Fairbanks To Denali Park To Anchorage On The Train Took Three Days... Kinda
About The Train
The Denali Star, the Alaska Railroad's flagship train, links Anchorage to Fairbanks with stops in Wasilla, Talkeetna and Denali Park. On this route, sparkling salmon streams and stands of birch and spruce come into view, while carpets of fireweed add dramatic purple to the landscape.
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The observation cars were double decked with observation seats above and a full dining room and kitchen on thje lower deck. The meals were served in two shifts.
Step one in seeing Alaska is the train because you are down low and seeing the surroundings up close and personal. It gives one the sense of how immense Alaska really is!
Hours and hours at 60 miles per hour and not a sign of anything other than wildlife and beautiful views. Oh, and mosquitoes!
The Ultra Domes are aptly named as they feature full-domed glass ceilings with the largest window panes ever built for a rail car, giving passengers excellent views of surrounding scenery.
Traveling daily on the Alaska Railroad between Anchorage, Denali National Park and Fairbanks, from May through September, the cars are a highlight of visitors' experiences.
Observation Platform: There's nothing between you and the wonders of Alaska when you step out onto our open-air observation platform.
Only Princess rail cars have this special feature. This is the place to stretch your legs as well as your imagination as you take in the amazing Alaskan scenery
One night in Fairbanks and then off to Denali Park via the Midnight Express.... Great breakfast. Scenery was out of sight! Just superb!
All Aboard To Denali Park On The 12th
The first leg of the journey was a short ride to Denali Park from Fairbanks. It's about a four hour trip and the railway is the only way to get there.
We caught the bus to the train
Fairbanks train station
On the train, Grandpa located the bar... Life is good
The senary scooted by at railroad speeds
There were many cars on the train
The boys were pooped when we arrived at Denali so they crashed
A Day In Denali Park (June 12, 2002)
We arrived at Noon and get into the hotel and go on a tour of the wilderness. The tour is about 3 hours... Its quite a ride in a school bus! Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska is the very heart of the rugged Alaskan Interior. Denali National Park and Preserve is home to six million acres of wilderness. North America's highest mountain, Mt. McKinley. Glaciers and a sub-arctic ecosystem are found in Denali National Park and Preserve. An internationally designated biosphere preserve, Denali National Park and Preserve is home to abundant moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears and wolves.
In 1917 Congress established Mt. McKinley National Park in interior Alaska. The purpose was to preserve an area of mountain wilderness with a representative population of wildlife found in that part of North America. In December of 1980 the park was expanded in size and the name was changed to Denali National Park and Preserve with the enactment of the Alaska Native Interest
Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska is the very heart of the rugged Alaskan Interior. Denali National Park and Preserve is home to six million acres of wilderness. North America's highest mountain, Mt. McKinley. Glaciers and a sub-arctic ecosystem are found in Denali National Park and Preserve. An internationally designated biosphere preserve, Denali National Park and Preserve is home to abundant moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears and wolves
History Of Denali Park
In 1917 Congress established Mt. McKinley National Park in interior Alaska. The purpose was to preserve an area of mountain wilderness with a representative population of wildlife found in that part of North America. In December of 1980 the park was expanded in size and the name was changed to Denali National Park and Preserve with the enactment of the Alaska Native Interest
Denali Park is home to North America's highest mountain, Mt. McKinley, towering over 20,300 feet tall. The 6 million acre park will also give you one of your best opportunities to see Alaska's wildlife such as grizzly bear, moose, wolves, Dall sheep and caribou. Denali Park is located about 900 miles north of Anchorage, about 5 ½ hours by road or 8 hours by train. The park is open year round, but the road into Denali Park and most visitor facilities are only open from mid-May through the third week in September.
The Lodge
Located only one mile from the Park entrance. Dining is always a treat at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. Enjoy spirits, appetizers and casual fare on the river view deck or inside at the Base Camp Bar. Visit Cruiser's Café for spirits, informal dine-in and take-out selections or the Courtyard Coffee House for snacks, sandwiches and your favorite espresso beverage.
Try the Summit Restaurant for sophisticated cuisine and panoramic views. And be sure to experience the "Music of Denali," a dinner theatre featuring a hearty Alaskan meal and a rollicking musical comedy that recounts the first ascent of Mt. McKinley.
Talkeetna Was A Four Hour Ride From Denali (June 13th/14th)
We left Denali
about noon and arrived in the area at
4:30. But Talkeetna is still 50 miles away from the train by
motor coach. Talkeetna is located at 62°18′41″N, 150°5′13″W at the confluence of three rivers, the Susitna, Chulitna and Talkeetna.
It is a recreation paradise with flightseeing "Talkeetna Air Taxi", rafting, mountain biking, hiking, camping, fishing and hunting opportunities. Talkeetna is a 2.5 hour drive from Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska.
The core downtown area is classified as a National Historic site, with many buildings dating from the early 1900's. Several, including Nagleys General Store, Fairview Inn and The Roadhouse still operating as they did over 80 years ago.
The McKinley Princess Lodge
The McKinley Princess Lodge is located about 40 miles north of the town of Talkeetna and 100 miles south of the Denali National Park entrance.
Situated within Denali State Park on the Chulitna River, the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is a true wilderness retreat.
Boasting an incredible view of majestic Mt. McKinley, the lodge offers vaulted ceilings, a massive stone fireplace, lobby piano, outdoor hot tubs, a children's playground and nature trails that stretch for miles
Seeing The Sights
We have all day on the 13th and the morning of the 14th for R&R in the wild!
Going exploring! See the wild up close!
Talkeetna is a staging area for Mount McKinley climbing expeditions. In July, the Moose Dropping Festival gives contestants a chance to see how far they can throw a moose "chip".
On the 14th, we again motor coach for 50 miles to the rail station. We catch the train at 4:40 pm and arrive in Anchorage 3 1/2 hours later (112 miles) at about 8:15 pm.
Dinner on the train!! Since we are catching the boat the next day, we only bring an overnight case into Anchorage... all other clothes and bags go to the ship!
Mount McKinley or Denali (Koyukon Athabaskan for "The High One", Dghelaayce'e in Ahtna) in Alaska, United States is the highest mountain peak in North America and the United States, with a summit elevation of 20,320 feet (6,194 m) above sea level. The CIA World Factbook lists its summit elevation as 6,198 metres (20,335 ft). It is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.
The forces that lifted Mount McKinley—the subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the North American plate—also raised great ranges across southern Alaska. As that huge sheet of ocean-floor rock plunges downward into the mantle, it shoves and crumples the continent into soaring mountains which include some of the most active volcanoes on the continent.
We took a bus into the park and Mt. McKinley was quite visible
Did You Know? - The Koyukon Athabaskan people who inhabit the area around the mountain referred to the peak as Dinale or Denali ("the high one" or "the great one"). In the late 1890s, a gold prospector named it "McKinley" as political support for then-president William McKinley. The Alaska Board of Geographic Names changed the name of the mountain to Denali, which is how it is referred to locally. However, a 1975 request by the Alaska state legislature to the United States Board on Geographic Names to do the same was blocked by Ohio congressman Ralph Regula, whose district includes McKinley's hometown. Members of the Ohio congressional delegation continue to protect the McKinley name, blocking attempts by the Alaska congressional delegation to get the Board of Geographic Names to change it to Denali. Thus, "Denali" is correct according to the Alaska state Board, while "McKinley" is correct according to the national Board.
Back In Town
Looks like a small town anywhere. The core downtown area is classified as a National Historic Site, with buildings
dating from the early 1900s including Nagley's General Store,
Did You Know? - Nagley's Store. The Nagley family are pioneer residents of Talkeetna. They were also partners in the Westward Hotel in Anchorage, a predecessor to today's Hilton Anchorage Hotel.
Up to it's fanny in visitors
Talkeetna is a census-designated place (CDP) in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2000 census the population was 772.
The Talkeetna townsite was established in 1919 when the railroad surveyed and auctioned 80 lots.
The average price at the sale was $14.25.
We took a boat ride
Talkeenta at midnight
Our train pulls in... Not long now
Anchorage Here We Come
Many twists and turns along the way
Everyplace was a lucous green color
Make ours a double
Jon enjoys the train ride
Sleeping beauty
We were running right along the highway at 40+ miles per hour
The Ultra Domes are aptly named as they feature full-domed glass ceilings with the largest window panes ever built for a rail car, giving passengers excellent views of surrounding scenery. Traveling daily on the Alaska Railroad between Anchorage, Denali National Park and Fairbanks, from May through September, the cars are a highlight of visitors' experiences.
Besides, Paul's favorite place was right near the bar!!!
Trees trees and nore trees
Someone is happy
Warm coffee was delightful on the train
Dining on the train was an experience. Princess Ultra Domes also feature stylish dining salons with hot and cold Alaskan specialties prepared to order right on board and served on fine china -- another Princess exclusive, another point of difference. Every table in the elegant dining room is next to a window, so guests can enjoy the scenery over freshly-prepared meals.
Enjoy fine dining as Princess team of chefs prepared their favorite Alaskan specialties made to order right on board. From our award-winning reindeer chili to authentic sourdough pancakes with Alaskan syrup, restaurants at our wilderness lodges and aboard our Midnight Sun Express railcars serve up delicious meal options at affordable prices that will add flavor to your wilderness experience.
And The Views Do Not Get Better Than This!
The train station was right downtown (see the star)
The Anchorage Train Station
The cars were hugh
We stayed in the Hotel Captain Cook
View Larger Map
(You can drive the 360 miles in about 6 1/2 hours weather permitting)