After flying to Anchorage, we picked up a truck camper. We rented the F250 and Scout Kenai truck camper from a couple who live in Anchorage. We decided on a truck camper so we could be more portable. Although the Scout was quite a bit smaller than BB, it was perfect for just William and I (would have been a tight squeeze with Hazel!)
We headed north from Anchorage and stopped in Talkeetna for lunch, a fun little town. We then continued north and found a pull off next to the highway outside Denali to stop for the night.
One of the many cool things about Alaska is that camping is allowed almost anywhere- except for private property or where signs specifically prohibit it. We only stayed in a campground one night out of the eight that we had the camper! One of the reasons why we chose to rent the Scout is because it is built to be self-sustaining, not requiring a hook up. It has a battery that charges when the truck is on, as well as solar panels. It has a small water tank with a hand pump and sink, as well as a cassette toilet. We had a propane burner for cooking and an outdoor shower. Additionally, it had a diesel heater, which came in handy, as most nights the temperature dropped into the 40s.
Our first day in Denali we drove into the park, where we dropped the Scout off in the campground. The only way to stay in the park itself in a camper is at a registered campground- I had made a reservation at Savage River Campground, which is at mile 14 on the Park highway. The Park highway is a gravel road that runs about 90 miles into Denali National Park. However, in August 2021, a landslide occurred at mile 43 (Pretty Rocks), causing a closure of the road at that point. They have been doing construction in the area to build a bypass and solidify the area involved, which they anticipate completion in 2026.
It gets a little more confusing- you can only take a private vehicle to mile 15 of the park highway (the yellow line in the map above). To limit traffic, the park system established a transit bus system. The park has a fleet of school buses, which allow people to travel past mile 15 until mile 43 (at the closure). These buses allow people to get on and off at hiking trails, and stop for wildlife. Our bus trip was crowded, but it was awesome to see the wildlife in Denali. The scenery was absolutely stunning- the leaves had just started turning yellow and red (fall comes early!)
We saw caribou and several brown bears on the bus. I wish I had a better camera- mine doesn't do it justice!
We also did an amazing hike on the Savage Alpine Trail, which had significant elevation but incredible views.
The next day, we did a shorter hike to Horseshoe Lake and saw a moose (although I wasn't able to get a picture). Afterwards, we packed up and headed out of the park and north to Fairbanks.
The scenery in Denali was incredible. We did not get to see the summit of Denali because of the weather, but we weren't too bothered. We would love to come back when the road opens up again so we can see the whole park highway!
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