Alaska has always been a bucket list destination for us. With eight National Parks — and a ton of beautiful landscapes in between — Alaska is a nature lover and photographer’s dream! Because the state is so big, we narrowed the focus of our 10-day trip down to a few key areas. The first destination on our itinerary was Denali National Park.
Our First Stop: Eagle River Nature Center
Our time in Alaska began with the steady rhythm of raindrops tapping the windshield as we made our way up from Anchorage. The mountains loomed in the distance, shrouded in mist, while the rain gave the landscape a soft, moody feel. Despite the wet weather, the drive was beautiful, with the ever-changing Alaska scenery unfolding before us — lush valleys, towering peaks and rapidly running rivers.
We decided to break up the 4+ hour drive with a few stops along the way. The first was the Eagle River Nature Center. It was a detour we couldn’t resist, with its promise of stunning views and a chance to stretch our legs before the longer journey ahead. We decided to walk the Albert Loop Trail, hoping to catch a glimpse of wildlife — particularly bears, which are known to roam the area. We were there just ahead of when the trail closes for the salmon run.
The trail was peaceful, winding through thick forests and along the river. The rain seemed to be keeping people away and we had the area almost entirely to ourselves. Although we didn’t spot any bears, we did see plenty of signs that they had been around. Claw marks on trees, scat on the trail and freshly turned earth were clear evidence, but they remained hidden. Even without major wildlife sightings on the hike, it was still a beautiful way to start our adventure. On the drive out of the area, we were fortunate to get our first sighting of a Bald Eagle though!
Back on the Road: Continuing on to Denali
We made a few other stops along the drive to Denali, but because it was raining, they were quick stops. Eklutna Lake was one of them, which I’d definitely want to check out again when the weather is nicer. Even with the rain and being socked in by thick clouds, it looked beautiful!
As we got closer to our destination, the rain finally began to clear, and we even had a few peaks of the sun. The clearing storm and early evening light made for breathtaking views. The mountains, which had been shrouded in mist, started to loom larger, their jagged peaks cutting into the overcast sky. As we came around one bend in the road, we were treated to a rainbow and warm light hitting a few of the nearby mountain tops. The scenery was nothing short of spectacular. The Alaska Range rose up in the distance, snow still clinging to some of the highest peaks. We were getting close!
After a long day of driving, we made it to our hotel in Healy. Our first full day in Alaska awarded us with so many beautiful views. We were excited to explore Denali more the next day.
Denali National Park & Preserve: The Crown Jewel of the North
We woke up bright and early for our full day in Denali. The forecast had called for rain, but we were lucky that the sky only held thick clouds but no actual rain. We had booked the East Fork Transit bus to see the park, and our trip departed at 9:30am.
Since we had extra time beforehand, we drove some of the 15 miles you can travel in your personal car. We were able to take our time and stop and take pictures whenever something caught our eye. (Although I think just about every mountain peak, flower and bend in the road caught my eye lol). The early morning light was breaking through the clouds, casting pretty rays and shadows across the landscape.
After our drive, we grabbed a coffee from the bus depot and snacks to bring with us. If you are taking the bus, plan on being out in the park for several hours. You’ll want to bring plenty of food and water with you. You can’t take food off the bus but are free to eat while driving. The park has a few food options to buy; however, we recommend bringing stuff in from town.
We went with the transit bus because we wanted the ability to get on and off. Our plan, which the bus driver had also recommended, was to ride all the way to the end of the road and then make any stops on the route back. It worked really well because it gave us a lay of the park and helped us narrow down where wanted to get off. Denali is unique in that it’s the only National Park that encourages you to hike off trail. It only has a couple of maintained trails at the front of the park.
Wildlife and Wild Terrain
I was really excited for all the wildlife sighting opportunities in Denali National Park and Preserve. Within the first few miles of our drive, the bus driver pointed out a male moose lying in the bushes. It was a bit hard to see but a male moose was high on my bucket list of animals!
As we got closer to the mile 43, we were lucky to come across a mama brown bear and her two subadult cubs. They were only a couple miles from the road, and we were able to watch them walk along the hills.
And the wildlife sightings didn’t stop there. From the windows of the bus, we caught sight of a large herd of caribou on a distant ridge. They blended almost seamlessly with the landscape, a living part of the vast, open space. As we pressed on, a couple of Dall sheep came into view. They were perched high on a distant ridgeline, barely visible against the rocky cliffs. The caribou and sheep were too far to get any great photos, but it was still awesome to see them!
When we reached mile 43, where the road is currently closed due to a landslide (it’s scheduled to reopen in 2026), we got off the bus, ready to explore. We decided to do off trail hiking at the East Fork River because it felt a little less intimidating. Jon was excited about adventuring out on our own. Although I was a little nervous about the idea of running into a brown bear out on our own. But there is something special about walking in a place where there’s no designated trail, just the vast, rugged landscape.
Tackling the Savage Alpine Trail
We finished day one in Denali by hiking the Savage Alpine Trail. This is a point-to-point hike that starts in one spot and ends in another. We started the hike at the trailhead located right before the Savage River bridge.
The ascent was steep, and the wind felt even more unforgiving up on the ridge. But the higher we climbed, the more breathtaking the views became. Though the sky remained heavy with clouds, the sight of Denali’s wilderness stretching out below us made every gust of wind worthwhile. The alpine trail is a steep climb, ascending 1,400 ft in the first two miles. But it is well worth it!
The trail ends just across from the Mountain Vista Picnic Area. We decided to begin the walk back toward the bus depot and grab a transit bus when one came along. We were also hoping we’d see additional wildlife while we walked, but unfortunately no luck.
On our way back to our hotel, we grabbed dinner at 49th State Brewery. We highly recommend making a stop there. The food and beer are delicious! Plus, they have the bus from the movie version of Into the Wild, which makes for a fun photo op.
Seeing More of Denali Before Getting Back on the Road
Before heading south to Talkeetna, we decided to spend the morning in Denali. We started the morning with the Horseshoe Lake trail. We were hoping to see a moose or other wildlife, but only ended up seeing birds. It was still a pretty hike and worth doing.
After hiking the Horeshoe Lake trail, we grabbed coffee and then drove to the Savage River area. This time we decided to hike the Savage River Loop. It’s an easy 2-mile loop that offers pretty views of the river and surrounding canyon. As we hiked, the sun finally broke through the clouds and we had blue skies! It was the perfect way to end our time in Denali National Park. We definitely want to come back when the road is fully open. I’d also love to see it decked out in all its autumn glory!
If you’d like to see more of our photos from Alaska or our other trips, check out our photo gallery.