Page 174 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

172  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

Denali Village, the main service center for Denali National Park
0 Denali Village Visitors can also opt for less Park, thrilling whitewater raft ing
124 miles (200 km) S of Fairbanks. expensive options in Healy through the steep-sided Nenana
Transport map E3. * 170. to the north, or Carlo Creek, Canyon is provided by three
£ Anchorage–Fairbanks. 13 miles (21 km) south on main outfitters: Nenana Raft
@ Anchorage–Fairbanks, park the Parks Highway. Adventures, the Denali Outdoor
shuttle buses. Center, and Denali Raft
Adventures. Difficulty levels
This cluster of huge hotels, RV q Nenana River range from easy Class I rapids
parks, lodges, restaurants, and S of Nenana Bridge in Denali Village. to more challenging Class IV
outdoor activity operators is Transport map E3. white-water. In the price of
the main service center for the a half-day trip are included
Denali National Park area (see Rising on Nenana Mountain in raingear, boots, personal
pp166–9). Normally referred the Alaska Range, the 150-mile flotation devices, and transfers
to as either Denali Village or (240-km) long Nenana River to and from hotels in the area.
Denali Park, this place was tumbles down to join the Parks
formerly just a roadside stretch Highway at Mile 215. From Denali Outdoor Center
of development, but a growing this point on, the river and Mile 238.5, Parks Hwy.
number of hotels, shops, and highway flow side by side. Tel 683-1925, (888) 303-1925.
tourist-driven businesses have Spruce occasionally topple ∑ denalioutdoorcenter.com
earned it the moniker “Glitter off the eroding banks, forming Denali Raft Adventures
Gulch.” By any name, however, “sweepers,” logs that float in the Mile 238, Parks Hwy. Tel 683-2234,
it would still be one of Alaska’s water and are a real navigation (888) 683-2234. ∑ denaliraft.com
villages in the summer. Since hazard for rafts and canoes. Nenana Raft Adventures
the demolition of the Denali Beyond Healy, the Nenana Mile 238, Parks Hwy. Tel (800) 789-
National Park Hotel, which enters the flats north of the 7238. ∑ raftdenali.com
provided well-heeled Alaska Range and flows more
accom modations inside lethargically until it merges with
the park, visitors who want to the Tanana River at the village w Healy
appreciate Denali in comfort of Nenana. From the south side
usually take hotel rooms here. of the Nenana Bridge in Denali 113 miles (182 km) S of Fairbanks.
Transport map E3. * 1,000.
@ Anchorage–Fairbanks.
n 5 Healy Spur Rd; 683-4636.
∑ denalichamber.com
North of Denali, the village of
Healy has long been the service
center for the Usibelli coal
fields 3 miles (5 km) to the east.
Discovered by Emil Usibelli in
1943, these fields contain the
state’s largest deposits of sub-
bituminous coal. The mine now
provides energy for Alaska’s
military bases, fuels Fairbanks’
power plant, and exports
coal. Healy is best known as an
Thrilling whitewater rafting on the Nenana River inexpensive place to stay and
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p244 and pp254–5

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