Page 170 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

168  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

Exploring Denali National Park

Most summer visitors to Alaska have Denali National Park on
their itineraries, so a smooth visit requires pre-booking and
advance planning. In the June to August peak season, it is
not uncommon to have to wait several days for shuttle tickets
or campsite bookings. For hikers, the park is divided into 43
backcountry units, each of which accommodates one group
per night. Backcountry permits cannot be reserved, so access
to high-demand units can require long waits. To get to the
most appealing parts of the park, those without bookings
should stop off at the Wilderness Access Center to organize
their visit. Note that no private vehicles are allowed on the
Denali National Park Road beyond Savage River.
Denali National Park smooth, well-managed trails. Horseshoe Lake, a popular and easy hike
Headquarters Area The Rock Creek and Mount Healy from Park Headquarters
PO Box 9, Denali National Park. Overlook Trails both take half a
Tel 683-2294. 7 0 =  day, while the Horseshoe Lake heart of the park through a
The Park Headquarters area, near and Taiga Trails take an hour or picturesque and wildlife-rich
the main entrance at the eastern two. As the park proper has no forest and tundra landscape.
end of the park, is a necessary managed trails, hikers must be The area between the Park
stop for all visitors. Around the prepared for rough terrain and Headquarters and Savage River,
Denali Visitor Center, which has unbridged river crossings. They 15 miles (24 km) west of the
an informa tion desk, there is need to carry their camp ing gear entrance, is moose habitat. In
a general store, a restaurant, a and food, and must be adept the spring, visitors should look
book shop, a gas station, showers, at route-finding with a map out for cow moose with calves.
and lockers. A mile (1.6 km) away, and a compass or GPS. Beyond the river, the road grows
the Wilderness Access Center Park shuttles go to all six of the increasingly scenic as it climbs
handles shuttle bus tickets and park’s campgrounds. All the sites onto alpine tundra, with herds
campsite reserva tions, while have toilets; four have potable of Dall sheep often visible on
next door, the Backcountry tap water. Reserve a place as Primrose Ridge to the north.
Information Center issues free far in advance as possible. Winding past braided rivers
back country permits. Also worth and colorful peaks, the road
a visit are the Sled Dog Kennels, } Denali National Park Road continues above the treeline to
accessible by free shuttle bus Tel (866) 761-6629 (bus reservations). Sable Pass. Polychrome Pass at
from the Denali Visitor Center. @ late May–mid-Sep: 6am–3pm at Mile 45 is another highlight. The
Since the 1920s, ran gers have half-hour intervals from Wilderness stunning, vividly colored rocks
used dog sleds to patrol the Access Center; reserve in advance. of Polychrome Mountain were
park. The dogs are so popular & 7 on some buses. formed by volcanic action about
that rangers now offer mushing ∑ reservedenali.com 50 million years ago. Wolves
demonstrations in the summer. The Denali National Park Road sometimes hunt migrating
The entrance area also has some leads 85 miles (136 km) into the caribou in this area, and visitors

Park shuttle buses at the Stony Hill Overlook on the Denali National Park Road
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p244 and pp254–5

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