The summer of 2020 it seemed everyone was stuck at home - vacations cancelled, "must see" places closed, social distancing a new vocabulary word for all of us. Lucky for us, our backyard is the largest state in the US and has some of the most pristine landscapes you can see anywhere. Mid-July we packed up our car and went out on a 5 day roadtrip to explore the place we call home. The greatest thing about road-tripping Alaska is we only have a couple highways - so no worries about getting lost!
We left Anchorage and headed out to Glennallen, the main stop where you make a choice of heading to Valdez, Tok, or Delta Junctions. And by main stop I mean a small 4-way intersection with a gas station (best Thai food you'll find), small grocery store, a couple businesses, and most likely someone you know. Because everyone one going anywhere on the western side of the state goes through Glennallen.
This trip, we decided to turn right and make our way to Kennicott Glacier Lodge
and then further south to Valdez. Kennicott Lodge is located with-in Wrangell-St Elias National Park which is America's largest national park. You can stay and relax, or get out to explore old Kennicott Copper Mine and all the history that goes along with it. After a couple days at the lodge, we got back on the road towards Valdez. The scenery is breathtaking, there are multiple opportunities to stop and see the Alaska Pipeline, and the end of the road brings you to a busy port town nestled amongst a backdrop of blue green waters and towering mountains.
Making a U-turn at the docks, we headed back out of town towards the Glennallen hub. Decisions, decisions at the 4-way stop - left, right, or keep going straight? We decided to head straight, continuing on to Delta Junction and the choice did not disappoint. Some of the most gorgeous scenery I have seen since moving here is on that stretch of road. Gulkana Glacier (pictured below) is worth the stop and you don't even have to leave the main road! This is has since become a favorite camping spot of ours, and epitomizes Alaska camping - first come, first serve, everyone is spaced far apart, and you have plenty of room to roam.
All in all - if you have the time, ditch the guided tours and staying in town. Purchase an Alaska Milepost (almost every retailer up here has them), grab your camera and binoculars, and pick a road less traveled.
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