Denali National Park, Alaska

[bob n pam]

We're staying in the Riley Creek Campground here in the park and it is very nice. They have a limited number of sites for RVs up to 40', but recommend no longer than 32'. Our site is just big enough for the 2955 with the truck parked sideways in front. The larger sites are clearly marked for 31' or over ONLY, and wouldn't you know it, there is a pickup camper in one and little bitty Airstream in another. That really aggravates me, but like Bob says, maybe that was the only site available. Still aggravates me. We've signed up for a Tundra Wilderness Tour and wanted to sign up for a couple of Discovery Hikes until we found out they are really bush hikes through streams, brambles, etc. Not only are we too old and out of shape, but we don't have the necessary equipment to do such hiking. Why oh why didn't we come here 30 years ago!!

Pam

[David and Jo-Anna]

Enjoy Denali - we loved it.

We leave Fairbanks on Tuesday, heading back to TOK, etc.

Jo-Anna

[Rondo]

Pam and Bob-- When we were in Denali last summer (we didn't take Monte with us) we pulled into the park and there at the entrance was a cow moose with her calf just eating the leaves off the sappling there. What a great place to enjoy the great outdoors and the great State of Alaska! We took the bus tour about 3/4 of the way to the end of the trail. Great tour and the bus driver was great at spotting all the wild life. We saw everything except wolves on that trip! Even had a grizzly come out of the bush and amber up the road infront of the bus for at least a mile! Got some great shots of Bear butts! Enjoy your trip and take a lot of pictures. I think we went through four or five multi gig digital disks and about 12 rolls of 35mm-- total about 700 pictures.

[BB_TX]

Such beautiful country. Was there about 8 yrs ago (no RV). Rode the train from Fairbanks, stayed at the Kantishna Roadhouse at the end of the Denali park road, and then the train to Anchorage, then an auto tour of the Seward area. What a great trip. On my list of places to see again. Would love to RV it, but don't think I want to tow the Monty that far and back.
Only place I have seen to compare in beauty is the Banff/Lake Louise/Jasper area.

[BirdingRVer]

quote:Originally posted by bob n pam

We're staying in the Riley Creek Campground here in the park and it is very nice. They have a limited number of sites for RVs up to 40', but recommend no longer than 32'. Our site is just big enough for the 2955 with the truck parked sideways in front. The larger sites are clearly marked for 31' or over ONLY, and wouldn't you know it, there is a pickup camper in one and little bitty Airstream in another. That really aggravates me, but like Bob says, maybe that was the only site available. Still aggravates me. We've signed up for a Tundra Wilderness Tour and wanted to sign up for a couple of Discovery Hikes until we found out they are really bush hikes through streams, brambles, etc. Not only are we too old and out of shape, but we don't have the necessary equipment to do such hiking. Why oh why didn't we come here 30 years ago!!

Pam

Bob & Pam,

We must have passed somewhere along the Parks Highway. We have been in Wasilla the past few days.

I would recommend the Savage River hike. A two mile loop that is mostly flat but has great tundra scenery.

David and Jo-Anna,

Did you get a chance to do any hikes while you were in Denali?

Grant

Grant

[bob n pam]

Grant, thanks for the recommendation. I'll put that on the list. We did the McKinley Station hike today - about a mile from the campground to the Visitor Center through the woods. It was very enjoyable. It's been cold and windy with intermittent rain, but hey, this is Alaska! We just bundle up and go anyway.

Pam

[timandsusan]

I stayed at Riley Creek with a group of Texas Boy Scouts about 10 years ago. A really great campground for tents--I didn't have a Monty then. Biggest surprise--one evening while walking around Riley Creek, we spotted a large grizzly bear coming up from the river and he went straight thru the campground. We watched several campers sitting around campfires and never noticed the VISITOR just behind them! At the campfire that evening the Ranger asked who saw the bear--apparently another Scoutmaster and I were along with the Ranger were the only ones who saw the bear.
We also did an overnight backpacking trip thru the brush and fording glacier rivers--what a trip! I am glad I did that when I was 10 years younger.

[bob n pam]

Wow, Tim! That must have made you a little nervous to have a grizzly strolling through.

Pam