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Mount McKinley, Denali National Park
THE ALASKA RAILROAD
In a remote corner of the Alaska wilderness you
stand by a railway track as a small train appears.
Waving a white flag, the engineer acknowledges
you with the whistle and the train stops. You hop
on board to join others from the bush, the
fishermen, backpackers, a hunter with his quarry
and locals whose homesteads can only be reached
on this, one of America’s last flag-stop trains.
Most overseas visitors opt for the Gold Star Service
where you can relax in luxurious leather seats in
glass-domed carriages while waiter-service leaves
you free to take in the breathtaking scenery.
Whichever way you choose to travel, the Alaska
Railroad is a thrilling journey of adventure from
Seward to Denali and Fairbanks that passes through
some of the most spectacular scenery in Alaska.
Talkeetna
Talkeetna is a quintessential Alaskan gold mining
town dating back to the early 20th century that has
retained much of its character with dirt roads, log
cabins and old clapboard shop-fronts. There is
tremendous community spirit here and locals can
often be seen playing fiddles or guitars and mixing
with visitors and mountaineers who come to climb
Mount McKinley in nearby Denali National Park.
This is the perfect place to try fishing, glacier trekking
or take a light aircraft flight around the mountain.
TALKEETNA ALASKAN LODGE
This charming lodge offers a warm and
welcoming ambience. Consisting of several
beautiful log buildings housing both the main
lodge and the 201 guest rooms, the lodge has
wonderful views of the Alaska Range and Mount
McKinley. The main lodge has a spacious lobby
with high cathedral ceilings and a beautiful stone
fireplace and there is also a café, bar and an
award-winning restaurant.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park’s almost two and a half million
hectares have been carved out of the heartland of
Alaska to create a wilderness area of epic scale.
An entire ecosystem is preserved here providing
unparalleled wildlife viewing: it’s common to see
bears grazing on lake-front sedges, a herd of caribou
disappearing into a deep valley or a lone wolf loping
along a river bar. The highlight of the park is Mount
McKinley, the ‘Great One’ that at 6,193 metres is
the highest mountain in North America and
dominates the park and the surrounding region.
Access to the park is by shuttle bus along the 148
kilometre Park Road whilst accommodation within
the park is limited to campgrounds and several
lodges around Kantishna. The Denali region also
encompasses lowland boreal forest and alpine
tundra, providing a perfect setting for a variety of
activities including rafting, cycling and guided walking.
KANTISHNA ROADHOUSE,
DENALI NATIONAL PARK
This full service lodge, owned and operated by
native Alaskans, is deep in the heart of Denali
National Park. The original house dating back to
the early 20th century still stands, but the lodge
itself is a more recent construction, built in
traditional style but comfortable and proof against
the elements. The main lodge contains the dining
rooms, saloon, library and gift shop, whilst guest
rooms are housed in two and four-roomed cabins
in the grounds. These exude a rustic Alaskan charm
with private bathrooms and showers, hand-crafted
furniture and warm quilts. All meals and snacks are
included during your stay along with daily guided
and self-guided activities and hosted evening
presentations about the area’s natural wonders.
CAMP DENALI & NORTH FACE
LODGE, DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Camp Denali and North Face Lodge are the only
two lodges that have views of Mount McKinley and
the Alaska Range. Both are owned and managed
by the Cole family and these lodges alone have
permits to lead guided activities in the higher alpine
valleys of the park past Wonder Lake. Resident
naturalists assist guests to search for wildlife and
wildflowers and conduct evening lectures about the
park’s flora and fauna. Mountain bikes, canoes and
fishing tackle are also available and both lodges
have comprehensive libraries. The kitchens grow
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