After our unexpected midnight fire alarm adventure in Fairbanks, we were thankful the Airbnb host gave us a late checkout. We filled the gas tank, stocked up on three days’ worth of groceries, and made the drive to Healy, our home base for exploring Denali. Our Airbnb was a charming little wooden cabin just outside the village, complete with a loft, pull-out couch, and no running water. An outhouse and water pump fit the area perfectly and made for a fun change from our usual accommodations. After settling in and making dinner, we headed into Denali National Park for an evening drive. The mountain views were incredible, and we added two more moose to our wildlife count. We also spotted our first caribou of the trip, although it was way off in the distance. Before heading back to the cabin, we stopped at a nearby lake to cast a few lines and enjoy the quiet evening.
The next morning we were up early and made our way back into Denali National Park. We started at the visitor centre before heading over to the sled dog kennels, where we met the park dogs and watched a really interesting sled dog demonstration. We learned that Denali is the only U.S. national park that still uses working sled dogs to help protect and patrol the park in the winter. After a picnic lunch, we hiked the Horseshoe Lake Trail, which offered beautiful views of the lake and the Nenana River below. Later in the afternoon we tackled the Savage River Loop, and it ended up being my favourite hike of the park. The trail follows the rushing river through a mountain valley, with snow-covered peaks in the background the entire way. Every turn seemed to offer another great view, and it’s one hike I’d recommend to anyone visiting Denali. We ended the day back at the cabin watching Into the Wild, which felt fitting after spending the day exploring the park, and then stayed up to watch the midnight sunset. It never really got dark, and we watched the sun skim the horizon before starting to rise again- such a unique experience!
Our last morning started early with a 7:00 a.m. departure for the Denali Wilderness Tundra Tour, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our entire trip. Private vehicles can only drive about 13 miles into Denali National Park, so taking one of the park buses is the only way to experience the backcountry. Over about six hours, our driver navigated the winding gravel road to Mile 43 while sharing stories about the park, its history, wildlife, and the surrounding mountain range. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide.
We also couldn’t have asked for better weather. Only about 30% of visitors get a clear enough day to see Mount McKinley, and we were lucky enough to be among them. A few light clouds drifted around the peak, but the mountain was fully visible and absolutely breathtaking. The wildlife was just as impressive. We spotted six caribou, six moose, several Dall sheep, and a baby porcupine travelling with its mom—something our driver said he’d never seen before on one of his tours. Between the wildlife and the views, it was one of those highlight tours that we are so glad to have the opportunity to experience.
The Travelling Herrons 