The lure of seeing a really big mountain -- at 20,320 feet, Denali is the tallest on the continent -- up close draws tourists to flightseeing businesses in the Denali National Park area.
From Anchorage to Fairbanks, but mostly from Talkeetna and airports near the park entrance, small planes and helicopters ferry visitors to glacier landings on Mount McKinley and on simple fly-bys that happen to pass gorgeous gorges and astounding cliffs.
The park and all the flightseeing companies are reached from the Parks Highway. The park's entrance is at Mile 237. The big hotels are clustered just north of the entrance.
Helicopter tours are launched from two Era Aviation stations, one overlooking the Nenana River at Mile 238 just north of the park entrance and one near the Mount McKinley Princess Lodge where the Chulitna River crosses the Parks Highway at Mile 134 (mileage from Anchorage).
Talkeetna
Flightseeing keeps the sky above Talkeetna buzzing with small ski-equipped airplanes from spring through fall.
Denali stands only 60 air miles to the northwest and is easily seen from Talkeetna.
Several well-established charter companies offer flights around the area's star attraction, Mount McKinley in Denali National Park. Indeed, the 20,320-foot mountain, also known as Denali, stands only 60 air miles to the northwest and is easily seen from town.
Flightseeing companies offer a choice of routes to fit different desires, timetables and budgets.
For example, a 60-minute flight over the Alaska Range to McKinley and the enormous Ruth Glacier will cost $120 to $140 per person. Add a landing at the mountain climbers' base camp on Kahiltna Glacier for $25 to $50.
A 80- to 90-minute tour around the summit will cost roughly $160 to $225 per person. Glacier landings are extra.
To get to Talkeetna's airport: Follow the Talkeetna Spur about 14 miles north from the junction at Mile 99 (measured from Anchorage). As you drive into town, the airport is off to the right, across the railroad tracks.
Healy
Healy, a 1,000-resident town, launches flightseers from its riverside airport.
To get to Healy's airport: Drive 11 miles north from the Denali entrance to Healy. Drive through town toward the power plant's big smokestacks. The airport is on the town side of the Nenana River.
Flightseeing companies offer a choice of routes to fit different desires, timetables and budgets. Prices are roughly the same among different companies for the same kind of flight.
From Talkeetna, a 60-minute flight over the Alaska Range to McKinley and the enormous Ruth Glacier will cost $120 to $140 per person. Add a landing at the mountain climbers' base camp on Kahiltna Glacier for $25 to $50.
A 80- to 90-minute tour around the summit will cost $160 to $205 per person. Glacier landings are extra.
