Autumn Tundra
Spending most of our lives in New England, we would always welcome the arrival of Autumn. Summer is great, but there is something special about the air turning crisp, the scent of apples, and the smell of wood smoke from the stoves that would signal the end of Summer and the beginning of a new season.
We loved watching the transformation of the landscape. The trees, which are a lush green all Summer, would slowly start to change. First, a few leaves would turn yellow, then orange, and finally, the entire forest would be ablaze in red, gold, and orange. It is like living in a painting, with every day bringing a new masterpiece.
Weekends were often spent with other families bringing our children to pick apples and get pumpkins. We loved the sound of the fallen leaves crunching under our shoes while we raked the leaves into piles so we could jump in them. Leaves were collected for art projects and pumpkin seeds were roasted for snacking.
It’s early September, and Alaska is entering Autumn. All around us the birch trees are turning yellow. On our first trip to Denali in May, we were told about the tundra changing colors. Since then, we have anticipated this time when we could see the transformation. On September 3rd, we drove south to Denali hoping to see fall colors on the tundra. We were not disappointed.
Unlike New England, where trees change colors, the Alaskan tundra changes color on the ground. Low-lying shrubs and mosses turn from green and brown to shades of red, orange, gold, pink, and purple, creating a patchwork across the vast, open terrain. This colorful display is set against the backdrop of mountains and clear blue skies, making it a breathtaking sight.
We made our way from Fairbanks to Healy, which is where the entrance to Denali National Park is located. Along the way we enjoyed the scenery. We arrived in the late afternoon and ventured into the park. We drove the limited 15 miles into the park, marveling at the scenery. We were hoping to see a grizzly, which we have yet to see in Alaska. Surprisingly, we saw no wildlife except a solitary squirrel.
The Alaska Tundra is stunning in the autumn.
The above three pictures are taken in Denali National Park and Preserve.
We would have loved to see bear or moose, but alas we did not.
Northern Lights
We stayed overnight at the Mckinley Chalet Resort which is only one mile from the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve. This charming resort is a fantastic place to stay, offering a blend of comfort and wilderness. The resort offers a special wake-up call service to alert guests when the Northern Lights are visible.
Outside at the McKinley Chalet and Resort
Later that evening, we would stand here to watch the Northern Lights
Below us, some brave folks are rafting on the Nenana River.
Sure enough, at 3:20am, we received the call. We hurriedly dressed and made our way outside. For an hour, the lights danced in a wide arc across the sky from the east to the west. We grabbed a few photos and returned to our room and managed to drift back to sleep.
Northern Lights above Mount Healy
The Big Dipper and the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights in the background above Mount Healey of the Alaskan Range. Alaska State Flag, USA Flag, and Westmark Resorts flag with McKinley Chalet signpost.
Denali State Park and Denali Highway
After checking out on Wednesday morning, we headed south along Parks Highway for a hearty breakfast at the McKinley Creekside Café, just north of Cantwell, AK. Despite the overcast skies, the scenery was still breathtaking, with the warm colors of the landscape promising an exciting day ahead.
Not long after breakfast, we saw two young moose grazing on the side of the road. We pulled over to watch them for a few minutes. They left us with high hopes that the day would have a lot of wildlife viewing in store. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Panoramic view along the Parks Highway, near Cantwell, AK
In Cantwell, we left the Parks Highway and ventured east on the Denali Highway into Denali State Park. Though smaller than its national counterpart, the state park offers stunning views and abundant wildlife. It’s far less crowded, providing a more solitary and intimate experience with nature.
The above two pictures are taken in Denali State Park.
Despite the overcast skies, the scenery is dramatically vibrant.
The Denali Highway, officially known as Alaska Route 8, is a unique and scenic road stretching 135 miles from Cantwell to Paxson. Unlike typical highways, it is largely unpaved gravel, adding to its rugged charm. Opened in 1957, it was the first road to provide access to Denali National Park before the completion of the Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3). As we drove, we were treated to spectacular views of tundra, lakes, and rivers. This seasonal road, usually open from mid-May to mid-September, is lightly traveled, allowing us to creep along at about 20 miles per hour, searching for bear, moose, and caribou.
Denali Highway - Alaska Route 8
It was getting to be afternoon, so we reversed direction, left the state park and headed north to return for our final trek into Denali National Park. We once again drove into the park, still no wildlife, but a memorable drive, nonetheless. It was interesting to see how the park looked different, but beautiful, with overcast skies compared to the bright sunlight on the previous day.
The above three pictures are from our second day in Denali National Park.
It looks different, but still beautiful, with an overcast sky.
The journey to the Denali region was a slow and deliberate exploration, each mile revealing more of Alaska’s wilderness beauty. It was a perfect blend of adventure and tranquility, making it a memorable part of our Alaskan experience.
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