Page 167 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

WESTERN INTERIOR ALASK A  165

8 Denali Highway Tour Tips for Drivers

A trip across the fabulously scenic Denali Highway is Starting point: Paxson.
an unforgettable experience. Built in 1957, it was the Length: 134 miles (214 km).
Accommodation: Tangle River
only link between Anchorage and Denali National Park Inn, Mile 20 (Tangle Lakes).
until the completion of the Parks Highway in 1972. The ∑ tangleriverinn.com
Alaska Range runs along its length, offering spectacular Gracious House, Mile 82 (Susitna
views, and tundra and taiga forests on the route are River). ∑ gracioushouse
lodge.com
home to moose, caribou, and grizzlies. Except for the Maclaren River Lodge, Mile 42.
first 21 miles (34 km) westward from Paxson and the ∑ maclarenlodge.com
last couple of miles, the route is gravel that ranges Stopping-off points: waysides
from smooth to rough and rutted. and parking areas along the route
Cantwell offer great photo opportunities.
Note: the highway is closed to
traffic from October to mid-May.

0 km 100
Nenana
0 miles 100
Key
Brushkana
Tour route
Main road
6 Brushkana River
The highway crosses the D E N A L I H I G H W A Y
Brushkana River at Mile 104.3.
The campsite near the bridge 4 Clearwater Creek
is ideal for fishing. Controlled Use Area
Susitna Gold was mined in the
5 Susitna River Clearwater Creek area in
The 260-mile (416-km) Susitna the early 20th cen tury.
River, popularly called the Big Today, there is good
Su, has its headwaters in the hunting and fishing
Susitna Glacier in the Alaska Clearwater Mountains available here.
Range. The river has Class III
to Class V rapids between
here and Talkeetna. 3 MacLaren Summit
At 4,086 ft (1,226 m),
this is Alaska’s second
highest highway pass.
The view north takes
in several glaciers,
D E N A L I H I G H W A Y
including Susitna
Glacier.
McLaran
2 Tangle Lakes
Tangle Lakes, the headwaters of
the Delta River, are popular for
kayak ing and fishing. The surrounding
Delta
350-sq-mile (900-sq-km) area includes Junction
several ancient Native hunting sites.
Fielding Lake
Summit Lake
Paxson
1 Summit Lake Paxson R I C H A R D S O N H I G H W A Y
Around Mile 4, several Lake
highway turnouts
afford great views Gakona
north to Summit Lake
and Gakona Glacier.

F For keys to symbols see back flapor keys to symbols see back flap

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