We’ve just finished up a 3-day stay in Denali National Park and have come back to civilization (meaning internet access) to news of the incredible flooding along the Front Range of Colorado, home to many of our good friends. We hope everyone is safe and dry, and our best wishes go out to those affected by the disaster.

We took almost 350 photos in the park, so this is going to have to be a two-part update! Let’s dive in, starting with our trip across the Denali Highway.

Undeterred by previous bad luck on long dirt highways and with a couple of extra days before our campground reservation in the national park, we decided to take the long way from Fairbanks and drive across the Denali Highway. After stocking up on 5 days’ worth of food, we set out from Fairbanks headed south in the rain. We turned onto the Denali Highway and drove 20 miles to the first campground along the road at Tangle Lakes. The next morning we decided to go for a short hike near the campground to enjoy the fall colors – we also got to see a moose and her calf pretty close up!

Our campsite at Tangle Lakes

Moose!

The next day was long, traversing the remaining 100 odd miles of the dirt highway. This area is popular with local sportsmen – most of the vehicles we saw were hunters equipped with an RV to stay in along with a trailer hauling ATVs for traveling out into the bush. These guys take their hunting seriously and have the gear to prove it!

The Susitna River

At the western end of the road where it joins with the Parks Highway was our first opportunity to see Denali (the peak). Unfortunately, the day had been overcast with rain (as usual) and in addition to not being able to see what were supposed to be beautiful views of other mountains and glaciers north of the highway, Denali was shrouded in mist.

We headed north to the town of Healy to fuel up before heading into the park. We happened past the local micro brewery and couldn’t resist stopping for dinner and a brew and to watch a little football. We camped that night at Riley Campground, just inside the park entrance.

Most visitors to Denali are restricted to riding on park buses to access the bulk of the park. On the recommendation of Alice of Do Good as You Go, we had made reservations at Teklanika campground, 30 miles into the park. Other than a road lottery on the last 4 days of the park’s season, that’s the only way you can drive your own vehicle that far into the park. From the campground, though, you still have to use shuttle buses to get the rest of the way into the park.

The next morning the weather seemed more promising. After breakfast we went to the park visitor center to try to figure out which shuttle buses we had reservations for during our 3-day stay at the Teklanika campground. The whole thing is kind of confusing, and not well explained unless you know what questions to ask.

We headed into the park and found our campsite. It was too late by then to do much exploring, so we set up camp and went for a short walk along the Teklanika River. Our bus reservations that will be taking us all the way to the end of the park road are for Wednesday morning at 9am. We’re going to have to get up early!!

Yay! Another river to throw rocks into! This trip is so great.

Sunset over the Teklanika River