With more parks, wilderness areas and wildlife refuges than all other states combined, Alaska has several wildlife-viewing options for vacationers. Alaska's wilderness is best explored through the solitude of its back country. Camping in and hiking through the state's untamed landscape offers visitors opportunities to not only view majestic mountains, vast valleys and rushing rivers, but also its wildlife. From viewing bears to moose and seals to whales, there are countless opportunities to see wildlife from the state's roads and hiking trails.
Visitors to Denali National Park and Preserve can expect wildlife and glimpses of Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America. To explore the heart of the park, buses operate along the park's only road during summer months. Residents of the park include caribou, moose, Dall sheep, black bears, grizzly bears, coyotes, foxes, lynx, wolves, wolverines, falcons, eagles and others. There are few trails in the park, so the best way to explore the park is camping and hiking in the back country.
Wildlife viewing opportunities await visitors to Kodiak Island in southern Alaska. The island can be reached by air or sea, and features several lodging options. From bears to various species of birds, the city of Kodiak and neighboring communities are convenient bases to explore the surrounding wilderness. Bear-viewing, best done with a local outfitter, is ideal from July through September. Whale-watching is possible from April through November, with fin, minke, sei, humpback and gray whales found in the waters near Kodiak.
Kenai Fjords National Park gives visitors the opportunity to explore Alaska's wildlife by sea. Boat tours and kayaking allow visitors to see otters, seals, orca, Dall's porpoises and other species of whale, as well as glaciers clinging to the coastline of the north Pacific Ocean. The park is also home to ice worms and bears. Travelers can base their visit to the Kenai Fjords at campsites in the park, or at lodges, hotels and other accommodation in nearby Seward.
The untamed wilderness awaits visitors to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, America's largest national park. Home to 12 volcanoes, including the largest and highest in North America, visitors can reach the heart of the park by air taxi. Permits are not required to explore and camp in the park's back country, where moose, Dall sheep, black bears and brown bears roam. Visitors can also kayak among seals, seabirds and icebergs in Icy Bay near the community of Yakutat.
