NATIONAL PARKS OF ALASKA

Alaska is home to 13 federally designated wild rivers, one national historic area, one national monument and preserve, one national monument, two national parks, two national historical parks, three national preserves, and six national parks and preserves.


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Denali

Denali National Park and Preserve covers more than six million acres in Interior Alaska, near the communities of Healy and Cantwell. It is 240 miles north of Anchorage and 125 miles south of Fairbanks. more

Gates of the Arctic

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is made up of 8.2 million acres in the Brooks Range, the northern most mountain range in the country. more

Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is comprised of 3.3 million acres in Southeast Alaska, near the community of Gustavus. more

Katmai

Katmai National Park and Preserve includes 4.7 million acres on the Alaska Peninsula, across from Kodiak Island, in South western Alaska. more

Kenai Fjords

Kenai Fjords National Park is comprised of 669,983 acres on the southeast coast of Kenai Peninsula, near the town of Seward in South central Alaska. more

Klondike Gold Rush

The 13,191 acres of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park stretch from the Southeast Alaska community of Skagway north along the Canadian border. more

Lake Clark

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve includes more than four million acres stretching from the shores of Cook Inlet in South central Alaska, across the Chigmit mountain range and into Alaska’s western Interior. more

Sitka

The 113-acre Sitka National Historical Park is in the community of Sitka on Baranof Island in Alaska’s Inside Passage. more

Western Arctic

Four wild, remote parks in Northwest Alaska make up the Western Arctic National Parklands. Together, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve and Bering Land Bridge National Preserve include more than 11.5 million acres of parkland. more

Wrangell-St. Elias

The nation’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is made up of 13 million acres in the eastern portion of Interior Alaska, along the Canadian border. Nearby communities include Glennallen, McCarthy, Copper Center and Chitina. more

Yukon-Charley Rivers

Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve includes 2.5 million acres in Interior Alaska, along the Canadian border, near the communities of Eagle and Circle. more

Parks Safety Tips







national parks

 Denali
Gates of the Arctic
Glacier Bay
Katmai
Kenai Fjords
Klondike Gold Rush
Lake Clark
Sitka
Western Arctic
Wrangell-St. Elias
Yukon-Charley Rivers
Parks Safety Tips







Definite Dos - Must See Park Icons

Fish in Resurrection Bay
Hop on one of the many fishing charter boats in Seward, near Kenai Fjords National Park, and head out into the Kenai Fjords or Resurrection Bay – hotspots for Alaska’s renowned salmon, halibut, rockfish and lingcod.

Find “The Big Five”
Thousands of caribou, herds of dall sheep, thousand-pound moose, grizzly bears, and 14 packs of wolves make their home in Denali National Park and Preserve. Pull out your camera and see if you can capture “the big five” on your trip.

Hike the Chilkoot Trail
Follow in the footsteps of the tens of thousands of hopeful gold prospectors as you trek up the 33-mile Chilkoot Trail in Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park.

Raft the Yukon River
Load up your raft with provisions and fl oat down the Yukon River in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Pack a tent, stay in one of the seven public use cabins or sleep under the stars along the way. Many visitors start at the town of Eagle and end at Circle, though longer trips can take you all the way to the Bering Sea.

Explore the Backcountry
If the idea of no trails, no roads and no people appeals to you, then slip on your backpack, lace up your hiking boots and start exploring Alaska’s backcountry. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve and Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve offer stunning – and challenging – terrain.

Kayak Glacier Bay
In your kayak, slide past the islands and glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Admire the snow-capped mountain ranges, coastal beaches, protected coves, deep fjords and calving glaciers as you paddle among the abundant marine life, including whales, porpoises, sea lions, sea otters and harbor seals.

Get a Bird’s Eye View
Seeing Alaska by air is an experience not to miss. Get an “overview” of the countless glaciers, rivers, lakes, wildlife and mountain ranges by taking a flightseeing tour over Denali National Park and Preserve, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve or Kenai Fjords National Park.

Bike to a Ghost Town
Climb onto a mountain bike and pedal your way from the small town of McCarthy to the mining ghost town of Kennecott in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. While the going can be rough, the scenery makes it all worth it.

Ski to a Glacier
The falling snow is just the beginning of adventure in Alaska. Strap on your cross-country skis and head toward Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. At the end of the day, enjoy the view as you sip a mug of hot chocolate in your own public use cabin.

Drive a Dog Team
Travel Alaska-style – on the back of a dog sled! Hold onto your sled while you race through the snow, pulled by a team of dogs. Popular dog sledding destinations are in Denali National Park and Preserve and Kenai Fjords National Park.