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DENALI ADVENTURES CHECKLIST
Rafting, Trail Rides, Dog Sledding

1. Rafting

The Nenana is an exciting river for all ages. All the local companies provide transportation, and boats are operated by experienced, professional guides. Choose from several different trips: from a wild ride through the canyon to calmer float trips past the majestic Alaska scenery. You get to choose to go on a trip in which you paddle, or one in which your guide rows and you just hang on. Trips to more remote rivers can be arranged with guides in the local Denali Park area. The Nenana’s whitewater attracts kayakers from around the state. You can watch rafts go through the rapids near the park entrance, or through the Nenana River Canyon along the Parks Highway.

2. Trails & Sled Dogs

This was a land made by trails. You can take trail rides on both horses and all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) outside the park. You can also view sled dogs both at the park kennels and at nearby dog mushers’. The Denali area is famous for its mushing community and the high, open country makes for good trail-riding on horses.

DENALI ADVENTURES CHECKLIST
Hiking

1. Horseshoe Lake

Self-guided, up to two hour round-trip, starts near the railroad crossing at Mile 0.9, Park Road.

2. Taiga Trail

Access to Rock Creek & Mount Healy, two other trails.

3. Roadside Trail

This trail parallels the Park Road.

4. Savage River Loop Trail

Take shuttle bus to Mile 15 on the Park Road, or drive there.

5. Discovery Hikes

These ranger- led hikes are for “the adventurous and well-prepared.” You sign up for them at the visitor center. The hikes take 3 to 5 hours, not including the bus ride. Sign up and pay in advance.

Fishing

Most of the rivers in Denali National Park are glacially fed and full of silt, so fishing opportunities are limited. There are grayling and Dolly Varden in some of the creeks, and lake trout, arctic char and burbot in Wonder Lake. You do not need a fishing license within the original park, though you do for any area outside its boundaries.

Fishing is popular south of the park in creeks near Cantwell, along the Parks Highway towards Talkeetna, and north near Nenana. Cantwell lakes and streams have rainbows, grayling, burbot, whitefish and lake trout. During July and August, Cantwell area fishing for arctic grayling is good, with mosquitoes, blacks gnats or small spinners. Fly-in guide service is available in Cantwell and Healy for more remote locations.

Several of the flightseeing businesses also offer charters to supreme remote fishing locations.

DENALI ADVENTURES CHECKLIST
Flightseeing Denali

There are several different flightseeing packages offered for viewing McKinley and the Alaska Range. Flights leave from Talkeetna and the Denali Park area.

1. Circle Flights

2. “Summit” Flights

3. South Face

4. Base Camp Tours

5. Glacier Landings

+ Don't miss Alaska 101's take on Denali National Park

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