlled yet offers people numerous ways to be in the Park and protects the animals in the wild. Popular activities in summer include biking, backpacking, hiking and mountaineering …100 day season only. Private cars can only go to 15 mile mark then you have to use buses unless on private tour, hiking or biking. Park Ranger checks you through.

We got great views of caribou, moose and some bears, ground squirrels, water birds, hares and hawk. Observed a bear and a caribou grazing some distace apart and speculated on the bear’s intent but not much activity before we had to move on. Some great wildflowers  and different vegetation types all quite dramatic in a unique way. Great commentary from the driver, frequent stops and patience for observing wildlife and taking pictures. All in all a 6 hour drive in but went very quickly.

At one point, we came across a cyclist waving wildly at us. We thought he wanted water but he was waving his bear spray can. He was somewhere between terrified with an adrenalin rush and excited having just encountered a bear at close range. We must have just missed the action. Bear spray is an essential here if venturing too far away from lodge (capsicum spray) and you are advised to chatter!

Our lodge is at the 92 mile mark, 2 miles past official park road end and the last of 4 lodges deep into the Park. Beautiful setting on Moose River.

Link to photos

Author: Gill

Hi. I'm fun-loving, creative, mostly energetic and a mother of 3. My interests are family, culinary pursuits (I own just a few cookbooks...), socialising and entertaining, living and always learning.