Denali Unexplored – Basecamp Hiking in Denali National Park

This morning, our group will meet at 9am in Anchorage. After a short orientation and gear check, we will then make the drive to Chugach State Park where you’ll take a beautiful hike and enjoy a trail side lunch with your guide. By early afternoon, we’ll then make our way to Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the busiest float-plane airport on earth, where, we’ll board a floatplane bound for the Denali National Park and our home for the next 3 nights. This 1-hour scenic flight will take us over alpine tundra, braided rivers, and cascading waterfalls. Weather permitting, we’ll enjoy spectacular views of Denali, the highest peak in North America as we travel up the mighty Ruth Glacier, to the entrance of the Great Gorge – the deepest trench on earth! Our skilled bush pilot will then take us down to a small lake nestled in a cleft between the Ruth and Tokositna Glaciers, where we will unload our gear on a small beach and then wave the airplane goodbye. We’ll set up camp near the lake, bask in the new-found solitude, and then take a short early evening hike before dinner.

The options are staggering!  With almost unlimited daylight, we’ll spend these days in the tundra hills near camp, destined for magnificent views of the Backside Glacier, Ruth Glacier, and if weather permits, “The Great One,” 20,320 foot Denali. On our hikes, you’ll learn in practice the skills necessary to hike off-trail in the Alaska wilderness – including reading a topographic map, choosing the best route, using trekking poles, and traveling efficiently.  Your treks will give you the chance to learn firsthand the glacial features of Denali’s frozen rivers of ice, the valley that bears the scars of thousands of years of glacial activity, and the more recent visual indications of climate change on the Alaska landscape.  After two full days of exploration, we’ll tally our wildlife and mountain peak sightings as we enjoy a filling meals in the wilderness.

Another breakfast and hot drink will fuel us for our last few hours in the wilderness. After breaking camp, and moving our kit to the lakeshore, we’ll await our ride back to civilization.  As the float plane descends on the Lake, we’ll depart knowing that this amazing place has made a lasting impact on our souls.  We’ll return to Anchorage by afternoon.  Occasionally, weather conditions prevent our groups from flying out of Denali on this final day.  Therefore, we strongly suggest spending this night in Anchorage and booking your return flights for the next day or later.

Please note that occasionally weather conditions prevent us from flying into our basecamp location in Denali National Park.  Given the schedule limitations encountered when our air service provider faces weather delays, there are few options available to fly after our scheduled time.  If weather looks to be improving AND the air service can accommodate a later flight, we will wait in Anchorage as long as possible. However, If we aren’t able to fly into the Park on day one, you will receive a $300 refund or a $500 future trip credit for the missed flight into Denali.  Please download the detailed itinerary on this page for specifics on the contingency itinerary.