Amazing Alaska

The US state of Alaska is an amazing place to visit. It is not your usual kind of state with many populated cities instead it has a lot of uninhabited wilderness. You can enjoy nature, wildlife, and birds. There are many outdoor attractions like national parks. So it is no wonder why this state is known as The Last Frontier.

Denali National Park and Preserve is the third largest national park in the US. In the park is the highest mountain in North America, Mount McKinley, which is in the northern part of the Alaska Range. In 2015 the name of the highest peak officially became Denali.

The park has wide river valleys, tundra, high alpine ranges, and glacier-draped mountains. It is located midway between the Alaskan cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks and easily accessed by the Alaska Railroad. There is a single road which leads into the park.

Denali National Park is home to wildlife like grizzly bears, wolves, reindeer, elk, and other animals. Within the park are over 167 species of birds. Among the highlights are the Sled Dog Kennels which offer demonstrations and have dozens of huskies.

The Alaska-Canada Highway or Alcan Highway stretches from Dawson Creek in British Columbia, Canada through the Yukon Territory to Delta Junction near Fairbanks, Alaska. During WW II the highway was built for military purposes. This route is the best way to access the Yukon Territory and southern Alaska by land. From Canada it passes through Whitehorse then crosses the international border into Alaska.There are motels, shops, and gas stations along the highway.

The Inside Passage in southeast Alaska is a series of sheltered channels and straits. This is the most popular way to visit is to cruise through the fjords on ships, charter boats, and private yachts.

Along the coastal passage stretches the Tongass National Forest which includes islands, mountains, glaciers, ice fields, fjords, and waterfalls. Within the forest is the Prince of Wales Island which is one of the largest islands in the US. This area is inhabited by the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsminshian people.

Along the route the major towns are Skagway, with Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Sitka once a Russian-American town,

and Ketchikan with totems at Totem Bight State Historic Park and the Totem Heritage Center.

Skagway historic district commemorates the 1897-1898 Gold Rush. Visitors can try to hike the 33-mile-long Chilkoot Trail which begins at Taiya River Bridge.

The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad departs from Skagway, and climbs the White Pass at an elevations of 2,865-feet. The depot is one of the oldest in Alaska, and houses the visitor center.

The Alaska Railroad is referred to as the “Backbone of the Last Frontier.” It is a prominent part of the history of Alaska and runs from Seward to Fairbanks. Today the railroad shuttles over 500,000 passengers every year.

Popular destinations along the train route are the Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, and the Denali National Park & Preserve. It also offers various routes, services, and special event rides among them backcountry ski packages.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is the largest of the national parks in Alaska. This is a mountain region with nine of the sixteen highest mountain peaks in the US. This park borders with Canada and has glaciers, lakes, mountain streams, and a lot of wildlife. It is great for hikers, climbers, and those that love water sports.

Within the park the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark includes the one-time mill town with heritage buildings and abandoned mines.

The Iditarod National Historic Trail is the only National Scenic Trail in Alaska. The includes a network of over 2,300 miles of trails between Nome, on the Bering Strait and Seward, near Anchorage. The trail was originally used by ancient hunters and later in time by gold prospectors.

Today it is used as part of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Along the trail are extensive landscapes with lovely views of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. The trail is primarily a winter trail but hikers also use sections of it during the summertime. This includes the popular Crow Pass Trail that is located in Chugach State Park.

In Katmai National Park Brooks Falls attracts brown bears when spawning salmon travel on the Brooks River in June and July. There are elevated platforms around the falls letting visitors view the wildlife.

Both the Katmai National Park and Brooks Falls are located on the Alaskan Peninsula, extending from the southwest mainland. The park can be reached by boat or plane.

The town of Seward is the home base for exploring the Kenai Peninsula. From there you can go to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge established to protect the Kodiak bear and other rare animals.