Coming to AK in summer
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Fairbanks, AK
The way that you are planning on driving to AK, I would recommend driving to Fairbanks and then down to Anchorage. Check out Denali on the way. You can't drive private vehicles very far into Denali but you can get a good view of Mt. McKinley.
If you come up to Fairbanks, give me a shout and maybe we can link up.
Also, unless you are set on going to Juneau, there is now a ferry route that goes almost straight from Anchorage across the gulf to Bellingham. Just an idea for you.
If you come up to Fairbanks, give me a shout and maybe we can link up.
Also, unless you are set on going to Juneau, there is now a ferry route that goes almost straight from Anchorage across the gulf to Bellingham. Just an idea for you.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
I decided to do the path via Fairbanks, looks like the best choice to do what I want. I'll be in Fairbanks likely around the 4th of July so would be great to catch up for some brews with folks. Not sure just how long I'll stay, maybe just a night because I think I'll camp at Denali for a couple days. Just put my ferry on hold from Juneau to Bellingham for the 18th so I'll be in Alaska until then for sure. Juneau is likely a 3 day stop for me, wasn't sure how much to do there but want to check it out. Thinking I'll be hitting a day/night in cooper landing while I'm near anchorage too. And I think tok on the way to Haines maybe, really liked the sound of the campground in glennallen as well though.
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 52
Likes: 1
From: JBER, alaska
I just bought a jeep before i left for this tour out of JBER, I set up my RandR for julyish and i have spent over 8k on mods for the jeep when i get home it's going to be like christmas..(bumpers,DS's,winch,Lift,wheels,tires,s kids,and more).. I haven't wheeled much in alaska, but plan to do some around sutton and anchorage... Hopefully get some good trips in before the winter.. The summers are great, just hate i am going to miss the majority of this one
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage
Sounds like you've got a heck of a trip ahead of you! My parents and younger brother were here in mid June for a couple weeks and we had a great time. The last time they came to visit, Anchorage was in the middle of what seemed like a 3 month rainstorm. I think we even set the record for most consecutive rainy days that summer. This trip was completely different - 2 days of rain, 11 days of blue skies and 70 degree temps.
I'm no sourdough, but Alaska has been my playground for a few years now and I've seen enough of this awesome state to make a few suggestions:
1) Instead of accessing Denali via Fairbanks, I'd head towards Glenallen at the Tok Cutoff and then take the Richardson to either Valdez or McCarthy (via Edgerton Hwy). McCarthy is this little town at the end of a 60 mile unmaintained dirt road in Wrangell St. Elias. On Fridays they have a community-wide softball game where everyone's invited. Join the team with the fewest members and watch out for the keg on 2nd base! The pic below is Kennecott Mine and is accessed from McCarthy.
Attachment 335492
2) If you have the opportunity, drive the Denali Highway. It's a well-maintained dirt road that connects Cantwell (30 mi S of Denali NP entrance) and Paxson (75 mi N of Glenallen). The scenery is unbeatable, there's almost no traffic, and there's plenty of campsites and dirt trails to check out along the way. Here's a couple shots from the Denali Hwy:
Attachment 335493
Attachment 335497
3) I did my first wheelin' on the Stampede Trail (the "Into the Wild" bus trail) and had a blast. We ran into some folks with an outfit called Alaska Jeep Safari and they invited us to stick with them. Great folks - they fed us, told us about the history of the trail, and gave this noob some 4-wheelin' tips.
Attachment 335498Attachment 335499
I'm no sourdough, but Alaska has been my playground for a few years now and I've seen enough of this awesome state to make a few suggestions:
1) Instead of accessing Denali via Fairbanks, I'd head towards Glenallen at the Tok Cutoff and then take the Richardson to either Valdez or McCarthy (via Edgerton Hwy). McCarthy is this little town at the end of a 60 mile unmaintained dirt road in Wrangell St. Elias. On Fridays they have a community-wide softball game where everyone's invited. Join the team with the fewest members and watch out for the keg on 2nd base! The pic below is Kennecott Mine and is accessed from McCarthy.
Attachment 335492
2) If you have the opportunity, drive the Denali Highway. It's a well-maintained dirt road that connects Cantwell (30 mi S of Denali NP entrance) and Paxson (75 mi N of Glenallen). The scenery is unbeatable, there's almost no traffic, and there's plenty of campsites and dirt trails to check out along the way. Here's a couple shots from the Denali Hwy:
Attachment 335493
Attachment 335497
3) I did my first wheelin' on the Stampede Trail (the "Into the Wild" bus trail) and had a blast. We ran into some folks with an outfit called Alaska Jeep Safari and they invited us to stick with them. Great folks - they fed us, told us about the history of the trail, and gave this noob some 4-wheelin' tips.
Attachment 335498Attachment 335499
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage
Another shot from the Stampede Trail
4) When you're in Denali, skip the tour bus and take the shuttle bus instead. Every shuttle bus driver starts off with the same spiel: "If you folks are looking for a tour, head over to a tour bus. This is a shuttle bus and I'm a driver, not a tour guide. If we have time we'll stop and look at wildlife." They then proceed to give you a 6 hour narrated tour, answer your questions, and stop at every moose, caribou, grizzly, and fox they pass.
Also, I'd either skip the campgrounds and get a backcountry permit or try to get a site at Teklanika or Wonder Lake. The Park Service requires that you reserve at least 3 days in the Tek campground because getting there is one of the few ways that you can take a private vehicle on the park road. For most people, the only way to get past the ranger station at mile 15 is on a shuttle bus or by camping at Tek. We stayed at Tek a couple weeks ago and saw this little guy on our way out:
5) Alaska is awesome. Come visit when it starts getting dark again and maybe you'll have the opportunity to see some northern lights! I took this pic a few miles south of Cantwell in January 2011.
4) When you're in Denali, skip the tour bus and take the shuttle bus instead. Every shuttle bus driver starts off with the same spiel: "If you folks are looking for a tour, head over to a tour bus. This is a shuttle bus and I'm a driver, not a tour guide. If we have time we'll stop and look at wildlife." They then proceed to give you a 6 hour narrated tour, answer your questions, and stop at every moose, caribou, grizzly, and fox they pass.
Also, I'd either skip the campgrounds and get a backcountry permit or try to get a site at Teklanika or Wonder Lake. The Park Service requires that you reserve at least 3 days in the Tek campground because getting there is one of the few ways that you can take a private vehicle on the park road. For most people, the only way to get past the ranger station at mile 15 is on a shuttle bus or by camping at Tek. We stayed at Tek a couple weeks ago and saw this little guy on our way out:
5) Alaska is awesome. Come visit when it starts getting dark again and maybe you'll have the opportunity to see some northern lights! I took this pic a few miles south of Cantwell in January 2011.