| Denali National Park
You don't want to miss Alaska's biggest attraction... |
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Cruise tours offer the best of both worlds, combining a seven-day cruise with a three- to eight-night stay on land. All you have to do is decide where you'd like to go. Here is information about Alaska's favorite places. From it's historical towns and cities to its National parks, Alaska has something to offer everyone.
Questions? Call us at 800.365.1445. |
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See Denali National Park, Mt. McKinley
and the wildlife of Alaska. Print This Page
Travel via scenic domed railcars; deluxe, restroom-equipped motorcoaches;
Overnight at deluxe “rustic” lodges; great wildlife and scenery only on an Alaska cruisetour
can you experience all that Alaska has to offer.
Denali National Park
When you plan your Alaskan vacation, do you plan to encounter a striking landscape, a place so expansive that it shelters more than six hundred-fifty species of flowering plants and thirty-seven mammal species? Do you envision your Alaskan tour to include a dizzying six million acres filled with large caribou, moose, and grizzly bears, and offset with startlingly small flowers, miniaturized to suit Alaska's short growth season? Of course we're talking about Denali National Park, the focal point of an Alaska Cruisetour.
Denali National Park is located 240 miles north of Anchorage, and encompasses 6 million acres of forests, tundra, glaciers and mountains - that's larger than the entire state of Massachusetts. Yet only 90 miles of main road traverses the park, leaving the moose, caribou, sheep and bears free to roam a wide area of land untouched by man. Denali National Park has long been a place of refuge for those with the will to survive its rugged terrain. Indeed, only the strongest plants flourish in this world of sub-artic wilderness. Species of mosses, lichens, fungi, algae, and others spangle the slopes and valleys of Denali. Deep pools of frost collect just beneath the park's surfaces, and only the thinnest sheen of topsoil thaws enough each year to stimulate new life. But the fragile nature of the region leads to continuous rebirth. New rivers can spurt up in days and flowers bloom just in time to serve as supper for hungry wildlife.
How exciting to watch this stunning Alaskan ecosystem adapt and change to suit its environment right before visitors delighted eyes. And of course all this primitive landscape is only a backdrop to the crown jewel of Denali, the regal massif Mount McKinley, the largest mountain in North America.
Denali National Park Video 
It was this mountain that drew people to the area in ancient times. Before Denali National Park was created to serve as a wildlife refuge, the land offered recluse for the Athabascan native people, from whose language Denali, or "high one" gets its name. Historically, the land that now protects animals was a refuge for these people, a place where nomadic bands of Athabascans could hunt the low hills for caribou, sheep, and moose. They gathered fish, berries, and edible plants from the area's rich supply during the spring through fall seasons, and when harsh winter approached, the low elevations of the river's valley formed perfect crevices in which the natives could shelter themselves.
The park itself was dreamt up by a naturalist named Charles Sheldon in 1907, who was struck by the beauty of the area during his own Alaskan travels, but it wasn't established as we know it now until the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act was approved by Jimmy Carter in 1980.
Undoubtedly Denali National Park is a diamond of the vast Alaskan landscape, a focal point of any complete Alaskan cruisetour. One of the best ways to get in on the action is through a combined cruise and land package, an amazing deal that lets you tour Alaska's interior by rail and then drops you off for a stays in local lodges. Take a tour of Alaska's primitive heartlands, the package includes a train ride and an overnight for example at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge or the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. After an exciting rail tour, experience an evening snuggled into a cozy wilderness lodge with Mount McKinley as your moon. You will sleep in the shadow of the great mountain, whose vast boundaries you have just began to glimpse, creating the perfect dreamscape for tomorrow's big adventure.
Exclusive: Choose
Your Own Park Tour!
Cruise
tours to Denali National park each feature one of
four exciting tours of the park:
All Princess
Alaska cruisetours include an exciting
tour through the park; however Princess
offers the flexibility to choose your
preferred experience from four unique
tour options.
Which Denali
National Park tour experience is for
you! Experience Denali with Alaska
Geographic, Denali Natural History Tour,
Tundra Wilderness Tour or the Kantishna
Experience.
Experience
Denali with Alaska Geographic
Duration:
Approximately 4-5 hours
Price: $79 per person
Tour Highlights:
-
This
tour introduces participants to
Denali and provides an enhanced view
of the Denali ecosystem and current
research taking place
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A
narrated bus tour 15 miles into
Denali takes guests to a beautiful
river valley where they embark on a
short walk to the historic Savage
River Camp
-
The tour
has the smallest group-to-instructor
ratio of any tour in Denali and
therefore provides the most intimate
experiences
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On the
walking portion of the tour, guests
take part in several activities that
highlight park wildlife and provide
hands-on experiences
-
Following the walk, participants are
given one hour for a self-guided
stop at the Denali Visitor Center
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The tour
is hosted by Alaska Geographic, a
non-profit partner that reinvests
tour proceeds to fund teacher
scholarships, research fellowships,
education grants, and K-12 outreach
-
Limited
space availability
Recommended for:
-
Passengers who prefer an active,
hands-on tour of Denali National
Park
-
Passengers traveling with children
-
Passengers who have limited time in
Denali and want to more thoroughly
experience their lodge and/or land
excursions
-
Passengers who prefer to have more
free time in Denali
Denali
Natural History Tour
Duration:
Approximately 4-5 hours
Price: $89 per person
Tour Highlights:
-
Fully
narrated tour that focuses on the
rich history of Denali National Park
-
Travels
to Primrose Ridge (Mile 17) for
scenic and wildlife viewing
opportunities
-
Includes
a screening of “Across Time and
Tundra”, a film that depicts
development of the park road and
early visitor experiences
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Stop at
Savage Cabin to visit a rustic,
back-country shelter used by rangers
for decades
-
Alaskan
Native Presentation
-
Possible
opportunity to see Mt. Mckinley
(weather permitting)
Recommended for:
-
Passengers who are interested in
Denali’s history, culture and nature
-
Passengers who have limited time in
Denali and want to more thoroughly
experience their lodge and/or land
excursions
-
Passengers who prefer to have more
free time in Denali
Tundra
Wilderness Tour
Duration:
Approximately 7-8 hours
Price: $149 per person
Tour Highlights:
-
Comprehensive, fully narrated tour
that travels deep into Denali
National Park (Mile 53)
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In-depth
information about the history of the
park with plentiful wildlife and
photography opportunities
-
Travels
over Sable Pass to scenic Polychrome
Overlook
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Stony
Hill Overlook provides opportunities
to see Mt. McKinley (weather
permitting)
-
Note:
The Teklanika Tundra Wilderness Tour
is seasonally offered in place of
the Tundra Wilderness Tour when the
park road is not fully accessible
due to weather.
Recommended for:
-
Passengers with 2-night stays at
Denali
-
Passengers who want a deep Denali
Park experience
-
Passengers who enjoy motorcoach
travel
Kantishna
Experience
Duration:
Approximately 11-12 hours
Price: $199 per person
Tour Highlights:
-
All day
tour that travels to the end of the
park road (Mile 91)
-
This
tour is guided by a National Park
Service Interpretive Ranger
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Explore
the old gold mining town of
Kantishna and learn about its
history
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Stop at
the restored home of Fannie Quigley
and learn about the early settlers
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Visit
the Eielson Visitor Center and
Wonder Lake
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Abundant
opportunities for wildlife viewing
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Possible
opportunities to see Mt. Mckinley
(weather permitting)
-
Limited
space availability
-
Note:
This tour does not operate when the
park road is not fully accessible
due to weather.
Recommended for:
-
Passengers with 2-night stays at
Denali
-
Passengers who want to travel to the
end of the park road
-
Passengers who enjoy motorcoach
travel
| Denali - Natural History Tour |
The Denali Natural History Tour is an approximate 5-hour, fully narrated tour that travels to Primrose Ridge at Mile 17 within Denali National Park and Preserve. With a focus on the rich, cultural history of the park, this tour makes several stops with programs that depict the diverse native and early pioneer influences that make Denali special. Hear about the history and culture that surrounds you at a Living History presentation, while visiting Savage Cabin, and find out more about the local native culture and their stories at Primrose Ridge. Your driver/naturalist will provide a great introduction to the landscape, geology and history of Denali National Park. The tour will include a stop at the Wilderness Access Center for a viewing of "Through Time & Tundra" to set the perspective of traveling the park road. Morning and afternoon tours are available. Exact departure times are not guaranteed and are based on demand and availability. Note: Weather conditions and animal behavior affect wildlife viewing. The tours are operated inside the park by the National Park Service.
| This tour offers you a quick taste of some of the six million acres in Denali National Park. The scenery alone is worth the trip, and you may also be lucky enough to see some wildlife, although you won't enter true bear country. You'll leave from the Visitor Access Center and climb Government Hill. Look off to your left and you'll see an expansive view that includes part of the Yanert Valley.
It isn't until you pass the headquarters area at Mile 3, that you will begin to enter the wilderness. During the winter months, the road is closed at this point. Only non - motorized travelers such as mushers and skiers can go further.
This is taiga forest, prime moose habitat, and moose may be seen anywhere on this stretch of road. There are some huge bull moose in the park. Watch for a flash of sun glinting off antlers, especially in the fall during rutting season. Moose like to nibble on the fresh willow leaves along the road early in the season. As the leaves emerge at higher elevations during the season, the moose follow those tasty treats up the hill. Later in the fall, they are more likely to return to the park road again. |
| Fox are commonly spotted on this section of road, trotting along with a jaw filled with dead ground squirrel. Watch for caribou above treeline. Don't be surprised, though, if your visual hunt for wildlife is for naught. It's not unusual to see no animals on this section of road, depending on the time of day and season.
The first view of Mount McKinley, about 75 miles away, comes into view at Mile 9. You'll only see the tip, but it towers over the other mountains in the range. About three miles later, both peaks of Mount McKinley are visible.
This tour is unique because it stops at historic Savage Cabin, adjacent to Savage River Campground. The cabin is located about 200 yards from the park road along a wide gravel path. There, an employee dressed in period costume enacts a 15 – 20 minute presentation on the pioneer days of Denali National Park.
A few miles further down the road, a park employee will greet you at the check station at Savage River Bridge. This is as far as you are allowed to drive your own vehicle. Check the ridges for Dall sheep. In 2003, a fox lived under the bridge and delighted tourists with a litter of kits, which skittered around the riverbed and sometimes the road. A resident porcupine continues to annoy the National Park Service by chewing on the check station. Those aren't seagulls at Savage River, but mew gulls.
Your turnaround point is just past Primrose Ridge, a popular area for day hiking and summer wildflowers. Look back and the park road looks like a long ribbon reaching for the horizon. Off in the distance you can see majestic snow - capped peaks of the Alaska Range, more than 100 miles away. |
| Denali - Tundra Wilderness Tour |
For visitors wanting to know about Denali National Park’s varied landscapes and wildlife, this 6-8 hour fully narrated tour takes visitors to the Toklat River at mile 54 of the Park Road. While we can't predict nor promise when and where wildlife may show up, this tour travels deep into the heart of the park and will allow you ample opportunity to look for Dall sheep, moose, caribou and the elusive grizzly bear. On days when Denali (Mt. McKinley) is visible, it may be possible to travel to Stony Hill Overlook at mile 62 where the mountain first becomes fully visible from base to summit - an impressive view. Exact departure times are not guaranteed and are based on availability. Note: Weather conditions and animal behavior affect wildlife viewing. The tours are operated inside the park by the National Park Service.
| Spend a day and travel some 60 miles into the wilderness of Denali National Park and the heart of bear country. On this fully guided tour, you’ll get interpretation from your driver/guide, along with 6 to 8 hours of wildlife spotting and spectacular scenery. If the weather cooperates, you’ll see Mount McKinley up close.
During the early part of the trip, watch for moose: there are some huge bulls that hang out in the taiga forest between headquarters and Savage Campground. Look for caribou anywhere above treeline. But don't be surprised if wildlife is sparse in those early miles—it’s not unusual to see no animals on this section of road, depending on the time of day and season.
The tip of Mount McKinley first comes into view at Mile 9. You'll ride over high mountain passes and usually see Dall sheep on the mountainsides. If you're lucky, you'll spot bears too. It’s not uncommon to see wolves from Teklanika on. |
| A high point—literally and figuratively—is the drive over Polychrome Pass, which offers a grand view of the Plains of Murie, stretching to the Alaska Range on the horizon. The colors of the mountains seem to change depending on light and time of day. Just on the other side of Polychrome Pass is the Toklat River and Toklat Bridge. If clouds cover Mount McKinley, the tour turns around here. On a clear day, the tour continues. (Hint: morning tours have the best chance of moving on.)
Watch for bears ambling along the tundra or riverbeds and for Mount McKinley, which will be in and out of view the rest of the trip. The bus goes over Highway Pass and stops at Stony Hill Overlook at Mile 62. There, Mount McKinley looms only 36 miles away—a perfect photo opportunity. Then you’ll turn around and head for home. |
Some unique things you can choose to do...
Take a helicopter ride to view breathtaking Mt. McKinley's from the air!
Kayak, raft or jet boat down crystal clear lakes and rivers!
Drive a team of Alaskan sled dogs!
Charter a boat or a float plane for a once in a life time fly-in fishing trip.
Editor's Notes
Princess Cruise Line offers train service direct between the cruise port in Whittier and the Princess lodges at Denali National Park. Celebrity, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean offer fully escorted and non-escorted cruisetours. Escorted cruisetours include the services of a tour guide for the land tour. All the cruise lines offer private, scenic, domed railcars - food and beverages on the train are available at extra cost. Holland America Alaska cruisetours includes a visit to Denali and weather permitting a 62-mile Tundra Wilderness Tour. Northbound cruisetours begin with 7 night cruise and then the land tour. Southbound cruisetours begin with the land tour in either Fairbanks or Anchorage and ends with a 7 nights cruise. Northbound Cruise tours begin in Vancouver and cruise to Seward or Whittier. The land tour portion begins from there, ending in Anchorage or Fairbanks.
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Canadian Prices Available