Traverse Alaska - Private Hiking and Rafting Adventures

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Going into Denali National Park? Spend a day with us first!

August 16, 2018

Spend a day with us to prepare for your independent trip into Denali National Park!

Denali National Park is a unique and incredible wilderness, especially because it contains very few developed trails.  Hiking off-trail is an empowering experience, as the entire park is open to your curiosity and will to explore – it’s the true magic of Denali, and one of the many reasons why this place is so special.  However, hiking without the guidance of a trail can be intimidating. At Traverse Alaska, we can help you prepare for an Alaskan adventure in the Park, by empowering you with the necessary skills to make the most of your independent trip into the Denali backcountry.  

If you’re planning on riding the shuttle bus into Denali National Park with goals of day hiking—spend a day with us first.  We can not only demystify the somewhat complicated shuttle system for you, but can teach skills regarding wildlife safety, off-trail route finding, orienteering, weather expectations, and gear necessities.  Our guides have worked and played in Denali for years, and can teach you to read the landscape to understand how to decide where you’ll explore on your own. In addition, you’ll learn all about the geology, history, flora, and fauna of Denali, providing richer context to your adventure.  After joining us on a day trip, you’ll feel confident to step off the shuttle bus and explore Denali at your own pace.

If you are planning on backpacking in Denali overnight and need some direction, consider a preparation day with us prior to the start of your trip.  Backpacking in Denali is different from overnight trips in the Lower 48, due to the lack of trails and what we like to call “The Alaska Factor” (Thanks Joe Stock!). There are important considerations to take into account when planning a backpacking trip in Alaska, such as specific gear needs, safety tips in bear country, route possibilities, river crossings, and fickle weather patterns – and that’s before we start talking about the permit system in Denali!  Although the logistics can seem complicated, we’ll explain everything you need, provide gear lists in advance, clarify how to navigate getting a backcountry permit, and can work with you to ensure that your gear and your skills are ready for the journey. By booking a private day trip with us, you will have a personal guide dedicated to you to help with a “dry run” of your backpacking adventure, so that you feel equipped and comfortable in the Denali wilderness.

Contact us to start planning your adventures in Denali, or anywhere in the state!

To find out more about the backcountry permits in Denali National Park, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm

Filed Under: Blog

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Traverse Alaska Philosophy

We are dedicated to providing experiences that build meaningful connections with Alaska. Our team works diligently to immerse clients in educational exploration. Each and every adventure is personalized to challenge clients while discovering the last frontier at their own unique pace.

Traverse Alaska

Human Powered Adventure

Phone
(907) 903-0979

Email
info@traversealaska.com

Mailing Address
PO Box 90875 | Anchorage, AK 99509

Testimonials

Rebecca A., Delaware

"Jan ROCKS!! After taking the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Denali, we were met by Jan who had called us the day before to introduce herself and welcome us. Jan is Learn More

Read All Testimonials

Instagram

Client POV on a 4-day Traverse Alaska / Tonglen La Client POV on a 4-day Traverse Alaska / Tonglen Lake Lodge trip package: 
Watching the sunset over a glassy Tonglen Lake after an introductory walk in the entrance area of Denali National Park. Tonight the chef served delicious halibut, and we’re going to listen to some music later in the lodge. Tomorrow we’re going on a full day of adventure, hiking and river rafting with our team of private, local guides. After exploring we’ll enjoy the mountain views at Tonglen, and sip wine and tasty appetizers until dinner. The following day we’re going on a bus trip into the national park, and are planning on hiking on our own (thanks to our new skills from our guided hike) and soak up the views of the Alaska Range mountains. Our final day we plan on going for another walk with our private guide, before we get a private ride to Anchorage, for the next portion of our 2-week-long Alaska adventure. 
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Interested in seeing this client POV for yourself? Traverse Alaska and Tonglen Lake Lodge still have some availability for our 3, 4, 5, and custom itineraries this summer. Contact us to learn more.
Happy solstice from Denali! ✨ Tomorrow we shift Happy solstice from Denali! ✨ 
Tomorrow we shift toward the light.

Sunrise: 10:42am
Sunset: 3:06pm
4hrs 23min of daylight
2022 Summer highlights: August. ✨ Bush planes, h 2022 Summer highlights: August.
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Bush planes, hiking and backpacking in fall colors (and pouring rain), river rafting trips, and taking in midnight sunset views of Denali.
#traversealaska #privatepersonalcustom
2022 Summer highlights: July. ✨ Packrafting, ri 2022 Summer highlights: July. 
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Packrafting, river rafting, hiking in the alpine and the ice, having fun with Iditarod champions, and enjoying the warmest month of the year with a big group of dall sheep rams. 
#traversealaska #privatepersonalcustom
2022 Summer highlights: June. ✨ Whales breachin 2022 Summer highlights: June. 
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Whales breaching, backcountry backpacking trips, day hiking, whitewater rafting, overnight packrafting trips, and teaching and learning with the next generation of naturalists. 
#traversealaska #privatepersonalcustom
More highlights from May of this summer—packraft More highlights from May of this summer—packrafting courses! For the fourth year, we hosted @lucmehl / @swiftwater_safety_institute for another Packraft-specific Swiftwater Rescue Training in Denali. These classes teach us important skills that are vital for backcountry travel, and help build a #cultureofsafety for our river community in Denali. 
🌊
Packrafts have been a part of Traverse Alaska since we started in 2013, and is one of the main reasons why this adventure business was even created. Excited for more packrafting classes and adventures next year!
#traversealaska #thisispackrafting #swiftwaterrescue

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