Take the road less traveled

By CASEY RESSLER

Mat-Su CVB

MAT-SU — Visitors and residents wanting to emulate Robert Frost and take the road less traveled should load up their camping gear and vehicles and head to one of Alaska’s hidden gems, the Denali Highway.

The 134-mile Denali Highway stretches from Cantwell on the west side to Paxson on the east side, connecting the Parks Highway and the Richardson Highway. More than 100 miles of the highway is unpaved, making it slow going, but well worth the time commitment.

The Denali Highway is true Alaska wilderness, the exact reason many come to the Last Frontier to visit in the first place. The odds are good you’ll see moose, caribou, black and grizzly bear and wolves. Make sure you have your camera and binoculars at the ready during the drive, because each bend is a new surprise for wildlife viewers.

The drive is also a birder’s paradise, with more than 100 species to be found, including the Smith’s longspur, arctic warblers and trumpeter swan. The scenery is spectacular and a haven for animals of all shapes and sizes.

Adventure-seekers will also find the Denali Highway a treasure. Dozens of roadside pull-outs and campsites span the highway, giving visitors ample opportunity to explore the area by mountain bike or extended hikes into the true backcountry of Alaska. Streams crisscross the landscape, and the grayling fishing can be phenomenal using the simplest of fly-fishing gear.

The Denali Highway opened in 1857 and it was, at the time, the only link to Denali National Park until the Parks Highway opened in 1972. From Cantwell, the first three miles are paved, and the final 21 miles heading to Paxson are paved as well. Because so much of the highway is gravel, rental car companies and RV companies discourage or prohibit renters from using the highway. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll tear up your personal vehicle, however. The road is easy to navigate and not nearly as treacherous as some may lead you to believe.

The Denali Highway is only open mid-May through mid-September. While a majority of the terrain is flat or low, rolling hills, the highway does have the second highest pass in the state, at 4,086 feet of elevation.

For more information, including itinerary ideas, interested people can visit the Mat-Su CVB’s Web site at alaskavisit.com.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the Mat-Su CVB’s marketing and communications manager.