My son and I will be taking a two day tour down the old Denali Highway in late July, and camping for several days at Tangle Lakes. Any tips for photography on the route? "Don't miss" spots? Weather permitting (a uniquely relevant Alaska caveat!), we hope to get beaucoup scenery shots, habitat shots and even some bird and other wildlife shots. Any recommendations for what is seasonal and regional?
Looking forward to hearing from y'all
Phil Hodgkins
Posted by Bob Malvin on February 15, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Sorry I can't help you Phil, but your timing should be perfect for lots of birds, mammals and scenics. Don't forget to visit Denail NP, right up the road.
Posted by David Taylor on February 15, 2009 at 2:10 AM
Hello Phil!
Greetings from a boy who visited Georgia a long time ago
Don't forget bug repellent - they can either be hit or miss. But be cautious about deet on your hands/face, it can melt camera plastics and lenses! Two days might be a bit short, if you can extend to 3 days you may be a bit more comfortable time wise, just a thought. I recommend stopping by Denali Highway Cabins in Paxson and taking one of their evening float tours, if available. They are leisurely floats down the Gulkana River and last about 4 hours:
http://www.denalihwy.com/
Here's a link to an article I wrote about photographing the Denali Highway.
http://www.phototravelreview.com/?p=262
As for don't miss spots, here is another link to a BLM site with a map:
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/denali_highway/denali_poi.html
Truly, the whole drive is amazing. My favorite spots (going from West to East, Cantwell to Paxson) are between the Brushkana Campground & Gracious House Lodge, the area south of the Clearwater Mountains, the Amphitheater Mountains, and the area around Tangle Lakes... so yeah, just about the whole thing:)
MAKE SURE to get out of your car and hike a little, the tundra/taiga is amazing and vast and photo ops are around every corner. Also, beyond the Denali Hwy, drive north out of Paxson towards Delta Junction - just a half hour will give you much more to see.
You may also want to get ahold of Dr. Audie Bakewell at Denali Hwy Cabins (same as above link) - he is a birding genius. If you are looking for wildlife of any kind, or any ecology, he's THE guy to go to. Let him know I sent you.
Thanks Bob and Dave! This will be my seventh trip to Alaska (I have a son, a DIL and 3 grandkids in Valdez). Bob, I have done Denali on the bus tour. It was a wonderful experience and I will never forget the magnificence of the vistas, but I wouldn't repeat it under the circumstances. It is definitely not a photograper's experience, it is a tourist experience. I saw LOTS of wildlife—Dall dots, bear dots, moose dots, etc. I had neither the equipment or the opportunity for anything close, and riding a one lane road in a bus for eight hours with a bunch of "looky looks" just isn't my cup of tea.
Denali was great. I would go back in a NY minute under better circumstances. I hope those circumstances will be much improved on the other side! Dave, thanks for the tips and links. Deet and I are old friends, but I've got to say the Alaska mosquitoes are definitely meat eaters! I will bring plenty of bug dope and Alaska's portable roof, the Blue Tarp!
Posted by Jim DeWitt on February 16, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Philip -
If you can, purchase "A Birder's Guide to Alaska," Second Edition, which has a very good chapter on birds along the eastern Denali. You're visiting my very favorite spot road-accessible Alaska, and I know it pretty well. You'll be past the peak for birds, but there should still be decent numbers around.
I second Dave's suggestion that you visit Audie and Jenny at Denali Highway Cabins. Audie knows where stuff is, and his float trip down the Gulkana River can sometimes give you amazing shots. It's also a good place to spend the night and get a shower. Audie and Jenny are old friends; feel free touse my name. If you want to stay there, book soon.
The best single hiking trail is probably Maclaren Ridge North, running from just before the drop off down into the Maclaren Valley, towards the west end of the Ampitheaters. Great scenery, great views of any critters that may be around, and a pretty easy walk. A climb to the top of Whistle Ridge on the south side of the Denali and High Valley can be very rewarding, although it's about 1,200 vertical.
If you want details on where specific birds are, please email me privately.
Discussion
4 repliesLooking forward to hearing from y'all
Phil Hodgkins
Greetings from a boy who visited Georgia a long time ago
Don't forget bug repellent - they can either be hit or miss. But be cautious about deet on your hands/face, it can melt camera plastics and lenses! Two days might be a bit short, if you can extend to 3 days you may be a bit more comfortable time wise, just a thought. I recommend stopping by Denali Highway Cabins in Paxson and taking one of their evening float tours, if available. They are leisurely floats down the Gulkana River and last about 4 hours:
http://www.denalihwy.com/
Here's a link to an article I wrote about photographing the Denali Highway.
http://www.phototravelreview.com/?p=262
As for don't miss spots, here is another link to a BLM site with a map:
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/denali_highway/denali_poi.html
Truly, the whole drive is amazing. My favorite spots (going from West to East, Cantwell to Paxson) are between the Brushkana Campground & Gracious House Lodge, the area south of the Clearwater Mountains, the Amphitheater Mountains, and the area around Tangle Lakes... so yeah, just about the whole thing:)
MAKE SURE to get out of your car and hike a little, the tundra/taiga is amazing and vast and photo ops are around every corner. Also, beyond the Denali Hwy, drive north out of Paxson towards Delta Junction - just a half hour will give you much more to see.
You may also want to get ahold of Dr. Audie Bakewell at Denali Hwy Cabins (same as above link) - he is a birding genius. If you are looking for wildlife of any kind, or any ecology, he's THE guy to go to. Let him know I sent you.
Denali was great. I would go back in a NY minute under better circumstances. I hope those circumstances will be much improved on the other side! Dave, thanks for the tips and links. Deet and I are old friends, but I've got to say the Alaska mosquitoes are definitely meat eaters! I will bring plenty of bug dope and Alaska's portable roof, the Blue Tarp!
If you can, purchase "A Birder's Guide to Alaska," Second Edition, which has a very good chapter on birds along the eastern Denali. You're visiting my very favorite spot road-accessible Alaska, and I know it pretty well. You'll be past the peak for birds, but there should still be decent numbers around.
I second Dave's suggestion that you visit Audie and Jenny at Denali Highway Cabins. Audie knows where stuff is, and his float trip down the Gulkana River can sometimes give you amazing shots. It's also a good place to spend the night and get a shower. Audie and Jenny are old friends; feel free touse my name. If you want to stay there, book soon.
The best single hiking trail is probably Maclaren Ridge North, running from just before the drop off down into the Maclaren Valley, towards the west end of the Ampitheaters. Great scenery, great views of any critters that may be around, and a pretty easy walk. A climb to the top of Whistle Ridge on the south side of the Denali and High Valley can be very rewarding, although it's about 1,200 vertical.
If you want details on where specific birds are, please email me privately.