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From the
moment you step off the Alaska Railroad at the entrance to Denali National
Park and Preserve, you'll feel as if you've been transported back in time,
where skyscrapers and traffic jams have been replaced by snowcapped mountain
peaks and flocks of native birds. This park defines the Alaskan Experience
so Princess Cruises includes it on every Alaska Cruisetour (combined
cruise-and-land tour).
Towering above it all is the venerable Mt. McKinley, the highest point in
all of North America. At 20,320 feet, its summit beckons more than 1,000
climbers each year who brave the elements for the chance to scale its
majestic face. Fortunately, the climate isn't a factor for guests of
Princess Cruises, who can relax at one of our two exclusive, custom-built
lodges - the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge and the Denali Princess
Wilderness Lodge.
Denali
Untouched
Located 240 miles north of Anchorage, Denali encompasses six million
acres of forests, tundra, glaciers and mountains - that's larger
than the entire state of Massachusetts. Yet only 90 miles of main
road traverses the park, leaving the moose, caribou, sheep and bears
free to roam a wide area of land untouched by man. |
Wildlife
Sightings
A good pair of binoculars helps with ample opportunities for animal
sightings, whether it’s a Grizzly foraging for berries beyond or a
Golden Eagle soaring above. In autumn, a ready supply of
blueberries, cranberries and crowberries keeps the wildlife active;
much like the blooming wildflowers during the summer attracts
shutterbugs in search of that perfect shot. |
Muldrow Glacier
Tundra
Denali is one of the few places where visitors can come in contact
with the Alaskan tundra. Meaning a "vast, rolling, treeless plain,"
the tundra starts at 2,500 feet and extends up and along the massive
Alaska Range. Crossing a portion of the tundra is the Muldrow
Glacier, which descends 16,000 feet from the upper slopes of Mt.
McKinley and comes to within one mile of the park road. |
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