I have been holding a winning lottery ticket for years, and I had no idea. That is how I felt last week when I finally got around to driving the first 70 miles of the Denali Highway in interior Alaska. I have been spending the summer in Alaska for 10 years and yet had never been past mile 18, even though the road begins a mere 20 miles from my house. I’d been missing out.

I don’t want you to suffer the same fate. If you ever find yourself in Alaska, you must make this drive. I am going to give you a virtual tour of the first half of the road, from Cantwell to the Susitna River bridge, so that you will hopefully be inspired to go. This photo tour will be in black and white, so that you will feel a sense of nostalgia for a place you’ve never been.

Denali Highway Photo Tour

Note: miles are listed from Cantwell on the west end of the road.

Mile 4.5 to 11 – Denali Views

Shortly after turning onto the Denali Highway, you can get views of the highest peak in North America. The mountain rises four miles into the sky and is the highest mountain from base to summit in the world. It is truly spectacular and seeing it never gets old.

Mile 8 – Photogenic Lake

There are lakes and ponds all along the Denali Highway, but the large lake eight miles in is the first stunner. Backed by polychromatic mountains and frequented by local fishermen, this is one of my favorite spots.

Mile 10 – Marshland

Ten miles down the road, there is a marshy area frequented by ducks, geese, otters and trumpeter swans. This is also the area where I almost got shot because I rode my bike down a side trail past a no trespassing sign. That is a mistake I will never make again.

Mile 18 – Nenana River

At mile 18, the road pulls up to the Nenana River and then climbs a hill high above the river lands. This is a frustrating area for a photographer because there are no great view points – most photo ops are obscured by brush or trees. Although hard to take a photo, the views are still great.

Mile 30 – Brushkana River

After driving through taiga for about 12 miles, the road reaches the Brushkana River and campground. This is a great spot for fly fishing, hiking or to take a break from the road with a picnic.

 

Miles 30 – 49.5 – Awesomeness

For the next 15 miles, the road travels atop a ridge and offers spectacular views of the mighty Alaska Range across the tundra. In this area, there are numerous lakes and pullouts which make great places to take photos or take a break.

Mile 49.5 – Alaska Range Viewpoint

On the north side of the road is an unmarked trailhead that after a moderate, 1/4 mile hike offers sweeping 360-degree views of mountains, glaciers, the Susitna River and dozens of mountain lakes. Note: you may want some insect repellent. The mosquitoes have been waiting patiently for you.

Mile 52 – Gracious House

After fifty-miles of wilderness, suddenly there is a tiny bit of civilization at the Gracious House Lodge. They have pies, hamburgers, espresso and beer. Note: there is a lot of libertarian propaganda in the bar, which makes sense, because it is the Middle of Nowhere, Alaska. Obama would not feel welcome.

Mile 55.5 – The Susitna River

I read once that thousands of bridges in America are vulnerable to collapse. I thought about this midway across the precarious looking Susitna River bridge. The bridge, which is closed over half the year and resides halfway down a forgotten Alaskan highway, probably doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

Aside from the totally rational fear of bridge collapse, this area is really beautiful and is one of the highlights of the drive. A friendly local told me that caribou can be seen swimming across the river during migration season. Now that would be cool to see!

Miles 60 – 70 – More Awesome Views

At this point, I stopped and ate my lunch on the side of the road and took in the awesome views back towards the Susitna River. The road passes several large lakes, then climbs up to offer sweeping vistas of the mountains to the south. It was an appropriate spot for me to turn around – it had taken me over four hours to drive to that point, but I knew right away I’d be back as soon as possible.

 

Notes

Highway is a generous term for the 135 mile stretch of road. It consists mainly of hard-packed earth, potholes and washboard, kind of like my abs. It is a rough drive and in a small car like mine, (featured above – I know you are jealous of my awesome car) it is only possible to go between 25 – 45 mph. It is a slow go, but worth it.

Before you drive, download the map from the Bureau of Land Management which operates several of the parks along the road.

The road is closed during the winter, reopening sometime in May. There are a few lodges on the road, but you should prepare to be self-sufficient. Absolutely make sure you have a spare tire and full camera batteries.

And whatever you do, don’t go down a side road with a sign that says “No Trespassing.” Trust me on that one.

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Have you ever been down the Denali Highway? 

What is the most spectacular road you’ve driven? 

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