Denali National Park, Denali Tour bus

Denali National Park is about the size of New Hampshire and it has one road going through it. No access is allowed on this road after the first 13 miles except for Denali tour busses and specially permitted vehicles. As such, the area is pristinely devoid of human interference, and the wildlife may be quite close to the road. Denali tours take between 6-12 hours round trip depending on the season. Take the simpler Denali tour bus instead of the more expensive one.

I'll bet you see a moose on your bus ride through Denali National Park.  Like carribou, they seem to be more likely to show themselves towards the beginning of the tour.

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The willow ptarmigan is the official state bird of Alaska (the unofficial state bird is the mosquito).  They hang out in willow bushes, and are easy to spot from the Denali tour bus.  This one is in his courtship plumage.  In winter they will turn all white, and in summer they will turn mostly brown.

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A female carribou checks the air.  The difference between a carribou and a reindeer is that a reindeer has a job.  Seriously, carribou are called reindeer if they are working or if they are part of a farm.

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A male carribou checks out our bus.  The difference between a carribou and a reindeer is that a reindeer has a job.  Seriously, carribou are called reindeer if they are working or if they are part of a farm.

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A Denali dall sheep takes a quick break from grazing to see who is watching him.  Male dall sheep hang out together while the females take care of the young.  They spread out to provide a more effective predator warning system.

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2 dall sheep on a hill overlook a Denali tour bus.

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A male dall sheep grazes.  Male dall sheep hang out together while the females take care of the young.  They spread out to provide a more effective predator warning system.

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A dall sheep peeks over the hill on our return trip through Denali National Park.

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A dall sheep peeks over the hill on our return trip through Denali National Park.

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This was the best grizzly bear sighting we had all day.  Nothing compared to the last trip where a female and her cubs came right up to the bus (see www.micktravels.com/alaska/denali)

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The end of the line this early in the season is Toklat.  There you can try on various kinds of antlers shed by animals during a previous season.  They are all very heavy.

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A Denali tour bus heads back towards the ranger station after leaving Toklat.

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This picture gives you a sense on how close these crazy dall sheep will get to a cliff face.

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We saw these dall sheep near polychrome pass.  They were so close to the road and so docile, that it seemed like I could have just gotten off the bus, walked up to one of them, and started riding him.  Of course I didn't do that.

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We saw these dall sheep near polychrome pass.  They were so close to the road and so docile, that it seemed like I could have just gotten off the bus, walked up to one of them, and started riding him.  Of course I didn't do that.

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We saw these dall sheep near polychrome pass.  They were so close to the road and so docile, that it seemed like I could have just gotten off the bus, walked up to one of them, and started riding him.  Of course I didn't do that.

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In late May the ice hasn't fully melted yet.  This was quite a floe.

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Bicycling seems like a great way to see Denali National Park.  As long as you can take the hills.  And as long as you can find a bike somewhere.

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