Husky News

Alaska in the summertime is full of fun and, most particularly, sun. With daylight lasting nearly 24 hours, it’s hard to know when to slow down.

Fortunately, Denali National Park has no end of activities — from the rugged to the indulgent — to fill the time.

Have 24-hours to spend? Here are 24 ways to enjoy Denali during the Solstice and all summer long:

1.  Take in the theater – Cabin Night Dinner Theater, a Yukon Gold Rush musical (meal included).

2.  Go for a ride on the Nenana in a white water river raft.

3. Experience four star dining – Denali Park Resorts has a strong emphasis on sustainable cuisine, showcasing locally produced and eco-friendly ingredients including fireweed syrup-glazed duck and cardamom-crusted Alaska caribou.

4. Catch Gold Fever — visit a historical re-creation of a turn-of-the-century Gold Mining Camp and try your luck as a prospector.

5. View the Northern Lights – in person or on the screen.

Late August to early September is perfect to view the aurora borealis (the McKinley Chalet Resort will give you a wake-up call during prime viewing) or catch a daytime showing at the Northern Lights Theatre.

6. Go deep into the heart of the park through a new tour called the Kantishna Experience, where an NPS ranger and bus takes you to Fannie Quigley’s famous cabin 90 miles in the park.

7. Fill ‘er up at Fanny’s Family Flapjack Feed, a popular all-you-can-eat themed breakfast in an authentic, log-paneled roadhouse at the McKinley Chalet Resort.

8.  Click away in a guided Photo Safari.

9.  Take a vintage photo as a dogsledder, miner, mountaineer or saloon gal at Sourdough Studios.

10. Indulge in a massage – McKinley Village Lodge offers onsite massage services.

11. Learn – Denali National Park Visitor’s Center and the Murie Science Learning Centre offer a variety of learning programs.

12. Enjoy fireside tales from long ago.

13. Tour on Four Wheels or Four Legs – Take an ATV tour or try a horseback safari.

14. Tee off at Midnight – Enjoy a game at Black Diamond by the light of the midnight sun under the shadow of Mt. McKinley.

15. Go back in time with a Covered Wagon Ride.

16.  Take in a Glacial View from a different height with a heli-hiking expedition or flight-seeing tour of Mt. McKinley.

17. Experience the Call of the Wild – Moose, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, wolves, and caribou are just some of the wildlife that inhabit the park, an internationally designated biosphere reserve captured in the Tundra Wilderness Tour.

18. Hit the trail – Denali Park Resorts offers hiking excursions perfect for the entire family, from the novice to the experienced hiker, including Horseshoe Lake Trail, Mount Healy Overlook Trail and Savage River Loop Trail.

19.  A series of guided 3-hour hikes are available through Denali Park Resort’s Explore Denali program, including a casual hike by the Nanana River; an invigorating moderate hike into the spruce forest; and a personalized trip along the Denali highway with a van and short walks offers photo opportunities.

20. Take in the Birds and the Bees/the Flowers and the Trees – A sub-arctic ecosystem, Denali also features rare taiga and tundra plant life, as well as over 650 species of flowering plants.

21. Catch Sled Dog Champions in the Husky Homestead Tour.

22.  Celebrate Hungry Hour — At 10 p.m. every night, the Lucky Miss Saloon (McKinley Village) and the Nenana View Bar (McKinley Chalet) offer complimentary snacks and half-price menu offerings.

23. Drop a Line – Look for arctic grayling in clear mountain streams or lake trout in Wonder Lake.

24. Put the Pedal to the Metal — Denali ranks as one of the most bike-friendly national parks. A newly constructed bike path allows visitors to ride directly from local hotels into the park.

Denali is for the hard-core outdoors fanatic or those looking to take in the history of Alaska while enjoying fining dining and luxurious accommodations.

If you have 24-hours or 24 days, you’ll never run out of things to do.