Unless you rent a floatplane and bush pilot to see Alaska, nothing can beat the opportunities offered by riding the tracks of the Alaska Railroad. With nearly 500 miles of steel stretching from the ancient city of Seward in the south-central Kenai Peninsula to the gold rush outpost of Fairbanks, the views are spectacular and the side trips spine tingling!
Riding the entire rail system takes visitors through diverse sections of Alaska that are both rugged and breathtakingly beautiful. Gorgeous rivers, waterfalls, and tiny tributaries are often seen from a distance or as sheer rock cliffs straight below the train tracks. Moose, black and grizzly bears, Dall sheep, mountain goats, eagles, and many other wildlife species can be viewed from the comfortable seat of your train car.
The Denali Star operates daily between Anchorage and Fairbanks with stops at Talkeetna and Denali. Along the route, this train goes through the Chugach National Forest, Denali National Park, and Denali State Park. When the weather is clear, fantastic views of Mt. McKinley can be seen from Talkeetna to Denali, and you will pass over famous Hurricane Gulch with its 918 foot long bridge that is 296 feet above the Chulitna River. Soon after leaving Anchorage, the train follows the Knik Arm and through Sarah Palin’s hometown of Wasilla. This trip covers 350 miles and takes 12 hours, including the stops.