Alaska Off the Beaten Path Tips by Matyas

Depending on your interests you can also do some hiking in the area. The first hiking trails appear just east of Chicken if you are coming from Canada.

The scenery could have been better of course but if you have some spare time feel free to take a walk in the nature.

Look for boards beside the highway you can pull over and spend some time in the mountains. Easy and fun.

I would recommend this activity rather than checking "beautiful downtown chicken".

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Along the Taylor Highway (mostly just NE of Tok) you will observe black stumps instead of green timber forests. Great forest fires destroyed huge areas all over Alaska and the Yukon as well.

If you are travelling during summertime (end of July - beginning of August) you will see a wonder thanks to the blossoming fireweeds. It was so beautiful!

Maybe you can even take a walk further into the deastroyed areas...don't have to worry about animals, you can be seen almost everywhere.

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I can't remember exactly where this park is exactly but if you're interested ask locals or someone in the visitor centre. This one is called Chena / Kiwanis Park (Fairbanks North Star Borough).

This park is far from downtown but if you have a car or bike (bikepath available between downtown and the picnic area) i would highly recommend to visit this part especially for families. From here you can get a nice view to the other side and the river. The Fairbanks airport is just in front of the park.

I ended up camping in this park due to the heavy rain. I didn't dare to think that it's not allowod since there were a few formed areas for tents beside the river bank. But the greeting board says "No overnight camping".

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Probably one of the most famous natinal parks in North America. Denali habitat is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, including deciduous taiga. The preserve is also home to tundra at middle elevations, and glaciers, rock, and snow at the highest elevations.

Today, the park hosts more than 400,000 visitors who enjoy wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking. Denal is a home of lots of mammals birds and other creatures.

I saw actually nothing. I've been told that there is not so much chance to see animals nowadays due to the big traffic. He was right i didn't see anything except dall sheeps, birds and a rabbit. Denali is rather a big tourist attraction rather than a peaceful National Park.
I don't like it. Can be a good place if the big mass do not bother you and you have enough money to book bus tickets, etc.

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Excellent spot for wildlife viewing. On the road from Denali to Fairbanks I was lucky to see many mooses one black bear and eagles.

I cannot really recommend where to stop where you can see animals just keep your eyes opened and you will have a good chance to see wildlife. Pull over if you see someone beside the road.

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This was my northerly point during this trip although i wanted to cross the Arctic Circle but I didn't get a rid. Located at milepost 56 on James Dalton Highway.

The bridge was built during the winter of 1974 and 1975. At his point you can find gas station, restaurant and a motel. On the other side of the road ther's a small visitoe centre open 7 days a week from 9am to 6pm.

The longest river in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, it was one of the principal means of transportation during the 1896–1903 Klondike Gold Rush. This place can be a really special experience depending on your interest. Don't forget to take your bug spray there are lots of huge mosquitos along the river.

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This renowned mine is located about one hour driving from Wasilla. The area is called Hatcher Pass where you can find lots of recreational opportunities like hiking, skiing, visiting the mine, biking, haunting.

The Hatcher Pass Road is narrow and steep in some locations, it connects with the Wasilla-Fishhook and Palmer-Fishhook roads and the Glenn Highway to the south and with the Fishhook-Willow Road and the Parks Highway to the west. You can find detailed info here.

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Website: http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/indmine.htm

There are lots of different kinds of animals all over the area. Check at trailheads for posted signs about recent bear activity according as you're planning to do some hiking and keep the rules of course. The Hatcher Pass Management Area is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Be on the lookout for moose, caribou, black and brown bear, beaver,eagles, waterfowl, raptors, ptarmigan, mink and marmots (picture 1 & 2 & 3).

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Anchorage hosts lots of animals including birds, small and big mammals. The city is like a big zoo you can get a sight of a moose almost everywhere, in a backyard, parks, parking areas or streets.

In the summer bike the coastal trail between Point Woronzof and Kincaid Park you can rent bikes in downtown or take your own...there are lots to see and do outside of the city. Moose are dense here because the airport has a fence to keep them off the runway and they tend to gather when they hit the fence.

In the fall, you can see bulls fight in Upper Campbell Creek at the Glenn Alps viewing platform. For the current situation inform yourself in the visitor centre.

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Just a few minutes driving from Whittier or from the junction. The Portage Glacier is a must.

When the National Forest visitor center was built in 1986, Portage Glacier lay directly in front of it. The rest of Portage was destroyed by an erthquake in 1964. You can take a boat and have a close look or you can even walk.

The walking trail is not steep at all super easy for everybody. Don't cross the closed area unless you are experienced glacier climber. If you have questions visit the local visitor centre.

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