Alaska National Parks are beguiling and resplendent. While all eight national parks in Alaska are strikingly rugged and home to untouched wilderness, each one offers a uniqueness to visitors.
Home to North America’s largest mountain, Denali National Park is unspoiled and beautiful. Glacier filled Kenai Fjords National Park is filled with natural wonders, while colossal Wrangell-St. Elias has extensive glaciers and ice fields.
With epic bear watching at Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, there really is no place like Alaska.
About 60% of all land is managed by the National park Service. While many visitors are drawn to popular Denali National park, you can find solitude and off the beaten-track experiences in Alaska’s other parks.
This post details the best Alaska National Parks easily accessible for visitors. We visited three of these Alaska parks on our road trip through the country.
FACTS ABOUT NATIONAL PARKS IN ALASKA
It should come as no surprise that the popular parks in Alaska are those most accessible by road or water. When planning to see a national park in Alaska during your road trip, remember that the country is huge. Be realistic with travelling distances.
- National Parks Accessible By Road: Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias and Kenai Fjords National Parks.
- Alaska National Parks Accessible By Plane: Katmai, Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley and Lake Clark National Parks.
- Glacier Bay Alaska: Only accessible by cruise ship or ferry.
Read on to see how to visit Alaska National Parks and see which ones make it onto your itinerary!
ALASKA NATIONAL PARKS MAP
BEST ALASKA NATIONAL PARKS AND HOW TO VISIT THEM
1. DENALI NATIONAL PARK
This iconic Alaska national park is home to Mount Denali with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level and North America’s highest peak.
With just one 92-mile road in the whole park and 6 million acres of wilderness, Denali exemplifies unspoiled and beautiful great frontiers.
Abundant wildlife wander in a scenic landscape of alpine tundra, lush forests and mountains, with few predators. Denali is one of the most popular state parks in Alaska and readily accessible.
THINGS TO DO IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK ALASKA
- Ride a transit or tour bus through the park and hopefully view Denali.
- Spot wildlife including moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep and grizzly bears. Don’t forget about the numerous smaller animal species and birds that make up a large percentage of wildlife in the park.
- Hike one of the many scenic trails. These range from short trails (Mountain Vista Trail), to harder hikes like Savage Alpine Trail.
- Camp overnight in forest setting, where wildlife wanders.
- Visit dog sled kennels to meet the dogs and have a mushing demonstration.
HOW TO GET TO DENALI ALASKA
Easily accessible you can reach Denali by:
- Anchorage to Denali National Park: 5 hour drive along Parks Hwy
- Fairbanks to Denali National Park: 3 hour drive along Parks Hwy
- Alaska Railway: Trains from Anchorage (8hrs) and Fairbanks (4 hrs)
BEST TIME TO VISIT DENALI NATIONAL PARK?
ALERT : Following the Pretty Rocks Landslide closure of the Denali Park Road at Mile 43 is expected to remain in place through summer 2023, while the Polychrome Area Plan is implemented. Some park operations are currently altered.
Much of the road is closed to private vehicles so once inside the park, you have to travel by shuttle or tour bus. The best time to visit is summer season. Denali Road opens up in mid-late May and closes mid-late September.
The road closes depending on weather conditions with limited access during winter months.
I suggest at least 2 nights in the park, more if possible to give yourself a better chance of spotting wildlife and viewing Denali.
Be warned though, you won’t get your first glimpse of the mountain until Mile 9-11. Plus the rangers advise Denali is hidden from view two out of every three days!
2. WRANGELL-ST ELIAS NATIONAL PARK
Visiting the largest national park in the USA will give you a taste of how parks used to be. Gigantic, wild and isolated, yet alluring diverse and ripe for exploration.
Three mountain ranges, the Chugach, Wrangell and St. Elias converge in the park which encompasses 13 million acres. Nine of the USA’s highest peaks call Wrangell home with some standing at 18,000 feet from sea level.
The sheer size is unfathomable yet if you make the effort to visit the park, it will leave an endearing impression. This was a firm favorite for us as the mountain ranges are incredible and the wildness draws you in.
THINGS TO DO IN WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK
- Hike trails such as Root Glacier & Bonanza Mine trail.
- Go wilderness camping.
- Tour Kennecott Mines and learn about Gold Rush history.
- Visit McCarthy for a real sense of isolation.
- Go ice climbing.
- Take a flightseeing tour
HOW TO GET TO WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK
While the park is accessible, the vehicle routes into the park are primitive. You have two options:
- Via McCarthy Road: Most hire vehicles prohibit driving the McCarthy Road, so be sure you are insured. From Chitina you can take a shuttle to the community of McCarthy. Visitors must walk across the footbridge where another local shuttle will transport you to Kennicott. This is the most popular option, especially with visitors.
- Via Nabesna Road: A rough mining road, you will possibly not see another soul for the entire 42 mile journey. There are trails along the way and you can fish and camp. You can pick up the road at the northern edge of the park off the Tok Hwy/Glen Hwy.
BEST TIME TO VISIT WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK
While the park is open year-round, only the hardy locals stay for the winter. Summer is your best time to plan a visit, from mid May to mid-September.
If your itinerary allows the time to visit this park, you will not regret your time here. Even if you only have a full day to explore, together with the journey to get into the park, you won’t be disappointed.
Don’t forget to factor in the time to get to get there and back.
3. KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK
Spanning over 600,000 acres, Kenai Fjords National park created in 1980, has been shaped by glaciers, water and mountains. Located on the edge of the Kenai Peninsula, the park’s crowning glory is the monumental Harding Icefield which feeds over 35 glaciers, including Exit Glacier.
With its easy access by road, rail and boat, the park is extremely popular. Stunning scenery, plentiful marine wildlife, tidewater glaciers and lush forests. Kenai has it all and in beautiful abundance.
We were certainly in love with all the park’s natural wonders.
THINGS TO DO IN KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK ALASKA
Although easy to access by road, to explore the park fully, you have to get out on the water, hike or take a flightseeing tour. Check out these great examples:
- Take a wildlife cruise: We can’t recommend this enough and thoroughly enjoyed our Northwestern Fjords Cruise with Kenai Fjord Tours departing from Seward. You will see abundant wildlife and incredible landscapes.
- Hike to a glacier: Exit Glacier is the only part of the park accessible by road, and several trails offer differing views of the glacier, such as Exit Glacier Overlook trail.
- Hike to an Icefield: Although quite strenuous, the Harding Icefields Trail offers incredible views.
- Go ice climbing on Exit Glacier with a tour.
- Glacier kayaking or fishing.
- Take a sightseeing tour to see the park from the sky.
HOW TO GET TO KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK
The closest gateway town to Kenai Fjords is Seward, with its lovely cafes, attractions and hotels. If you are on a road trip, you will most likely stay in Seward for a few days, but other ways to reach the park include:
- By Car: from Anchorage it is a 2.5 hour drive via the very scenic Seward Highway
- By Train: Alaska Railway’s Coastal Classic Train runs from Anchorage, along Turnagain Arm to Seward in 4.5 hours. You can also board at Girdwood.
- By Cruise: Seward is a stop on many cruise itineraries.
BEST TIME TO VISIT KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK
To enjoy long sunlight hours and the full array of boat tours and hikes on offer, visit during the summer from May to September. Many day cruises don’t run outside of these months.
4. GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK ALASKA
If you are cruising through the famed Inside Passage, you will probably have Glacier Bay National Park Alaska on your cruise itinerary.
With two major arms, more than 50 named glaciers and mountains that rise right from the tidewater up to three vertical miles, you can see the appeal.
Massive tidewater glaciers, marine wildlife bobbing along on chunks of ice and views you will never forget.
THINGS TO DO IN GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE
The most impressive glacier which is advancing 12-14 foot a day, is the Margerie Glacier up the West arm. Here are some other activities to try:
- Enjoy a Day Cruise from Bartlett Cove, to see glaciers and spot wildlife
- Take a sea Kayaking Tour
- See Glacier Bay from above on a flightseeing tour
- Join a ranger-led hike
HOW TO GET TO GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK
The easiest and most popular way to reach Glacier Bay is by cruise ship. For those travelling under their own steam, you have two choices, namely:
- Ride the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system from Juneau to Gustavus, gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. This scenic route takes 4-6 hours depending on the number of stops along the way. From here you can drive to Bartlett Cove but Glacier Bay National Park is essentially roadless.
- Take a weather-dependent 30 minute flight between Juneau and Gustavus.
BEST TIME TO VISIT GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE ALASKA
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is open year-round, but services in winter are extremely limited. Time your visit during the summer months from May through September when the skies tend to be clear with the least amount of rain.
While peak tourist months are July and August, you can avoid the crowds by coming late May/early June and late August/early September.
5. KATMAI NATIONAL PARK
A more remote Alaska park is Katmai National Park & Preserve, famous for its rugged remoteness and amazing bear-viewing. Along with Lake Clark, this is one of the best national parks in Alaska to see brown bears in the wild.
The park was established in 1980 to protect the area around the 1912 eruption of Novarupta volcano and the valley of ash called the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
While we didn’t get to visit this park, its popularity meant it should be included in my Alaska national parks list. If you are short on time the park can be visited as a day trip from either Anchorage or Fairbanks.
We definitely want to include a visit here when we return to Alaska.
THINGS TO DO IN KATMAI NATIONAL PARK ALASKA
Most visitors come to watch as many as 50 of the 2,200 brown bear inhabitants congregating on the Brooks River to gorge on the salmon runs during summer. But others come for the otherworldly volcanic landscape and wilderness.
- Bear Viewing
- View Brooks Falls from a live webcam
- Kayak lakes and rivers known as the Savonoski Loop
- Take a tour into the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
- Fishing
HOW TO GET TO KATMAI NATIONAL PARK
The park is only accessible by floatplane or boat. Here are your options:
- Travel from Anchorage to Katmai National Park as part of a day tour. These are typically 10-12 hours long.
- Take a taxi flight from Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak and King Salmon. You can book a direct flight to Brooks Camp or land at King Salmon and take a 20-minute float plane to the camp.
BEST TIME TO VISIT KATMAI NATIONAL PARK
The best time to see a brown bear snap a jumping salmon out of the air at Brooks Falls is the second week of July through to the month end.
Brooks Camp is open from 1st June through 17th of September and the prime time for bear viewing July and September.
OTHER NATIONAL PARKS
While there are 8 national parks in Alaska, I have kept my list to the five most popular and easy to visit for the average traveller, especially those from overseas. Alaska’s national parks also include:
- Lake Clark National Park which offers great bear viewing can be reached via floatplane from Anchorage or Homer on a day trip.
- Gates Of The Arctic National Park is remoteness personified with no cell service but great hiking opportunities. Can be reached via a 1.5 hour flight out of Fairbanks.
- Kobuk Valley National Park offers true remote Alaska with migrating caribou and camping on Arctic sand dunes up to 200 feet tall. The price tag for this experience is hefty!!
Now you know more about the best national parks Alaska has to offer, which one/ones would make it onto your wish list? Study the national parks of Alaska map and see if you can incorporate your favourites into your road trip itinerary.
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