Tongass National Forest – Icy Strait

The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is the nation's largest national forest, encompassing 17 million acres and extending 500 miles northward along the Pacific coastline from the Alaska-Canada border. The terrain of the Tongass varies from coastal rain forests to volcanic uplands, from glacial fjords to tundra meadows. Wide stream valleys carved by glaciers slice through dense forests, and the forest's tall snowcapped mountain ranges count among some of the highest peaks in North America.

Often called "the forest of islands," Tongass's many islands create a series of sheltered and connected waterways (such as the well-known Icy Strait) — a perfect passage for marine wildlife migrating from the south. At the same time, the area is one of the richest feeding grounds in Alaska, so whales, sea otters, Steller sea lions, porpoises, and harbor seals are frequently seen in this area.

Visit Tongass National Forest and Icy Strait on our Whales of Point Adolphus, Alaska Gold, Ultimate Alaska Expedition, and Discover Alaska adventures.

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Wrangell - St. Elias National Park

With nearly 10 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest unit of the U.S. National Park System. Located a day's drive east of Anchorage, this spectacular park includes the continent's largest assemblage of glaciers and nothing less than three mountain chains - the Chugach, Wrangell, and St. Elias. The area has the greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet, including Mount St. Elias, which at 18,008 feet is the second highest peak in the United States. In addition to the highest peaks, the park has one of the largest concentrations of Dall sheep in North America. Other resident species include mountain goats, caribou, moose, bison, brown and black bear, wolverine, river otter, snowshoe hare, and even a species of bat!

In 1978, the United Nations recognized Wrangell-St. Elias National Monument as an international World Heritage Site. In 1993 Glacier Bay National Park and Tatshenshini-Alsek World Heritage Site were added, and together these four parks are one of the largest internationally protected ecosystems on the planet!

The park's stunning mountain peaks create an amazing background for any kayaking and hiking adventure. Because of its remoteness and mountainous wilderness, adventuring here is rather challenging but richly rewarded in terms of beauty and true wilderness experience.

Visit Wrangell - St. Elias National Park on our Wrangell - St. Elias Glacier Expedition.


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Admiralty Island National Monument

If you've come to Alaska to see bears, Admiralty Island is your spot! Only 15 miles southeast of Juneau, this island is known as the "Fortress of the Bears," and is home to the highest concentration of brown bears (grizzlies) in the world. Here, the bears truly enjoy the good life as they roam the drainage areas for sedges, roots, and berries much of the year before feasting on salmon in August and then retreating to their caves for a really long nap!

On the eastern side of Admiralty Island you'll find the famous Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area. In 1945 local resident Stan Price found an orphan female cub on the beach and brought it to his cabin. He ended up raising the bear and releasing it to the wild. The bear returned with her own cubs, and a peaceful co-existence was established between bears and humans. There were a reported 82 bear cubs born at Pack Creek before Stan's death in 1989. Today Pack Creek is regulated closely by the US Forest Service and is one of the few areas in the world where one can safely view brown bears at close range.

Visit Admiralty Island on our Bears of Admiralty, Ultimate Alaska Expedition, and Discover Alaska adventures.

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Denali National Park and Preserve

As one of the world’s last great frontiers, Denali National Park and Preserve is home to the highest mountain on the North American continent—Mount McKinley (20,320'), known to the native Athabascan people as “The Great One.” Its towering reflection in the waters of Wonder Lake is an iconic sight known to travelers the world over. Surrounded by additional peaks of the snowy 400-mile-long Alaska Range—a realm of snow, rock, and ice—Denali’s steep slopes give way to vast open tundra, dotted with small lakes and ponds.

But there is much more to this park than beautiful mountain reflections of the “crown jewel” of North America: its six million-acre wildlife reserve also plays host to a vast array of wildlife, including the “big five”—grizzlies, wolves, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep—while its sub-arctic ecosystem encompasses more than 650 species of flowering plants. There are also more than 30 other species of mammals, some 167 recorded bird species, and 10 species of fish. It has been designated an international biosphere reserve since 1976.

Activities in this park are many, and you could spend weeks exploring this vast preserve. Our trips here are based at famous Camp Denali, a rustic but comfortable lodge in the heart of the park, where views of Denali are possible right from your own private cabin’s doorstep! Options each day are diverse, including photographing, hiking, paddling a canoe on Wonder Lake, biking, or fishing. An expert guide will accompany you and impart their knowledge of Alaska’s natural history.

Visit Camp Denali on our Alaskan Classic or Camp Denali Extension adventures.

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