United States · 21 days · 5,000 km · Loop
Alaska — 9 national parks in 21 days
The Last Frontier with no shortcuts: 9 Alaska national parks combining road, inter-island ferry and flightseeing. Wrangell-St Elias (largest in USA), Glacier Bay (by boat), Sitka (oldest), Denali (North America's roof at 20,310 ft), Gates of the Arctic (above the Arctic Circle), Kobuk Valley (Arctic dunes), Kenai Fjords (orcas and humpbacks), Katmai (coastal brown bears) and Lake Clark. Summer only. Based on Cruise America.
Highlights
- Wrangell-St Elias McCarthy + Kennicott
- Glacier Bay (9 tidewater glaciers)
- Sitka Totem Trail
- Denali bus tours + flightseeing
- Dalton Highway to Coldfoot
- Marion Creek Campground (BLM)
- Kobuk Valley arctic sand dunes (slide!)
- Kenai Fjords whale watching
- Harding Icefield hike
- Katmai brown bears salmon hunt
- Lake Clark + Proenneke's cabin
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1
Anchorage → Wrangell-St Elias NP
Anchorage → McCarthy · 320 km
- · RV pickup
- · Flightseeing tour of largest park
Overnight: Kendesnii Campground
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Day 2
Wrangell-St Elias (McCarthy)
McCarthy · 80 km
- · Glacier hike
- · Kennicott mining town
- · Copper River Bridge
Overnight: Kendesnii Campground
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Day 3
Wrangell → Haines (via Yukon)
McCarthy → Haines · 1100 km
- · Cross the Canadian Yukon
Overnight: Haines RV Park
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Day 4
Haines → Glacier Bay (ferry + boat tour)
Haines → Gustavus
- · Alaska Marine Highway ferry
- · Day cruise past 9 glaciers
Overnight: Bartlett Cove walk-in campground
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Day 5
Gustavus → Sitka (ferry)
Gustavus → Sitka
- · Totem Trail
- · Russian Bishop's House
Overnight: Sealing Cove RV Park
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Day 6
Sitka → Haines (ferry back)
Sitka → Haines
Overnight: Haines RV Park
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Day 7
Haines → Tok → Denali base camp
Haines → Denali · 1200 km
Overnight: Riley Creek Campground
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Day 8
Denali — bus tour
Denali · 100 km
- · 100 km bus tour into the park
- · Grizzly bears and caribou
Overnight: Teklanika River Campground
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Day 9
Denali — flightseeing summit flight
Denali · 30 km
- · Flightseeing to the 20,310 ft summit
Overnight: Savage River Campground
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Day 10
Denali → Coldfoot (Dalton Highway)
Denali → Coldfoot · 800 km
- · Cross the Arctic Circle
Overnight: Marion Creek Campground (BLM)
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Day 11
Gates of the Arctic (flight from Coldfoot)
Coldfoot
- · Flight north of Arctic Circle
- · Trail-less hiking
Overnight: Coldfoot Camp
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Day 12
Kobuk Valley (flight from Bettles)
Coldfoot · 200 km
- · Arctic sand dunes (sliding!)
Overnight: Coldfoot Camp
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Day 13
Coldfoot → Anchorage (return)
Coldfoot → Anchorage · 1000 km
Overnight: En route
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Day 14
Anchorage → Seward (Kenai Fjords)
Anchorage → Seward · 200 km
- · Whale watching tour
- · Orcas, humpbacks, seals, dusky dolphins
Overnight: Resurrection Bay waterfront site
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Day 15
Kenai Fjords — Harding Icefield
Seward · 30 km
- · Exit Glacier loop
- · Harding Icefield hike
Overnight: Resurrection Bay waterfront site
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Day 16
Seward → Anchorage
Seward → Anchorage · 200 km
Overnight: Anchorage RV Park
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Day 17
Anchorage → Katmai (seaplane)
Anchorage → Brooks Camp
- · Brown bears fishing salmon at Brooks Falls
Overnight: Brooks Camp Lodge
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Day 18
Katmai (mandatory guide)
Brooks Camp
Overnight: Brooks Camp Lodge
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Day 19
Katmai → Lake Clark (seaplane)
Brooks Camp → Port Alsworth
- · Proenneke's cabin (30-year homesteader)
- · Alaska's largest lake
Overnight: Lake Clark wilderness lodge
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Day 20
Lake Clark — kayak + wildlife
Port Alsworth
Overnight: Lake Clark wilderness lodge
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Day 21
Lake Clark → Anchorage (drop-off)
Port Alsworth → Anchorage