Posted by Tom Haxby on January 11, 2011 at 9:35 PM
I am finally planning my first ever trip to photograph Alaska and can hardly wait. I will be flying in to Anchorage on August 27th and will depart on September 14th. I am renting an RV which I hope will improve the flexibility of when/where I need to stop. My brother in law will be joining me for the first week and has to get back to the Anchorage airport by September 3rd.
We discussed a loop from Anchorage to Fairbanks with a stopover in Denali and then continuing down the Alaska Highway towards Tok and then down the Tok cutoff toward Gakona. Finally, returning via the Glenn Highway. For those of you who know the photo opportunities in Alaska would this be a good plan? Is there a fair amount of wildlife on that route, besides Denali? What about scenery or fall color the first week of Sept? Would we have time for a detour to Wrangell-St.Elias N.P.? Although it is early in the fall, and the nights will still be relatively short, I am really keeping fingers crossed for northern lights. Could it happen?
I am back on my own from the 3rd to the 14th and am open to other suggestions of where to go.
Thanks for any and all advice. And happy shooting.
No, no. Don't go to Tok. Much more scenic is to take the Richardson Highway from Delta Junction to Gakona. The Richardson is in my opinion the best highway in the entire state (especially when you continue all the way to Valdez).
As for doing that loop, you could technically do it in that time frame, although it won't give you much time for stops along the way like Denali.
Working with your time constraints, I'd probably spend your week with your brother south of Anchorage checking out the Kenai Peninsula. Then after he's gone, do the loop of the interior, and add in Wrangell/St Elias N.P. and Valdez/P.W.S.
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on January 15, 2011 at 6:48 PM
I had the same thought as Kenn, I would cut down the Richardson Highway to Gakona. From there you could go towards Tok, and up into Mentasta Pass, this will give you the best part of that drive without having to go all the way to Tok - that area can have wonderful colors in the first week or so of September.
Most rentals won't allow driving on non-paved roads, otherwise I would say skip Fairbanks and cut across from the Denali Highway from Denali National Park / Cantwell to Paxson.
The dirt road restriction will probably keep you from exploring the Wrangell St. Elias National Park - the two roads into the park are gravel. If you are able to drive off the pavement, then that changes everything.
Heading back to Anchorage on the 3rd will be a bit frustrating - the colors will likely be peaking about then in Denali, along the Richardson Highway, up in Mentasta Pass and along the Glenn Highway. You will be dropping him off and doing a U turn to hurry back out there!
Posted by Tom Haxby on January 16, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Thanks for the replies. After doing some more research I have learned that Tok is not the most scenic route and Wrangell St. Elias is mostly backcountry. Have to go to Fairbanks. Although I realize that the first week of September may be too early for the northern lights. However, there is always a chance and my brother-in-law would really like to see them. I would too. Yes, the gravel roads are out as we are renting an RV. Yes, I have considered heading back up towards Denali after September 3rd for the fall colors. No matter what it will be a first trip to Alaska for me and I am looking forward to it.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on January 18, 2011 at 1:59 AM
From the Richardson Highway, the Denali Highway is paved the first 21 miles from Paxson. It will get you up to a couple of quite good alpine areas, well above tree line. The area around 15 mile is now closed to caribou hunting, so your timing won't be an issue. Strongly recommended.
Discussion
4 repliesWe discussed a loop from Anchorage to Fairbanks with a stopover in Denali and then continuing down the Alaska Highway towards Tok and then down the Tok cutoff toward Gakona. Finally, returning via the Glenn Highway. For those of you who know the photo opportunities in Alaska would this be a good plan? Is there a fair amount of wildlife on that route, besides Denali? What about scenery or fall color the first week of Sept? Would we have time for a detour to Wrangell-St.Elias N.P.? Although it is early in the fall, and the nights will still be relatively short, I am really keeping fingers crossed for northern lights. Could it happen?
I am back on my own from the 3rd to the 14th and am open to other suggestions of where to go.
Thanks for any and all advice. And happy shooting.
As for doing that loop, you could technically do it in that time frame, although it won't give you much time for stops along the way like Denali.
Working with your time constraints, I'd probably spend your week with your brother south of Anchorage checking out the Kenai Peninsula. Then after he's gone, do the loop of the interior, and add in Wrangell/St Elias N.P. and Valdez/P.W.S.
Most rentals won't allow driving on non-paved roads, otherwise I would say skip Fairbanks and cut across from the Denali Highway from Denali National Park / Cantwell to Paxson.
The dirt road restriction will probably keep you from exploring the Wrangell St. Elias National Park - the two roads into the park are gravel. If you are able to drive off the pavement, then that changes everything.
Heading back to Anchorage on the 3rd will be a bit frustrating - the colors will likely be peaking about then in Denali, along the Richardson Highway, up in Mentasta Pass and along the Glenn Highway. You will be dropping him off and doing a U turn to hurry back out there!