Hey guys ! Super excited for my upcoming alaska trip mid june. I have a couple of gaps to fill in my schedule and am badly in need of some ideas. I might have an evening and the following morning to spare in Talkeetna. Its an insurance against weather delaying my bush flight. If my flight is on time, Ill most likely have 18th Jun 2 pm- 19th Jun 4 pm starting in Talkeetna. Might be too late to get to Denali and catch the last bus to wonder lake.
Are there any places near Talkeetna with good chances of seeing large mammals ? High on my wish list are wolves, caribou, moose and dall sheep in that order. I wont have a car but can get around the parks highway using shuttles- no problem and i dont have to come back to Talkeetna. Two options i am considering are
1.) Trails above the Byers lake area in Denali state park. Pros: Easy to get too, nice views on a clear day etc. Cons: Dont know how good it is for wildlife. Certainly little chance of seeing caribou
2.) Go to Cantwell and walk/cycle a little bit on the Denali Highway. How good is the wildlife viewing close to cantwell ? or say 10 miles east of Cantwell ? Do you need a permit to camp say 5 miles east of Cantwell ?
3.) Some where close to Talkeetna so that i can spend more time looking for wildlife. May be the Talkeetna mountains to the east or walk along a river. I am totally clueless and here is where i can really use some local wisdom.
Talkeetna is probably your best spot for moose, its surrounded by swamps. There is a trail next to the train tracks, you can walk it for miles and you will probably see something. Your best chances near Talkeetna are Denali State Park and Broad Pass. Little Coal Creek trail is very heavy with bear traffic and is usually closed because of it, though you should be there before the closure. I have done the Kesugi Ridge trail six times and have never seen a bear, plenty of scat, but no bears. The views are great.
I have photographed caribou from Broad Pass a few times, beautiful country, there is always a good chance of seeing other critters there too. There are some nice ponds for photographing birds down the Denali Highway from Cantwell, but you need to go a far ways down the road to get out of the bushes and up in the tundra to get good sightings of wildlife.
Talkeetna is a fun place to soak up the Alaskan culture. Its bustling with expeditions going to and coming from the big mountains.
Are you sure you meant "Little Coal Creek"? Troublesome Creek is the one I've always seen closed because of bears; but I haven't hiked kesugi ridge in a few years now.
Anand
If you hike up straight up from Byers Lake you come out on Curry Ridge. I've seen caribou there and a wolf, but they're pretty skittish - zero possibilities for wildlife photography there, IMO.
The Denali Highway is a pretty area, and can be good for caribou, but it seems like they are a but further then 10 miles in. You don't need any permits or anything along that highway, you should be able to camp and hike anywhere.
Frankly, if you are serious about your list, I would go the short distance beyond Cantwell to Denali National Park. You might not have time to get to Wonder Lake, but that is OK - the bugs could be pretty bad out there then and the opportunities can be a bit limited w/o the mountain showing. I would just grab a backcountry unit half way into the park and go there. Even if you just camped at Savage, Igloo Sanctuary or Tek, you will have a better chance there for wolves then at any of your other options - probably true for the other 3 as well.
Thanks for the prompt responses. They've helped me come to the following conclusions.
Drop the Cantwell/Denali highway idea.
If i get back to Talkeetna by the 18th, somehow get as far into Denali natl park as possible by that night. Even if its just for a morning bus ride, its worth it.
If i only get back on the 19th, ill spend the day hiking above Byers lake.
@ Carl, Ill have an evening earlier in the trip to walk around Talkeetna and have fun. There should be time to look for moose as well.
Discussion
5 repliesAre there any places near Talkeetna with good chances of seeing large mammals ? High on my wish list are wolves, caribou, moose and dall sheep in that order. I wont have a car but can get around the parks highway using shuttles- no problem and i dont have to come back to Talkeetna. Two options i am considering are
1.) Trails above the Byers lake area in Denali state park. Pros: Easy to get too, nice views on a clear day etc. Cons: Dont know how good it is for wildlife. Certainly little chance of seeing caribou
2.) Go to Cantwell and walk/cycle a little bit on the Denali Highway. How good is the wildlife viewing close to cantwell ? or say 10 miles east of Cantwell ? Do you need a permit to camp say 5 miles east of Cantwell ?
3.) Some where close to Talkeetna so that i can spend more time looking for wildlife. May be the Talkeetna mountains to the east or walk along a river. I am totally clueless and here is where i can really use some local wisdom.
Thanks a ton for your time,
Anand
I have photographed caribou from Broad Pass a few times, beautiful country, there is always a good chance of seeing other critters there too. There are some nice ponds for photographing birds down the Denali Highway from Cantwell, but you need to go a far ways down the road to get out of the bushes and up in the tundra to get good sightings of wildlife.
Talkeetna is a fun place to soak up the Alaskan culture. Its bustling with expeditions going to and coming from the big mountains.
Have a fun trip,
Carl
Are you sure you meant "Little Coal Creek"? Troublesome Creek is the one I've always seen closed because of bears; but I haven't hiked kesugi ridge in a few years now.
Anand
If you hike up straight up from Byers Lake you come out on Curry Ridge. I've seen caribou there and a wolf, but they're pretty skittish - zero possibilities for wildlife photography there, IMO.
Cheers
Carl
The Denali Highway is a pretty area, and can be good for caribou, but it seems like they are a but further then 10 miles in. You don't need any permits or anything along that highway, you should be able to camp and hike anywhere.
Frankly, if you are serious about your list, I would go the short distance beyond Cantwell to Denali National Park. You might not have time to get to Wonder Lake, but that is OK - the bugs could be pretty bad out there then and the opportunities can be a bit limited w/o the mountain showing. I would just grab a backcountry unit half way into the park and go there. Even if you just camped at Savage, Igloo Sanctuary or Tek, you will have a better chance there for wolves then at any of your other options - probably true for the other 3 as well.
Drop the Cantwell/Denali highway idea.
If i get back to Talkeetna by the 18th, somehow get as far into Denali natl park as possible by that night. Even if its just for a morning bus ride, its worth it.
If i only get back on the 19th, ill spend the day hiking above Byers lake.
@ Carl, Ill have an evening earlier in the trip to walk around Talkeetna and have fun. There should be time to look for moose as well.
Thanks again guys
Your right, Troublesome Creek is the closed one.
Carl