Page 179 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

F AIRBANKS  177

Exploring Beyond Fairbanks The surrounding hills have
hiking trails, from short walks to
Moving away from Fairbanks into the Fairbanks North Star multi-day routes. One popular
Borough, the population thins and the vistas open up. This walk goes uphill through birch
landscape of seemingly endless forested hills, broad river and spruce to Angel Rocks,
flats, and distant views of snow-capped peaks is the essence large outcrops with superb
of Interior Alaska. Typically blue summer skies oversee it all, views. The excellent two-day
Granite Tors Trail leads up
and in the winter, the aurora borealis is clearer and brighter into the hills to a free shelter
than in Fairbanks, where it is obscured by the city lights. overlooking the Plain of
Monuments, a wide expanse
Sights at a Glance Key dotted with towering volcanic
1 North Pole Main road rocks. It loops back down
2 Chena River State Recreation Area Minor road through forest and over
boardwalks across a berry-
3 Chena Hot Springs Trail studded muskeg bog. The
4 Gold Dredge No. 8 Alaska Railroad three-day 29-mile (46-km)
5 Elliott Highway Chena Dome Trail climbs above
the timberline onto alpine
tundra, with views across the
wilderness. In the winter, there
Livengood Central
45 miles (73 km) 68 miles (110 km) is plenty of scope for Nordic
Meehan Camp CHENA DOME TRAIL skiing and aurora viewing.
• } Chena Hot Springs
STEESE HWY Tanana Valley Chena Hot Springs Rd, 57 miles
ELLIOTT HWY
State Forest
(91 km) E of Fairbanks. Tel 451-8104.
Two ~ Chena Hot Springs. Open 7am–
Rivers midnight daily. & 8 7 0 - =
CHENA HOT SPRINGS ROAD
Fairbanks • GRANITE TORS TRAIL ®  ∑ chenahotsprings.com
• Aurora Ice Museum: Open tours daily
Chena 0 km 10 at 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, & 7pm.
ALASKA RAILROAD
Big Delta The most developed thermal spa
Tanana
RICHARDSON HWY
56 miles (90 km) 0 miles 10 in the state, Chena Hot Springs
has functioned since 1905. It
North Pole } Chena River State offers a complete resort experi-
15 miles (24 km) SE of Fairbanks. Recreation Area ence with hot springs, pools
* 2,100. @ Fairbanks’ Green Line. Mile 26, Chena Hot Spring Rd. Tel 269- (adults only), an indoor pool, spa
n 125 Snowman Lane, 488-2281. 8400.  ∑ dnr.alaska.gov/parks/ therapies, and many other activi-
∑ northpolealaska.com Santa Claus units/chena ties such as canoeing and fishing.
House: 101 St. Nicholas Dr. Tel 488- A wonderful park in Fairbanks’ Nordic skiing, sleigh rides,
2200. Open late May–early Sep: 10am– backyard, the Chena River State snowmachining, dog sledding,
6pm Mon–Sat, noon–6pm Sun; winter: Recreation Area follows the and, of course, aurora view ing
hours vary. ∑ santaclaushouse.com
clear Chena River as it winds make the spa more popu lar
This town is nowhere near the between low, forested hills in the winter. An addition is the
North Pole, or even within the topped by rocky tors sprouting unique Aurora Ice Museum.
Arctic Circle, but here, the name from alpine tundra. The river is It boasts an ice bar, elaborate
is everything. Homesteaded in ideal for Arctic grayling fishing ice carvings, and average room
1944, it was eventually sold to a as well as for easy kayaking. temperatures of -2° C (28° F).
developer who hoped to attract
toy manufacturers by naming
the new town North Pole. While
manufacturers never material ized,
the name inspired a Christmas
spirit, as evidenced by such street
names as Mistletoe Lane and
Reindeer Alley. The charming
Santa Claus House, next to the
Richardson Highway, attracts
youngsters with its enormous
Christmas store, live reindeer, and
the chance to speak with Santa.
The Christmas season is ushered
in with a tree-lighting ceremony. Visitors enjoying a soak in a rock pool at Chena Hot Springs
For keys to map symbols see back flap
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