p.1 #1 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
My wife and I will be heading to Alaska this summer from our home in Cody Wyoming leaving June 28th and returning sometime in early October. We'll be traveling in our Mercedes overlanding adventure van, show below which can pretty much handle anything thrown at it. I'm not an Alaskan newbie worked as a summer fishing guide in a wilderness lodge in Lake Clark NP while in college and have been leading bear, eagle and northern light photo tours for many years. So our first stop will be Glacier N.P. then to Waterton Lakes NP. I want to do the unpaved road from Crowsnest Pass to Kananaskis but don't have any info on it. Go to Banff & Jasper over to Prince George and then up the Cassiar Highway stopping at Hyder AK for sure. We will have plenty of time to explore in AK but I do plan on driving the Dalton Highway in mid-August up to Deadhorse and back down working wildlife (musk ox, caribou, grizz etc) along with landscapes and hopefully some aurora. Should get to Denali around Sept 1st and plan to spend a week or two there before driving down the Alaska Highway home. I have a huge desire to photograph Stone Sheep along the way. Any tips on them would be greatly appreciated.
I'll be bringing a full photo kit. Canon R3 and R5 and lenses ranging from 11mm to 800mm. So any landscape and wildlife suggestions you have would be great. You can see my work at www.franzfoto.com and at my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/DRFNaturePrints?ref=dashboard-header
If you prefer to respond via PM that would be great also.
p.1 #2 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
Hi Robert,
My wife an I are heading to Alaska in September and our trip will be a few weeks. I've been before and she has not and what motivated her to go is the solar maximum we are in and the darker skies of September. The end of your trip will be the best for them. We are still organizing so I can't say when we will be in different locations. If we cross paths that would be great. We can discuss this via PM as our trips get closer. I've been watching a Youtube channel of a couple that's done multi month trip in Alaska using a school bus converted into a camper. The channel is https://www.youtube.com/@ArtWeThereYet They will give you a very good idea of what the driving is like and what you can see.
p.1 #3 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
morris wrote:
Hi Robert,
My wife an I are heading to Alaska in September and our trip will be a few weeks. I've been before and she has not and what motivated her to go is the solar maximum we are in and the darker skies of September. The end of your trip will be the best for them. We are still organizing so I can't say when we will be in different locations. If we cross paths that would be great. We can discuss this via PM as our trips get closer. I've been watching a Youtube channel of a couple that's done multi month trip in Alaska using a school bus converted into a camper. The channel is https://www.youtube.com/@ArtWeThereYet They will give you a very good idea of what the driving is like and what you can see.
p.1 #5 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
What a great trip you've got planned! I've been to AK four times with varying timelines of 12 to 17 days and often wished I could have extended my visits to three months such as what you've planned. I can't get enough of that place.
You may already have it on your itinerary but I would strongly encourage you to visit the Old Denali Highway between Paxson and Cantwell. Drive it from the east to west so Denali would always be in front of you if the clouds clear. We saw several moose and a number of Caribou on this road. The later in the year you're on this highway the better chances of seeing wildlife.
On our last visit we drove past Wrangell - St. Elias NP (matter of not having enough time) and when we return I'd like to give that one more time. If you are in the area and stop at Glenallen for fuel go inside and load up on their fresh baked pecan cinnamon buns!
Brooks Falls...everyone ought to see it once in their life. We took a day flight out of Anchorage to King Salmon and a second flight to Naknek Lake. There are tour companies advertising day tours but we went on our own and saw pretty much the same things you might see on a tour...and saved a bunch of $$. The park service gives a good course on bear safety before they let you walk around the trails and self-guided tours are easy. Salmon runs and bear viewing are seasonally dependent so plan accordingly. Worth the time though!
I did a quick search for Stone Sheep / Photography and came up with Muncho Lake Provincial Park in British Columbia. There are also Wood's Bison along the road there at times. You might have better luck seeing Stone's in the fall (pre-rut?) on your way back south.
p.1 #6 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
Al Trujillo wrote:
What a great trip you've got planned! I've been to AK four times with varying timelines of 12 to 17 days and often wished I could have extended my visits to three months such as what you've planned. I can't get enough of that place.
You may already have it on your itinerary but I would strongly encourage you to visit the Old Denali Highway between Paxson and Cantwell. Drive it from the east to west so Denali would always be in front of you if the clouds clear. We saw several moose and a number of Caribou on this road. The later in the year you're on this highway the better chances of seeing wildlife.
On our last visit we drove past Wrangell - St. Elias NP (matter of not having enough time) and when we return I'd like to give that one more time. If you are in the area and stop at Glenallen for fuel go inside and load up on their fresh baked pecan cinnamon buns!
Brooks Falls...everyone ought to see it once in their life. We took a day flight out of Anchorage to King Salmon and a second flight to Naknek Lake. There are tour companies advertising day tours but we went on our own and saw pretty much the same things you might see on a tour...and saved a bunch of $$. The park service gives a good course on bear safety before they let you walk around the trails and self-guided tours are easy. Salmon runs and bear viewing are seasonally dependent so plan accordingly. Worth the time though!
I did a quick search for Stone Sheep / Photography and came up with Muncho Lake Provincial Park in British Columbia. There are also Wood's Bison along the road there at times. You might have better luck seeing Stone's in the fall (pre-rut?) on your way back south.
Thanks for the info Al. Been to Brooks Falls a number of times.... Was considering the old Denali highway for sure... Yes have Muncho Lake and Stone Mtn Provencial Park on the list. Hoping for some 1st hand info on those areasl in mid to late Sept.
p.1 #7 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
drobertfranz wrote:
Thanks for the info Al. Been to Brooks Falls a number of times.... Was considering the old Denali highway for sure... Yes have Muncho Lake and Stone Mtn Provencial Park on the list. Hoping for some 1st hand info on those areasl in mid to late Sept.
Does the Cody Museum still have the Chadwick Stone Ram mount? I saw it in 1992 and still remember just how remarkable it was.
p.1 #11 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
Dawson City is worth a stop. It will take you off the Alaska Highway but from Dawson you can travel on the Top of the World Highway (a dirt road but reasonably well maintained) to Chicken, Alaska. Dawson the site of a gold rush and Dredge Number 4 is an impressive machine that is now a National Historic Site - well worth a visit.
Tombstone Territorial Park is also an incredible place with abundant wildlife. It is accessed along the Dempster Highway.
p.1 #12 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
Dawson City is worth a stop. It will take you off the Alaska Highway but from Dawson you can travel on the Top of the World Highway (a dirt road but reasonably well maintained) to Chicken, Alaska. Dawson the site of a gold rush and Dredge Number 4 is an impressive machine that is now a National Historic Site - well worth a visit.
Tombstone Territorial Park is also an incredible place with abundant wildlife. It is accessed along the Dempster Highway.
p.1 #13 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
I think it's been years since I've visited this sub-forum, but your post definitely caught my eye. Congratulations on getting to do this trip! My plans and dates are pretty much identical to yours, so I'll have to be on the lookout for a neighboring Wyoming plate up there. I did the same thing in '24 spending all summer there. Scores of pics and videos are but a couple clicks away. I'm a landscaper only unless an animal happens by, so I don't have any answers for the sheep you seek. I'm glad you're going to do the Dalton. It is so good that I had to do it twice. I hope you're planning for the Dempster as well. That would be a real shame to miss since you have all that time and going to be up there anyway. It is exceptional. It sounds like you're open to it and other suggestions. Obviously, there isn't much for roads in Yukon, or Alaska for that matter, so there isn't much to suggest that wouldn't be a surprise. The north and south Canol roads are great, though the Ross River ferry for the north road is time sensitive. For reference, it was going to shut down for the season on October 8 in 2024.
If the Dempster or Canol roads end up being of interest, it was my preference from the outset to cross into Yukon the first week of September, which is when that northern border crossing closes, give or take. Otherwise, I think it's a 6-hour drive to from Whitehorse to Dawson, only to backtrack south again later.
As far as the road into Kananaskis, I assume you're referring to Forestry Trunk Road 40 north out of Coleman, right? I did that in 2005. Just an easy passenger car road. I didn't get any good shots from there with the weather I had on that day, but would you believe I do have some snapshots for you here? That one and the following 10 until the paved parking lot pic are from along there.
My tip: I carry one all the time, but if you don't, I would certainly suggest a bug zapper racquet for when mosquitoes get inside. I don't think there's an easier or cleaner way to get rid of them. I like the good quality Black Flag ones found at Lowe's.
Oh, and be sure to familiarize yourself with Stompin' Tom Connors' Long Gone to the Yukon song to get further amped up and take it with you!
p.1 #15 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
One of the problems with AK is that almost all of the roads are in the flattest, less photogenic parts of the state. If you have a drone, bring it. AK is one of the few places you can fly it, and it makes a difference. If you don't own one buy one, just make sure it has some kind of telephoto capability (and avoid the 3S if possible, it's IQ kind of sucks, lots of purple fringing). Would also look into hiring a small plane to take you over the wild country.
p.1 #16 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
Alan Milnes wrote:
Dawson City is worth a stop. It will take you off the Alaska Highway but from Dawson you can travel on the Top of the World Highway (a dirt road but reasonably well maintained) to Chicken, Alaska. Dawson the site of a gold rush and Dredge Number 4 is an impressive machine that is now a National Historic Site - well worth a visit.
Tombstone Territorial Park is also an incredible place with abundant wildlife. It is accessed along the Dempster Highway.
I am looking forward to your photos!
Alan
Thanks Alan...Just back from opening weekend in Yellowstone. What type of wildlife do you see in Tombstone and how far up the Dempster is it?
p.1 #19 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
I'm so Jelly...Jealous...What a fun trip and great ride. I have been looking at those vans for a while now.
There is so much to see up in Alaska, I have never driven there from the lower 48 but have always wanted to. Say hi to Butch at Gracious House Lodge for me, I went flying with him last time I was up there. Have fun, drive safe and take lots of pictures. Hopefully you got a starlink to take with you to stay updated with the world.
p.1 #20 · Heading to Alaska for the summer (bucket list trip)
Bill Gass wrote:
I'm so Jelly...Jealous...What a fun trip and great ride. I have been looking at those vans for a while now.
There is so much to see up in Alaska, I have never driven there from the lower 48 but have always wanted to. Say hi to Butch at Gracious House Lodge for me, I went flying with him last time I was up there. Have fun, drive safe and take lots of pictures. Hopefully you got a starlink to take with you to stay updated with the world.
Thanks Bill will do! Have had the Starlink for a while now...........
