How Much of Denali Will We See

Doing a southbound from Seward on RCI next May. Right now we have a pre-cruise land tour attached. We are considering dropping it and doing DIY instead. I keep reading that the bus tundra tour only goes to mile 53 with some saying it is a big waste and to take the green bus DIY. Is going in May preventing us from seeing most of Denali? Any suggestions to help us see Denali in May at its best?

You may want to spend some time on the Denali National Park website. I've always thought that folks short-change themselves if they don't go into the park as far as Eielson Visitor's Center. This year shuttle buses to EVC didn't start until June 1st. When the shuttle bus schedule is announced for 2019 I suspect it won't be much different (i.e., shuttle service to EVC won't start May 20th). That being said, sometimes you just have to work with what is available to you.

We were on a HAL land tour and Denali was excellent .We were there about 2 hours.

You visit in May? You need to check the beginning dates for the Tundra Wilderness Tour, the shuttle and the (worthless) Natural History Tour.

 

You may be too early for the good tours.

When in May ?

Whether you take the shoulder version of the TWT or take the transit bus, the road is only open to Toklat at Mile 53, from May 20 - 31. $30 vs $126

 

TOUR https://www.reservedenali.com/tours-transits/the-denali-tour-experience/tundra-wilderness-tour/

 

TRANSIT https://www.reservedenali.com/tours-transits/transits/toklat-river/

 

Starting June 1, the transit bus goes to Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 66 and the TWT to Mile 62. $40 vs 146

 

On my 1st visit to Denali I could only go as far as Toklat (I arrived w/o a reservation). We still had a great time, enjoying the scenery and wildlife. Toklat is the start of the prime bear viewing area and that's where we saw them. HOWEVER, on subsequent trips I've reserved seats to Eielson and Wonder Lake on the transit buses. I wouldn't settle for Toklat when I have the time to go further.

You visit in May? You need to check the beginning dates for the Tundra Wilderness Tour, the shuttle and the (worthless) Natural History Tour.

 

You may be too early for the good tours.

That's one of the reasons we are considering dropping the RCI land tour week beginning 5/18 (too much fluff in tour). In our DIY thoughts, we would take the green bus as far as mile 53 (Toklat) which only consumes 1 day. But part of my question is what other part of Denali will we be able to "tour" other than view the great scenery of the range from I-4 from Talkeetna up beyond Healy? Since Joy will not set foot in a Cessna, we won't be taking any flight tours! It looks like we can take some time to ride the Alaska Railroad.

We all have our opinions about travel, but I prefer to do visit an attraction in depth and not spend a superficial amount of time. The following post to me suggests a superficial visit:

 

We were on a HAL land tour and Denali was excellent .We were there about 2 hours.

 

Some folks spend days at Denali and still feel that their visit just scratched the surface. I am curious as to what they experienced in two hours.

 

Instead of Denali would you consider time spent on the Kenai Peninsula? So much of interest to do there -- with the caveat that what interests one person may not interest another.

But part of my question is what other part of Denali will we be able to "tour" other than view the great scenery of the range from I-4 from Talkeetna up beyond Healy? Since Joy will not set foot in a Cessna, we won't be taking any flight tours! It looks like we can take some time to ride the Alaska Railroad.

 

Sorry but I don't understand what you're asking....

Other than scenery there isn't much to see and do between Talkeetna and Healy. The Veterans Wall is the only stop I can think of. Between Anc and Talkeetna there is more .... Eklutna Spirit Houses, the park at Eagle River, TBird Falls, Ididarod Headqtrs.

 

https://www.themilepost.com/highways/parks-highway/

 

But if you're asking what to do INSIDE denali, the visitor centers are open, the trails are available, and Savage River trail at Mle 15 is open if you have a car since the courtesy shuttles aren't running. The dog kennels are open but there are no demos until June. If weather permits, you can drive your own car to Teklanika at Mile 30, until May 19.

 

https://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm

I keep reading that the bus tundra tour only goes to mile 53 with some saying it is a big waste and to take the green bus DIY. Is going in May preventing us from seeing most of Denali? Any suggestions to help us see Denali in May at its best?

We did the Tundra Wilderness Tour in May of this year. Definitely not a waste. I wrote about it here: https://www.debsdays.com/2018/05/a-day-in-denali-tundra-wilderness-tour.html

Well, I managed to talk Joy into riding a Otter or a Beaver and do a 2 hour flight around Denali with a glacier landing!! http://www.talkeetnaair.com/

 

 

I also found a tour that will be giving us more freedom on a back-road. http://www.alaska.org/detail/denali-highway-jeep-excursions

 

 

So I know there is a lot to "see" but had not checked into any tours other than the TWT which only goes to mile 53 the week we are there. I was even finally to find a glacier watch that will fit into our calendar. Several in fact. It just took help from folks on the CC and detaching from the RCI pre cruise land tour. For the same $$, we will get much more bang for the buck.

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I also found a tour that will be giving us more freedom on a back-road. http://www.alaska.org/detail/denali-highway-jeep-excursions

 

 

Unless you really want a guide, just rent a vehicle in Anchorage that can be driven on gravel roads. The Denali Highway is a fully maintained gravel highway, although services are limited (read mostly nonexistent).

I did consider that early on but dropped the idea when I discovered that the rental charge would be $500-800 more than a mid sized car. Also have to factor in the difference in fuel cost - 18mpg vs 30 - gas for full trip would be ~$80 more. It's just money......

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I also found a tour that will be giving us more freedom on a back-road. http://www.alaska.org/detail/denali-highway-jeep-excursions

 

 

Unless you really want a guide, just rent a vehicle in Anchorage that can be driven on gravel roads. The Denali Highway is a fully maintained gravel highway, although services are limited (read mostly nonexistent).

 

There is also the option to get off the highway and into the backcountry on a 6x6 military truck. They travel down a historic mining trail, Stampede Trail, in the bush! https://www.travelalaska.com/Partners/StampedeExcursions/Displays/18DO6_Denali-National-Park.aspx

Okay, so our schedule is mostly set. We will have time in Denali May 19th, 20th and part of the 21st. We have booked a late afternoon Denali Jeep excursion on the 20th. Since the Tundra Wilderness Tour may be available to mile 53, (2019 schedule not available til Dec. 1, 2018) and also the non-narrated tour (may) also be available to mile 53 (Toklat River). My question is how safe is it to get out of the green bus (transit) and roam around unprotected from Moose & Bear? I most likely cannot carry bear spray or a firearm and my wife (Joy) is really apprehensive, any suggestions or help? Like maybe not a good idea to carry a paper wrapped salmon sandwich?? When I hiked Alaska in 1995 we were extremely careful with everything we did and one in our party carried a really big weapon! So how dangerous is it to drop off a transit bus to hike around and photograph stuff?

On 8/12/2018 at 3:12 PM, idahospud said:

We did the Tundra Wilderness Tour in May of this year. Definitely not a waste. I wrote about it here: https://www.debsdays.com/2018/05/a-day-in-denali-tundra-wilderness-tour.html

Whenin May did you go?

 

we’re cruising HAL........ where do we sign uo for a soecific time?

2 hours ago, Gnetgood said:

Whenin May did you go?

 

we’re cruising HAL........ where do we sign uo for a soecific time?

 

Here is a link that will give you the information that you requested;

 

https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/bus-tours.htm

On 10/1/2018 at 10:34 AM, masterdrago said:

Okay, so our schedule is mostly set. We will have time in Denali May 19th, 20th and part of the 21st. We have booked a late afternoon Denali Jeep excursion on the 20th. Since the Tundra Wilderness Tour may be available to mile 53, (2019 schedule not available til Dec. 1, 2018) and also the non-narrated tour (may) also be available to mile 53 (Toklat River). My question is how safe is it to get out of the green bus (transit) and roam around unprotected from Moose & Bear? I most likely cannot carry bear spray or a firearm and my wife (Joy) is really apprehensive, any suggestions or help? Like maybe not a good idea to carry a paper wrapped salmon sandwich?? When I hiked Alaska in 1995 we were extremely careful with everything we did and one in our party carried a really big weapon! So how dangerous is it to drop off a transit bus to hike around and photograph stuff?

 

Why can't you buy some bear spray in Alaska and carry it with you.  You obviously can't carry it on the ship but if you buy it and put in into your luggage whilst on the tour, who would know.

 

DON

I looked up places to buy bear spray prior to our Denali visit. I found an outdoors store right near the Park that carried bear spray. Here is the link to their website:  http://denalimountainworks.com/

 

We ended up going for a hike with a local guide who carried bear spray, so we didn't need it. 

1 hour ago, Cruise_More_Often said:

I looked up places to buy bear spray prior to our Denali visit. I found an outdoors store right near the Park that carried bear spray. Here is the link to their website:  http://denalimountainworks.com/

 

We ended up going for a hike with a local guide who carried bear spray, so we didn't need it. 

Thanks for the link. I added the page to our tour folder.  I also found an ATV guided or self tour that we may add. https://www.blackdiamondtourco.com/home----.html

On 8/11/2018 at 5:27 PM, lenquixote66 said:

We were on a HAL land tour and Denali was excellent .We were there about 2 hours.

 

Two whole hours??  Not much time to see Denali.

 

DON

May not have been on a cruisetour i’m guessing?

Just so you are doubly aware, the Denali Hwy is not IN the national park. It’s actually a bit of a way away. It is scenic and mostly unpaved, but it’s a regular highway. We are renting an RV Inn anchorage and driving it next summer as part of our travels. 

 

Experiencing wilderness in in its true form is the best part of the national park. And as others have said, going to at least Eielson is a must. My best advice is to order yourself a Milepost book from Amazon. You can see every single thing there is to see in every single highway in the state, with lots of travel planning ideas. We always use it to plan our adventures. 

On 10/30/2018 at 1:06 PM, Crew News said:

 

Here is a link that will give you the information that you requested;

 

https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/bus-tours.htm

 

On 10/30/2018 at 9:34 PM, masterdrago said:

Thanks for the link. I added the page to our tour folder.  I also found an ATV guided or self tour that we may add. https://www.blackdiamondtourco.com/home----.html

I called yesterday re:  Tundra Wilderness Tour and I was told Holland America assigns you a time!

 

it appears we only go to mile 53........it’s hard to pre-plan without knowing departure time.....yikes