Denali Highway Cycling Tour
Spend 5 days on a journey along one of the most spectacular cycling routes in the United States.
Cost: $2995 per person
Duration: 5 days, 4 nights
Activity Level: Moderate
Escape into Alaska’s wild beauty on a 5-day adventure along the remote Denali Highway.
What started as the first road accessing Denali National Park, the Denali Highway was replaced in 1971 by a more direct route for the over 600,000 annual park visitors. As an unintended benefit, the diversion left the 135-mile Denali Highway as one of the most magnificent and lonely byways in Alaska.
With the Alaska Range as our backdrop and a landscape dotted by flowing rivers, open tundra, and ancient archaeological sites, we’ll spend an unforgettable 5 days riding the Denali Highway. Our days will be spent on a journey through miles of unconstrained and spectacular wilderness traveling from one quintessentially quaint Alaska lodge to another. Our nights will be spent sharing stories from the road over a hearty meal and an ice-cold beverage. By the end of our journey, we’ll have a deep understanding of one of the most rugged yet beautiful places on earth.
Note: This trip travels exclusively on the Denali Highway, which is not part of the Parks Highway leading to Denali National Park. As such, we will not be inside Denali National Park during our cycling journey.
Trip Highlights
- Ride the 135-mile Denali Highway from Paxson, AK to Cantwell, AK
- Travel through open tundra with endless views of peaks, glaciers, and rivers
- Explore the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District
- Learn about the rich and complicated human history of the Denali region
- Keep an eye out for wildlife including bear, moose, marmot, and numerous bird species
- Enjoy a stop at the Denali National Park Visitor Center
Cost: $2995 / person
- $500 deposit due at time of reservation.
- Remaining balance due 60 days prior to departure.
What’s Included
- Four nights accommodations*
- All meals as noted in the daily itinerary
- All gratuities related to services that support the itinerary, other than lead and assistant guide
- Cycling equipment
- Support vehicle
*Note = Price is based on double occupancy. Please inquire for details if you prefer a single room.
What’s Not Included
- Transportation to and from Fairbanks, AK
- Optional guide gratuity
Trip Details
Arrival | Fairbanks, AK. Options include flights, train, or bus transport from Anchorage. Tour departs from Pikes Waterfront Lodge.
Departure | Fairbanks, AK. Options include flights, train, or bus transport from Anchorage. Guests can opt to depart from the group tour at the Denali NP Visitor Center to continue into the park independently.
Capacity |Tour minimum is 4, maximum is 12
Bikes | Salsa Journeyer included with your choice of drop bars or flat bars. Each bike is equipped with a light weight rear rack and trunk bag for gear storage while riding. You are also welcome to bring your own bike. We can assist with assembly and post-trip boxing.
Vehicle Support | A 15 passenger van will be available each day for tour support and to transport gear.
Other Equipment | Helmets available and bike bags available.
Tour Equipment
Itinerary
Day 1
Enjoy a warm-up ride along the historic Richardson Highway
Welcome to the Last Frontier!
Our group meets this morning at Pikes Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks for introductions and an orientation to the days ahead. This will also be our time to fit bikes and ensure everyone’s well equipped for our ride. We’ll then jump in our shuttle vehicle and transfer to the start of today’s ride along the Richardson Highway. What began as a trail used during the gold rush, the Richardson Highway eventually grew to be the first main long-distance road into Alaska’s interior. With plentiful scenery to act as a distraction, the highway will also provide an excellent warm up for the days ahead. This evening we’ll enjoy our first meal together while sharing our goals for the upcoming journey. Lunch and dinner included.
Cycling: Up to 40 miles on paved road. Elevation gain/loss: +3400′ / -2880′
Shuttle Transfer: 3 hours
Day 2
Ride through open tundra and the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District
A 40-mile van transfer gets us to the start of our journey along the Denali Highway. For over a century, tiny Paxson, Alaska has served as a welcome outpost for road weary travelers and continues to serve as the launching pad for an epic adventure along the Denali Highway. Departing Paxson we’re quickly immersed in the vast and open tundra of interior Alaska. On clear days this area provides jaw-dropping views of the Alaska Range, the Wrangell Mountains, and the Gulkana Glacier. Today’s ride also takes us through the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this area is known to have been inhabited by early humans over 10,000 years ago and contains over 500 archaeological sites. After a remarkable day in the saddle, we’ll enjoy a hearty meal and a warm bed at our comfortable accommodations. All meals included.
Cycling: 41 miles on a mixture of paved and gravel road. Elevation gain/loss: +4340′ / -4120′
Shuttle Transfer: 1 hour
Day 3
Ride through Crazy Notch, aside Waterfowl Lakes, and over the Susitna River
Starting with Crazy Notch, which was formed by the recession of the Maclaren Glacier, today’s ride will travel through a landscape carved by eons of glacial activity. Evidence of the amazing impact glaciation has had on this area is everywhere, and our guides will provide a fascinating tutorial throughout our journey. Along the way we’ll also keep an eye out for wildlife who frequent this section of the highway, including trumpeter swans, bald eagles, moose, and caribou. We’ll finish the day with a ride over the Susitna River bridge, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and which provides passage over the river as it flows 300 miles from the Susitna Glacier south into the Cook Inlet. All meals included.
Cycling: 37 miles on gravel road. Elevation gain/loss: +2290′ / -2540′.
Day 4
Celebrate our 135-mile journey in the shadow of North America’s highest peak
Our final 55 miles of the Denali Highway rewards us with some of the most spectacular scenery we’ve experienced so far. On a clear day we’ll enjoy jaw dropping views of the Alaska Range and its crown jewel: Denali. Even in inclement weather this section of our ride is breathtaking and provides peek-a-boo moody views of Mount Deborah, Mount Hess, and the Susitna River valley. The area is also notable as the location of a small gold rush outpost – the Valdez Creek Mine, which can be seen in the foothills of the Clearwater Mountains. We finish our incredible journey in the town of Yidateni Na’ – Cantwell, where we celebrate our accomplishment with a delicious dinner among new friends. All meals included.
Cycling: 55 miles on gravel road. Elevation gain/loss: +1875’ / -2250’
Day 5
Stop at Denali National Park Visitor Center before transferring to Fairbanks
This morning we visit Denali National Park Visitors Center. As the gateway to six-million acres of protected wilderness and North America’s tallest mountain, the Visitor Center provides a wealth of fantastic interpretive resources. For those interested in extending their adventure into the park itself, there is also a bus stop, railroad depot, and countless transfer opportunities to nearby communities where an extended adventure into the park can be arranged. For those of us continuing to Fairbanks, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch along the way and arrive in Fairbanks this afternoon. Breakfast and lunch included.
Shuttle Transfer: 3.5 hours
Lodging
Night 1: The Lodge at Black Rapids is a beautiful, secluded lodge in Delta Junction.
Night 2: The Maclaren River Lodge features charming cabins in a gorgeous setting.
Night 3: Enjoy the Susitna Adventure Lodge nestled among two small lakes surrounded by majestic mountain peaks.
Night 4: Get cozy and take in the spectacular views at Denali Perch Resort.
