I rolled out from raft camp… our little pocket of employee housing… and started making my way up the Parks Highway toward the entrance of Denali National Park. But right out of the gate… a major snag. Heavy construction on the highway stopped me in my tracks, and before I knew it, I was loading myself and my fully packed bike into the back of a pilot car. Not exactly how I pictured starting the trip… but hey, it made for a story.
Once past that short detour, though… I was on my way. I pedaled into the park surrounded by incredible scenery, the kind that immediately reminds you why you came all this way.
What made it even better… I had left in the evening, and with nearly nonstop daylight this time of year, there was no rush at all. Time just kind of… opened up..
I didn’t see a ton of wildlife on this adventure… but I did come across a couple of really cool birds. Here’s one of them… Mr. Willow Ptarmigan just hanging out, completely unbothered.
They’re funny like that… they really don’t seem to care if you’re nearby, and usually won’t even think about flying off unless you’re just a couple yards away. Makes for a pretty special, up-close moment out there.
Had to pull over for a quick photo stop at the beautiful Sanctuary River… one of those places that sucks you in. Definitely putting it on the list for a future backpacking trip.
Later on, I took a dinner break at the Teklanika River stop… and had the whole place to myself. Out there, after about mile 15 on the park road, it’s shuttle buses only… no private vehicles. The only other way through is by foot or bike… which made it feel even more special having the road all to myself.
Had a little moment out at the Teklanika River stop… sat down for dinner on the wooden deck, enjoying the quiet, when somehow my backpacking spoon slipped right through the slats and disappeared underneath. Gone… just like that.
Now every time I go back, I can’t help but think about it… my spoon still down there somewhere, tucked beneath the deck… like a tiny piece of me that never left.
Then around 11 p.m.… one of my favorite wildlife encounters of all time. I came across this incredible Golden Eagle. I’ve always wanted to see one… and yeah, I’ll admit, I’ve definitely mistaken vultures for golden eagles before… but this time, I’m pretty darn sure I got it right. We just stood there… staring at each other for a good half hour. One of those quiet, unforgettable moments.
It felt like I had the whole 6 Million acre National Park to my self..
After that, I made my way to Igloo Creek, where I had a permit to camp for the night… and it felt perfect. Beautiful, peaceful… exactly where I wanted to be. By the time I got camp set up, it was around midnight… and still plenty of daylight lingering in the sky.
I slept great, and the ride back the next day was absolutely stunning… crystal clear skies, everything glowing.
Not far from camp, I came across some fresh evidence of a bear dig… the ground torn up, earth scattered, a clear sign that something big had been working the area not too long ago.
It’s a subtle reminder out here… you’re not alone.
There’s something really special about Denali National Park… just that raw simplicity and rugged beauty that sticks with you long after you leave.
This area is what’s called an ecotone… a place where two worlds meet, where the tundra gradually blends into the boreal forest.
Most of these trees here are Black Spruce… hardy, resilient, and perfectly suited to this rugged, transitional landscape.
journeyvision 