Denali Highway Day
East from Cantwell on one of Alaska's great gravel roads. Wide tundra, kettle ponds, the Alaska Range on your left, and almost nobody else.
Ask about dates for Denali Highway Day- Season
- Summer
- How long
- Full day, about 9 hours
- Starts
- Pick-up at Cantwell or Healy
- Ages
- Ages 4 and up (a long day in the van)
The Denali Highway runs east across the open tundra from Cantwell, and it's mostly gravel, which is why most rental car contracts don't allow it. We drive it so you can look.
It's the place to see how big interior Alaska really is. On a clear day the Alaska Range runs along the horizon, and late in August the tundra turns red and gold. We stop often, for short walks, ponds full of ducks, and whatever's grazing by the road.
The day
- Pick-up and a short drive to Cantwell, where the pavement soon ends
- East onto the gravel, with stops at the big lookouts
- A short walk across the tundra to a kettle pond
- A picnic lunch with the mountains
- Back west, with the light behind you, and home by evening
What to bring
- Layers and a rain jacket
- Binoculars if you have them (we bring spares)
- Motion sickness tablets for anyone who needs them
- Bug spray
More days out
Summer · Full day, about 7 hours
Denali Entrance Day
The park's front door at a kid's pace. Easy trails, the sled dog kennels, and the first good look at the mountains.
See the day
Winter · Evening, about 5 hours
Northern Lights Night
Out of town after dark, with a warm room to wait in, hot chocolate, and someone who knows where to look.
See the day
Summer · Full day, about 7 hours
Talkeetna & the Mountain
A day in the little town with the best ground views of Denali. Viewpoints, the riverfront, and flightseeing for those who want it.
See the day