Denali

[cindy7371]

We are on the Princess Cruisetour and will stay overnight in Denali. This does not allow enough time to take the Tundra Wilderness Tour. What would you recommend that we do while there in the late afternoon and early morning?

[agabbymama]

There is a Wilderness Center, and they do have sled dog demonstrations. Others have posted about a river raft excursion.

 

Go to the Park website

 

http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm

 

and maybe just a search for "things to do in Denali"???

 

Others may chime in too. Good luck! Have a great trip!

[Budget Queen]

They have the Wilderness Access Center, and Visitor Center, which are two different buildings and locations. The Access Center has a few exhibits, but main purpose is the shuttle bus access. The Sled dog kennel is another location. They have 3 demos/day.

 

 

Are you sure you can't get into the park?? What a shame not to experience it, being right there. Did you know about distances when you booked and this is your preference?

 

If you post your itinerary and mode of travel, maybe there could be suggestions you may not have considered??

 

 

http://www.nps.gov/dena

[2278]

It depends on how you are getting to your next destination. We used the train, headed to Fairbanks which did not depart till late afternoon. Princess did not show the TWT to be available due to this departure. We cancelled the NHT and booked the TWT on our own.

 

They picked us up at the lodge. Instead of coming back to the lodge we got off at the information center which is across the road from the RR station. It was about 2:30, we took the park bus to the rangers' dog sled demo and the bus back with 45 minutes to spare for catching the train.

[cindy7371]

Since this is part of Princess' cruisetour, we have to abide by their schedule. We get there late afternoon and depart the next day at noon.

[frugaltravel]

Since this is part of Princess' cruisetour, we have to abide by their schedule. We get there late afternoon and depart the next day at noon.

 

What mode of transport to and from Denali and where do you come from and depart to? And which month? It really is a shame to go to Denali and not see anything but the entrance area. Even worse than going to Disney World and just seeing the parking lot (at least from the WDW parking lot you can see much of what you are missing, which is not the case with Denali). Depending on your desire to see more of the park, there is a chance to get further into the park the day you leave. But it requires a significant effort on your part.

[thinfool]

Since this is part of Princess' cruisetour, we have to abide by their schedule. We get there late afternoon and depart the next day at noon.

 

That's the shortest stay I have heard of, even for Princess.

 

Tell us your basic land itinerary and if your cruisetour is part of a north or southbound cruise.

 

And, where is your next stop after the Denali Princess?

[cindy7371]

We arrive around 5:00 PM at the Princess Lodge and depart the next day at 11:30 PM heading for the McKinley Princess Lodge near Talkeetna. This is the part of the NB tour.

[PennyAgain]

This is awful!

 

Do you have time to ride the free shuttle out to Savage River and return?

[Budget Queen]

We arrive around 5:00 PM at the Princess Lodge and depart the next day at 11:30 PM heading for the McKinley Princess Lodge near Talkeetna. This is the part of the NB tour.

 

 

 

This is a terrible schedule. :( I am assuming you mean 11:30 am departure the next day?

 

 

A consideration- IF you are taking the train, from Whittier, and it does get in before 5pm- then, I STRONGLY suggest you consider, getting your a#% moving right over to the access center and on to a 5pm Toklat shuttle bus- if available with a walk up ticket. All the lodge/hotel shuttle buses will be driving right by it. I would just ask for a drop off from any of them.

[Budget Queen]

This is awful!

 

Do you have time to ride the free shuttle out to Savage River and return?

 

Here is the Savage River shuttle schedule http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=352796