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behind the wheel of a 4WD Jeep Wrangler
with Alaska Travel Adventures for
an-off-the-beaten-path guided exploration
into the backcountry adjacent to Denali
National Park, an area rich in gold
- mining history, wildlife, and scenic
wonders.
Your destination is the Stampede
Road.
Once called the Stampede Trail, and not shown on most
Alaska maps, this road was carved out of the wilderness
by early miners working the area’s Kantishna
gold fields and antimony mine. The Stampede Road gained
notoriety more recently when John Krakauer’s
best-selling book, Into The Wild, was published. This
is the very same road that young Christopher McCandless,
the subject of the book, took to enter the wild, but
never returned.
Once you hit Stampede Road, which
cuts across the wide expanse of rolling
tundra, the tour usually has the road
to itself. While the first few miles
are paved, beyond this point your guide
will lead you along some very primitive
roadway, providing you with plenty
of bumps and dips and sways. The last
three miles are especially rugged,
where only four-wheel drive will do.
Your Jeep Wrangler carries four guests,
and there will be ample opportunity
to switch drivers so everyone can enjoy
the thrill of maneuvering along this
wilderness road.
Two miles before the turnaround point,
the tour stops for short walk to a
spectacular view of the McKinley foothills.
Then it’s on to camp, where your
cook will greet you with hot coffee,
stew, and fry bread with powered sugar
and jam. Learn more about life in the
wilderness as you relax around the
campfire. Examine a well-worn dog sled,
animal pelts, and a gold miner’s
sluice box.
Interactive two-way radios allow
your guide to explain the area’s rich
history, point out interesting sights
along the way, and provide tips on
road conditions ahead. Throughout the
trip, you’ll be able to
ask the guide questions and share the
experience with your fellow passengers.
Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife
- moose and eagles are often seen in
the vicinity, and sometimes caribou
and bears. On a clear day you may have
the opportunity to see Mt. McKinley
as well.
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