Alaska - A Bucket List Destination

This post is for everyone…

If you haven’t been to Alaska and have no idea how beautifully rugged it is, then read keep reading. This post is for everyone and not just those on two wheels. You’ll understand why I may not log a lot of miles every day when you see how many incredible photo opportunities these highways present.

If you read my About page, there’s a short blurb that explains my affinity for the North. Considering that I’ve never been to Alaska before, I thought why not expand my geographical bubble with some controlled misadventure and best of all, return to the scene of the crime where my motorcycling journey all began.

In this post, I thought that I'd share some of the bucket list destinations that I’ve discovered for not only two wheeled adventurers but also our four wheeled counterparts.

Let’s start at the beginning…

Based on my research to date, most people touring Alaska opt for the traditional ALCAN Highway route which stretches 2,200 kilometres from Dawson Creek, BC to Delta Junction, AK. This makes sense as most riders are coming from somewhere further south and there’s not many other routes apart from the Stewart Cassiar Highway. Keep in mind, if you stay on that everyman’s road, you’re going to miss some highly recommended scenic drives. This is again one of my reasons for taking the ferry from Bellingham, WA to Haines, AK.

Skagway to Whitehorse

This route was recommended to me by some seasoned Alaskan locals. The journey is 109 miles on the Klondike Highway from the port city of Skagway and snakes its way through the Coastal Mountain Range to Whitehorse, YT. When I get off the boat In Haines, AK, this is where I’ll have to ferry across to Skagway and then start my first leg to Whitehorse.

Mendenhall Glacier

This stop is not on the road and is only accessible from a cruise ship or the Alaskan Ferry when they dock in Juneau, AK. Still undecided, I may hop off the ferry in Juneau as I’m en-route to Skagway so that I can do the tourist thing and see the sights in Alaska’s capital. My intention is to spend the night and kill some time by driving the very limited number of roads surrounding Juneau. One of these roads ends at the Mendenhall Glacier visitor center and it passes two of Alaska’s 49 Starbucks locations. Just sayin’…

Haines To Haines Junction

This is an equivalent route to the Klondike Highway that will bypass Whitehorse and get you to the ALCAN that much faster. It meanders through the Coastal Mountain Range with stunning views. My intention is to end the trip on this highway as I make my way back to Haines for the ferry home to Vancouver.

Kluane Lake

Kluane Lake and Destruction Bay are located midway between Haines Junction and the AK-YT border. At this point in the trip, the mountains are a little farther away from the road and the frost heaves on the highway are becoming more abundant. The distance between refueling points is also now increasing. I’m excited to cross the bridge over the now dried up river…

Richardson Highway

Lots of amazing scenery on this highway! This is a must see for my trip. The Richardson Highway stretches from Fairbanks south to Valdez, but in my non-expert opinion, the good stuff is closer to Valdez on the southern half of the road. I’m not even going to write anything here because the pictures speak for themselves. There will be even be a little canyon chasing just north of Valdez in the Keystone Canyon.

Glenn Highway

This stretch of road follows the mountains of the Alaska Range from Glenallen to Anchorage. Again, absolutely stunning scenery. You can also stop halfway and just off the road will be the Matanuska Glacier.

If you want to gain some elevation and actually get into the mountains, you can follow a paved road to Hatcher Pass which is the site of a former gold mine. In the Mat-Su Valley of the Talkeetna Mountains, you’ll be above the tree line in the sub-alpine. Yes, you can drive to 3,500 feet above sea level on a two lane paved road.

The Kenai Peninsula

South of Anchorage lies the Kenai Peninsula. This is possibly going to be the highlight of the trip. Leaving Anchorage, the Seward Highway is squeezed between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. If you’re in awe as you’re driving this stretch and you have five or more vehicles behind you, it’s an enforceable law that you have to pull over and let others pass. It must happen quite a bit.

In Kenai Fjords National Park, there is an area known as the The Spires in Resurrection Bay. This area is only accessible by boat from Seward AK, and as far as I’m concerned this is an absolute must see. The landscape is reminiscent of the Hallelujah Mountains from the movie Avatar. All the major boat tours pass by these pinnacles and depending on the tour length, you’ll also visit some very large glaciers and be able to watch them calf (break apart and fall into the ocean).

Denali National Park

What’s a trip to Alaska without stopping to see Denali? This is the highest peak in North America at 20,000 feet. I’m getting the distinct impression that this will be an overcrowded tourist trap and I won’t be spending too much time here. I do have to tick this box though. Just south of the range is the turnoff to the Denali Highway which stretches 220 kilometers east from Cantwell AK to Paxson AK. The highway is largely dirt, but it’s apparently the nice manicured sort of dirt that even I could handle!

As you can see, Alaska offers offers an abundance of rugged, isolated beauty that is perfect to lose yourself in from the open road. Here’s hoping that the clouds stay way while I’m riding so that I can actually see these vistas!

Stay tuned for the next post - I’ve decided on exact routes and the ferry is booked!

All the best!

Paul