From Matanuska Glacier, we headed back toward Anchorage and continued on to Denali National Park, a drive of over four hours. Since this area is quite remote with few stores, we stocked up on food for breakfast and snacks.
Denali, at approximately 6,190 meters in elevation, is well known as the highest peak in North America. The forecast called for cloudy skies throughout our trip, so I didn’t expect to see anything—but fortunately, the skies cleared during our drive toward Denali.
We got a clear view all the way to Denali’s summit. It is nearly twice the height of the surrounding mountains and absolutely massive.We boarded the earliest shuttle bus the next morning to head into the park.A Caribou.Other passengers on the shuttle kept calling out animal sightings, but I couldn’t tell what they were pointing at. The bus didn’t stop very reliably either. I started getting frustrated, feeling like I was the only one not seeing anything, until I finally spotted a Dall Sheep, tiny as a sesame seed in the distance. I couldn’t even tell if it had horns.As of June 2025, Denali Park Road is closed due to a landslide, and only open up to East Fork at mile 43. This is the view from the East Fork bridge.A Collared Pika, but I could only get a photo of its back.
We hadn’t had much luck spotting wildlife and had to turn back halfway through the park, which left me a bit frustrated. Finally, on the way back, we got a real chance.
A Moose and calf appeared from the brush.The adult was about the size of a large horse.I was thrilled to finally see a moose this close, something I had missed in Canada years ago. Shot at 500mm, with almost no cropping needed. Everyone on the shuttle was excited too.Back near the visitor center, a Snowshoe Hare was calmly feeding in the nearby brush, totally unfazed by people.An American Red Squirrel, chattering with a voice almost like a bird’s.This time we stayed in a “yurt”, a Central Asian term for the same kind of structure called a “ger” in Mongolia.Fully immersed in that remote, frontier feeling.The ceiling has a transparent skylight for wintertime aurora viewing. From the top bunk, the window is directly overhead, so it stays bright all night during this season. Sleep masks are a must for light-sensitive sleepers.After settling in, I went out exploring around 8 p.m. A group attending a photography workshop was shooting around a nearby stream. It must be a recommended spot. The instructor even gave me a business card.The next day, the same river was full of anglers. Apparently, though, bears are known to appear here occasionally.The next morning, with some time before departure, I explored again. In the distance, I saw a Trumpeter Swan family on the lake.Likely a juvenile Canada Jay.I drove a short distance along the unpaved Denali Highway, which is closed in winter. I had to turn back due to time, but it left a strong impression. I’d love to explore farther next time.Some people were camping by the lake in RVs.Amazingly, I encountered another Moose. This one had small, growing antlers. It was worth coming all this way.I also spotted a Bald Eagle.It looked like a second-year juvenile, not yet fully mature, but still a species I’d really wanted to see, so I was glad it showed up.
