Denali National Park Day Tours
Denali Backcountry Adventure
Go
beyond the standard park tour and venture to Kantishna, deep inside
Denali National Park for premier Alaska wildlife viewing. This full-day
narrated bus trip explores the entire 92-mile restricted access Denali
Park Road, offering you the most opportunities to view the abundance
of Alaska wildlife the state has to offer. At the end of the road you’ll
have a great buffet lunch at our exclusive lodge and enjoy the remoteness
and beauty of Kantishna. The return trip gives you more opportunities
for wildlife sightings and photography.
Our experienced Guide/Driver helps you search for Alaska wildlife including
grizzly bears, black bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and other Alaska
wildlife while pointing out the biology and geology of the region. Stop
for Alaska wildlife viewing and photo opportunities as you trek back
to the Park’s entrance.
Some of the Alaska wildlife you may see include:
Bears
Black bears are the most abundant and widely
distributed of the three species of North American bears. In Alaska,
black bears occur over most of the forested areas of the state.
In
Southeast Alaska, black bears occupy most islands with the exceptions
of Admiralty, Baranof, Chichagof, and Kruzof. Black bears are the smallest
of the North American bears. Three colors are common in Alaska. Black
is the most often encountered color, but brown or cinnamon colored bears
are often seen in south central Alaska and the southeastern mainland.
Grizzly
bears occur throughout Alaska except on the islands south of Frederick
Sound in southeastern Alaska, the islands west of Unimak in the Aleutian
Chain, and the islands of the Bering Sea. Grizzly bears are very much
a part of the Alaska scene and are a favorite topic with most hunters,
hikers, photographers, and fishers.
The term “brown bear” is commonly used to refer to the members of this
species found in coastal areas where salmon is the primary food source.
Brown bears found inland and in northern habitats are often called “grizzlies.”
Alaska grizzly bears have been known to live 34 years in the wild, though
this is rare. Usually, old males may reach 22 years. Old females may
live to 26.
Caribou
Caribou
live in the arctic tundra, mountain tundra, and northern forests of
Alaska. The world population is about 5 million. In Europe, caribou
are called reindeer, but in Alaska and Canada only the domestic forms
are called reindeer. Caribou have large, concave hoofs that spread widely
to support the animal in snow and soft tundra. The feet also function
as paddles when caribou swim.
Caribou are the only member of the deer family in which both sexes grow
antlers. Antlers of adult bulls are large and massive; those of adult
cows are much shorter and are usually more slender and irregular.
Dall Sheep
Dall Sheep inhabit the mountain ranges of Alaska.
They use the ridges, meadows, and steep slopes for feeding and resting.
When danger approaches they flee to the rocks and crags to elude pursuers.
They are generally high country animals.
Male
Dall sheep are called rams. They are distinguished by massive curling
horns. The females, called ewes, have shorter, more slender, slightly
curved horns. Rams resemble ewes until they are about 3 years old. After
that, continued horn growth makes them easily recognizable. Horns grow
steadily during spring, summer, and early fall. In late fall or winter
horn growth slows and eventually ceases.
This start-and-stop growth of horns results in a pattern of rings called
annuli, which are spaced along the length of the horn. Age can be accurately
determined by counting the annuli. As rams mature, their horns form
a circle when seen from the side. Rams reach a full circle or "curl"
in seven to eight years.
Moose
The
Moose is the world's largest member of the deer family and the Alaska
race is the largest of all the moose. They are most abundant in recently
burned areas that contain willow and birch shrubs, on timberline plateaus,
and along the major rivers of South central and Interior Alaska.
Moose are long-legged and heavy bodied with a drooping nose, a "bell"
or dewlap under the chin, and a small tail. Their color ranges from
golden brown to almost black, depending upon the season and the age
of the animal. Only the bulls have antlers.
The largest moose antlers in North America come from Alaska. In the
wild, moose rarely live more than 16 years. Antlers are shed as early
as November, but mostly in December and January.
Mountain Goat
The
Mountain Goat is the single North American representative of a widespread
group of goat-like ungulates. All are characterized by relatively short
horns and a fondness for living in rugged terrain. In Alaska, mountain
goats occur throughout the southeastern Panhandle and continue north
and west along the coastal mountains to Cook Inlet. In Southcentral
Alaska they are generally confined to the Chugach and Wrangell mountains,
although their range extends into the Talkeetna Mountains nearly to
Denali National Park.
Mountain goats are one of the two species of all white, hoofed, large
mammals found in Alaska. They are often confused with young and female
Dall sheep, but are easily distinguished by their longer hair, deeper
chest, and black horns.
Eagles
The
Bald Eagle of Alaska’s waterways and the soaring Golden Eagle of the
Interior are two of this state’s most magnificent birds of prey. Long
valued for their aesthetic beauty, eagles are now recognized for their
biological importance as scavengers and predators in the natural environment.
These raptors deserve our protection and respect.
The Bald Eagle is so named for its conspicuous white head and tail.
The distinctive white adult plumage is not attained until 5 or more
years of age. Immature birds lack this easily identifiable characteristic
and can be confused with the Golden Eagle.
The Bald Eagle is Alaska’s largest resident bird of prey. Bald Eagles
are more abundant in Alaska than anywhere else in the United States.
The Alaska population has been estimated to include 30,000 birds at
the time of fledging. Bald Eagles often use and rebuild the same nest
each year. Nest trees are usually close to water, afford a clear view
of the surrounding area, and often provide sparse cover above the nest.
Eagles in Southcentral Alaska nest in old cottonwood trees near water.
They do not attain adult plumage and breed until 4 or 5 years of age.
Cost: $169.00 per person (includes $10 park fee)
More Denali National Park tours and activities:
Denali Alaska Flightseeing adventure
Denali National Park Heli-hiking & Heli-tours
Iditarod Race Dog Kennel tour
Denali Alaska Whitewater Rafting