Day 35 of Our RV Journey to Canada & Alaska 6/16/14 - Twelve-Hour Bus Tour of Denali National Park

This morning we left the Denali RV Park & Motel at 5:30 so we would be at Denali Bluffs Hotel to catch a bus to the Denali Wilderness Access Center. After we got to the Center, we changed buses again to get on the Tour Bus.  Today we went on a 12 hour bus tour of  the Denali National Park.  Denali National Park lies between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The bus was more like a school bus (not a motor coach) but instead of bench seats it had high back seats and had overhead storage.  When we got on the bus there was already several people on it so we did not get a front seat with the driver's view, so we went to the back of the bus since there was quite a bit of room and windows behind the very back seat.  That actually worked out very good because if animals were in sight, the bus driver would stop the bus so people could see them and take pictures.  I would go stand by the window behind our seat on either side of the bus and take pictures.

In the summer, visitors can only drive their vehicles to Mile 15.  In order to go any further into the park you must use the park bus system and must make reservations to do so.  The road goes to Mile 92.5, then you have to turn around and go back.    Shorter bus trips can also be reserved.  Today we traveled 185 total miles in the park.  That ride took 12 hours to complete but had several 10 minute breaks along the road and many photo stops.

It was a great day to view wildlife.

We saw (in the order that we saw them):
Caribou, Dall Sheep, Moose, Dall Sheep, Boar Bear, Dall Sheep (several) Cow Moose & 2 Calves (from quite a distance as they were walking across a gravel bar), 5 Caribou, Dall Sheep (several), Caribou Herd (at least 11 or more caribou, some laying, Moose, Bull Moose, Big Blonde Grizzly Bear, Bald Eagle, Ducks on a pond (go quack, quack, quack), Cow Moose & Calf (in creek), Moose, Blonde Grizzly Bear (on road & walked alongside our bus), at least 5 Caribou (in the distance), Golden Eagle, Dall Sheep (several), Caribou (several), 2 Caribou laying, Raven & nest, Ptarmigan, Dall Sheep (several), more Dall Sheep, Moose, and Cow Moose & 2 Calves (at the end of our trip where people got off the bus).

We were able to see a good part of Mount McKinley this morning even though it was cloudy.   The 20,230 foot peak known as Denali (or Mount McKinley) is the tallest mountain in North America.  It is visible from both Anchorage and Fairbanks.  This afternoon, it was raining and cloudy and we couldn't see it.

 Some other nice scenery pictures:

Today was awesome.  I especially liked seeing the blonde grizzly bears & the bear cubs and the Cow Moose & the Calves.  I also love seeing the Bull Moose with their large antlers...they are so massive.

I wish everyone could experience what we did today by going to Denali National Park.

Have a good one!!!

Adm. $398.00 Cap/              /

jl