Denali National Park - a photo gallery

[Blue_In_AK]

I've posted a few pictures I took in Denali National Park a couple of weeks ago here in the Lounge, but I now have a SmugMug gallery together if you all want to check it out. Visitors during tourist season have to ride buses into the park, but for four days in September the NPS allows 400 private vehicles a day to drive in based on a lottery draw. We were lucky enough to win (again).

http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/gallery/6075157_kotBs#381063455_MkCwd

[lost-in-nj]

1. Magnificent

just breathtaking


thank you for sharing


the one that made me smile though was the one with the 2 moose calves looking at you.... it's like they were saying

"stupid tourist" :hi:



lost

[petronius]

2. That is just phenomenally beautiful! Great pictures...

I'm going to be in Fairbanks in mid-October, and I was really hoping to see Denali, but it looks like the park (visitor center and buses) closes up in September - am I wrong? Would it be worth (and safe, weatherwise) renting a car and driving down that way for a day trip?

Thanks for sharing!

[Blue_In_AK]

8. I'm not sure how far into the park itself you can drive

in the winter, but even the main highways from Fairbanks are really beautiful, if you want to take a drive. The Parks Highway is the one that goes closest to Denali Park, or you can also take the Richardson Highway south from Fairbanks, also a very scenic drive. The weather shouldn't be bad in mid-October -- a little cool, maybe a bit of snow in the higher elevations, but certainly doable, I would think.

[petronius]

10. Good to hear - Thanks! (nt)

[madinmaryland]

3. I was up to Alaska 16 years ago during the summer to visit

my sister and brother in-law. It was beyond words the beauty of the land there.

Someday, I will get back up there.

[intheflow]

4. Just beautiful, Blue!

Some of the more barren areas look like some Hollywood version of another planet, red Martian landscapes, unforgiving alien terrains. There is no place left that wild in the lower 48. I assume this is one of the areas Repukes think should be drilled in because otherwise its of no use to humanity? :eyes:

[Blue_In_AK]

9. No, where they want to drill

is even more other-worldly. Much flatter, lots of water, pretty barren-looking actually, but the waterfowl and the caribou love it. That's why is's a wildlife refuge.

[SeattleGirl]

5. Blue, those pictures are stunning!

Absolutely beautiful.

[ThingsGottaChange]

6. Incredibly beautiful photos!

You are so lucky to be able to see all that with your own eyes. Outstanding work!!!!!

[siligut]

7. Exceptionally spectacular!

Thank you for sharing. Just love all of the animal photos too. That was a big bear!

[BrklynLiberal]

11. Breathtaking pictures.

I looked at them via a full screen slide show. WOW!!! :wow:

[Orsino]

12. Damn!

That's awful purty.