The Ultimate Adventurer's Guide to Alaska's National Parks
- rebeccaf107
- Aug 8, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 3
Alaska is the ultimate playground for the explorer at heart.
If glaciers crashing into icy waters, brown bears fishing for salmon, and hiking where your only company is a herd of caribou sounds like your kind of trip, you’re in the right place.
With the right planning, Alaska is less of a destination and more of a choose-your-own-adventure novel—just waiting for you to turn the page.
With 13 national parks and preserves—some accessible only by bush plane or boat—Alaska invites you to go deeper.
Skip the crowds, embrace the unexpected, and experience the raw beauty of the Last Frontier on a small expedition cruise, boutique ship, or an active small group adventure.
In this guide to Alaska's National Parks, let's take a look at what each park offers and how best to visit.
Denali National Park and Preserve
North America’s tallest peak draws travelers from around the world—but did you know only about 30% of visitors actually see Denali?
Weather plays hard to get, but even if the mountain hides, the surrounding tundra, wildlife, and epic wilderness will leave you breathless.
This park isn’t on any expedition cruise itinerary—but it pairs beautifully with one as a pre- or post-trip.
Ride the Alaska Railroad, stay in a cozy lodge in Talkeetna, and explore the park by guided vehicle tour, photo safari, or hike.
Spot the "Big Five" (grizzly, moose, wolf, Dall sheep, caribou) and let local guides add depth with stories of Alaska Native culture.
Best Access: Small group trips or independent add-ons. Fly into Anchorage or Fairbanks.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Picture glaciers tumbling into icy bays while sea otters drift by.
That’s Kenai Fjords.
Accessible from Seward, this coastal park delivers massive landscapes and marine wildlife with a splash of adventure.
You can kayak past tidewater glaciers, hike Exit Glacier, or take a wildlife cruise.
Expedition cruises and small luxury ships bring you even closer, with zodiacs, expert naturalists, and hot tub views of breaching humpbacks.
Best Access: Expedition cruises, small group adventures, or day trips from Seward.
Glacier Bay National Park
Most travelers see Glacier Bay from the deck of a large cruise ship—but you can go much deeper.
Expedition and boutique cruises access hidden fjords and wild coastlines, allowing you to kayak past seals, hike with a naturalist, and witness a glacier calving up close.
With very limited land access, a small ship is your gateway to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bonus: learn about the traditions of the Huna Tlingit, the land’s original stewards.
Best Access: Expedition cruises, small luxury ships, select small group adventures.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Bigger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Switzerland combined, Wrangell-St. Elias is untamed Alaska.
It’s massive, raw, and gloriously remote—perfect for the traveler craving solitude, scale, and silence.
Fly over volcanic peaks.
Land near a century-old copper mine.
Hike glaciers, visit the quirky town of McCarthy, and toast your day with homemade pie and glacier views.
Best Access: Small group active trips, or as a fly-in extension to cruise itineraries.
Katmai & Lake Clark National Parks
This is bear country—and the bears are the stars.
Floatplane into Katmai or Lake Clark and find yourself in the middle of a BBC documentary.
Watch brown bears snatch salmon mid-leap, then return to your rustic lodge for a glass of wine under Alaska’s midnight sun.
These parks aren’t on cruise routes, but they shine in small group itineraries and custom fly-in adventures.
Best Access: Guided small group trips or private lodge stays.
The Arctic Parks: Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, Noatak, and More
No roads.
No signs.
No crowds.
Alaska’s northern parks offer the kind of wilderness most people only dream about.
You’ll need a bush plane, a seasoned guide, and a spirit of adventure.
The reward?
Arctic rivers, caribou migrations, golden tundra, and silence like you’ve never heard.
Best Access: Custom logistics with a skilled travel advisor and local outfitters.
Bonus: National Historic Parks
Sitka National Historical Park – Rich in Native Tlingit and Russian history, with trails, totem poles, and easy port access.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park – Step into gold rush history in Skagway, with restored buildings and trails. Both are popular on Inside Passage cruises.
You Have the Guide to Alaska's National Parks.
So, Which Will You Choose?
Expedition and Small Luxury Cruises are ideal for marine parks like Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords. Think kayaking, zodiacs, and quiet coves—with gourmet meals and expert guides.
Small Group Active Travel takes you deeper inland—into Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, and beyond. You’ll hike, bike, and paddle with like-minded explorers.
Private or Custom Travel unlocks the most remote parks—the Arctic, Katmai, Lake Clark. Expect floatplanes, custom lodges, and brag-worthy stories.
Plan with Purpose (and a Little Help)
You don’t have to piece together Alaska on your own. I’ll help you match your travel style to the right itinerary—whether you’re cruising past glaciers or watching bears from a remote lodge.
Let’s plan something unforgettable.
Ready to Explore What Comes Next?
If you’re dreaming of you adventure exploring Alaska, your journey begins with a conversation.
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Join Rebecca’s Travel Talk for curated destination stories, seasonal insights, and the occasional handpicked opportunity—shared with intention, not noise.
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About Milestones & Mondays Travel
Milestones & Mondays Travel is a boutique travel planning studio specializing in immersive, smaller-scale travel experiences including expedition cruises, small premium and luxury cruises, river cruises, and small group active adventures. Planning focuses on thoughtful pacing, meaningful experiences, and getting away from the crowds and deeper into the destination.
Learn more at www.MilestonesMondays.com or explore current travel ideas on the Featured Trips page.
Rebecca Fitzpatrick-Yancey Founder, Milestones & Mondays Travel
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