Denali Unexplored
Basecamp hiking in Denali National Park
Destinations
Activity
Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Trekking, Backpacking, Hiking
Tour Type
Group tour
Accommodation
Camping
Physical Level
Strenuous
Season
June - September
Good to know
- Operated by Alaska Alpine Adventures, the leading Alaska adventure travel specialists.
- Max 8 people with guest to guide ratio 1:4 for safety and risk management.
- All camping and safety equipment provided (satellite phone, maps, GPS, and medical kit).
- Fully qualified expert mountaineering guides.
- 24/7 support.
Denali is America’s quintessential National Park. While most visitors experience the park via its main northern corridor, the Denali Park Road, the south side of the park sees little annual visitation and remains completely road-less and virtually unexplored. Accessing the park by bush plane from Talkeetna, Alaska, your first treat will be a phenomenal floatplane flight up the Ruth glacier near Denali. You’ll then spend 3-days and 3-nights camping and hiking Denali’s wild side from the comfort of a wilderness basecamp situated on the edge of the mighty Ruth Glacier, and only 17 miles from the summit of North America's highest peak. Your wilderness camp, near the shore of a small glacial lake, puts you right in the epicenter of the Alaska Range and in a place where you will feel humbled by the scale and majesty of Denali National Park.
With a light daypack, you’ll spend your days hiking miles of vast tundra and exploring the seemingly endless glaciers; returning to camp each evening for a delicious feast under the midnight sun. See Denali in a way that few ever have, and experience Denali Unexplored!
Itinerary
What you'll see and do
Day 1
Anchorage to Denali National Park
Upon arrival in Anchorage, you’ll be picked up bright and early for the short drive to Talkeena. From here you’ll board a floatplane and head to Denali National Park, one of the most stunning national parks in America. The scenic flight will include spectacular views of Ruth Glacier, the Great Gorge and Tokositna Glaciers.
Distance: 1.5 miles. Elevation gain: 500’
Day 2
Denali National Park
With near-constant daylight the options for adventure are almost unlimited! After an early breakfast you’ll head for the tundra hills above camp for views of the Backside Glacier, Ruth Glacier and, weather permitting, “The Great One,” 20,310 foot Denali itself. On the hike, you’ll 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. After a full day of exploration, you’ll tally the day’s wildlife and mountain peak sightings over a well-deserved meal.
Distance: 6-10 miles. Elevation gain: 1500-2500’
Day 3
Backside Glacier
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll grab your day-pack and head out again to make your way onto the Backside Glacier. While not at all technical, your trek on the ice will give you the chance to learn firsthand the glacial features of this frozen river 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.
Distance: 8.0 miles. Elevation gain: 2000'
Day 4
Talkeetna to Anchorage
Another breakfast and hot drink fuels your last few hours in the wilderness. After breaking camp, and moving the kit to the lakeshore, you’ll await your flight back to civilisation, returning to Talkeetna by early afternoon. Enjoy a short walk around town before boarding the Alaska Railroad's Denali Star train bound for Anchorage. This 3-hour trip will takes you through the beautiful Matanuska-Susitna Valley, through southcentral Alaska's boreal forests and small farms & homesteads, and finally to Anchorage by 8pm.
Distance: 1.5 miles, Elevation Gain: 500'
Accommodation
With literally thousands of nights camped in the Alaska wilderness in all seasons, Alaska Alpine Adventures have refined camp craft to a science. Expedition quality tents, included trekking poles, group-size tarp shelters, and only the best cooking equipment accompany each and every trip. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself waiting out a storm under the group tarp, out of the weather, enjoying hot drinks, sumptuous meals and excellent company, while your guide fastidiously tensions all of the tent guy lines!
What people are saying
Marc Trundle
17/07/2019
The trip was extremely well organized, planned and trip logistics carried out without a hitch! Meals far exceeded my expectations and guides were outstanding in every way.
Megan Ford
17/07/2019
Everything was fantastic. Absolutely no complaints – destinations, accommodations, activities were great. We couldn’t have asked for better guides.
Orly Stampfer
17/07/2019
This was an awesome trip! I wish we had signed up for a longer trip!
Upcoming departures
| Departing | Returning | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 2019 | 4 Jul 2019 | Full | Enquire now |
| 15 Jul 2019 | 18 Jul 2019 | Full | Enquire now |
| 29 Jul 2019 | 1 Aug 2019 | Full | Enquire now |
| 12 Aug 2019 | 15 Aug 2019 | Enquire now | |
| 26 Aug 2019 | 29 Aug 2019 | Enquire now | |
| 9 Sep 2019 | 12 Sep 2019 | Enquire now | |
| 15 Jun 2020 | 18 Jun 2020 | Enquire now | |
| 29 Jun 2020 | 2 Jul 2020 | Enquire now | |
| 13 Jul 2020 | 16 Jul 2020 | Enquire now | |
| 27 Jul 2020 | 30 Jul 2020 | Enquire now | |
| 10 Aug 2020 | 13 Aug 2020 | Enquire now | |
| 24 Aug 2020 | 27 Aug 2020 | Enquire now | |
| 7 Sep 2020 | 10 Sep 2020 | Enquire now | |
| More dates available | Enquire now | ||
Good to know
- Operated by Alaska Alpine Adventures, the leading Alaska adventure travel specialists.
- Max 8 people with guest to guide ratio 1:4 for safety and risk management.
- All camping and safety equipment provided (satellite phone, maps, GPS, and medical kit).
- Fully qualified expert mountaineering guides.
- 24/7 support.
Denali Unexplored
What's included & what's not included
 |
Accommodation |
Three nights camping. All equipment provided: expedition quality tents, group tarps, all cooking equipment & eating utensils, basecamp privy with toilet supplies. |
|
Guided excursions |
Professional guide service at a maximum 4:1 guest to guide ratio. |
|
All meals |
All meals from lunch on day one through lunch on the final day of the itinerary. Breakfasts include steel cut oats, scrambles, homemade granola and cereal, locally roasted coffee, assorted tea and cocoa. Lunches could include an Italian club torta sandwich, asiago bagels and Alaska lox, a curried tuna pita, crackers with genoa salami with a roasted red pepper goat cheese spread. Snack mixes and energy bars available throughout the day. Dinners could include pasta carbonara, Alaska reindeer rotini, chicken and chipotle enchiladas, and more. Vegetarian and special dietary requirements catered for on request. |
|
Ground transfers |
|
Days
4
From only
$1,999 pp
Why Horizon Guides?
Expert travel guides
Our guides are written by the leading experts in their destinations. We never take payment for positive coverage so you can count on us for reliable and impartial travel advice.
Authentic experiences
We curate exceptional trips in underrated places, organised by the very best tour operators who live and breathe their destinations and are passionate about authentic, responsible tourism.
No commitment to book
Share your travel plans and our partner tour operators will be happy to offer expert, personalised advice with no commitment or pressure to book.