Nondalton AlaskaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Nondalton, Alaska.
1. Lake Clark Visitor Center
GATEWAY TO WILDERNESS
The Lake Clark Visitor Center serves as the primary information hub for visitors exploring the magnificent Lake Clark National Park. Visitors can gather essential information about hiking trails, wildlife viewing opportunities, and safety guidelines for exploring the surrounding wilderness. The center offers interpretive displays that showcase the rich natural and cultural heritage of the region.
2. Denali National Park
ALASKA'S CROWN JEWEL
Denali National Park encompasses six million acres of wild land bisected by a single road, offering visitors a chance to witness North America's highest peak. The park provides opportunities to see incredible wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep in their natural habitat. Visitors can explore the park through guided bus tours, hiking trails, and ranger-led programs that highlight the area's unique ecology.
3. Kachemak Bay State Park
COASTAL WILDERNESS ADVENTURE
Kachemak Bay State Park offers visitors an immersive experience in Alaska's coastal wilderness with over 400,000 acres of mountains, forests, and marine ecosystems. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy activities including kayaking, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing in this pristine natural setting. The park's varied terrain features glaciers, fjords, and lush forests that support diverse plant and animal communities.
4. Kenai Fjords National Park
GLACIER AND MARINE HABITAT
Kenai Fjords National Park showcases the mighty Harding Icefield and its numerous glacial outflows that carve dramatic fjords along Alaska's coastline. Visitors can witness calving glaciers, spot marine wildlife such as orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, and puffins during boat tours of the park. The park's unique ecosystem represents a dynamic meeting point between land and sea, creating habitats for diverse wildlife populations.
5. White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad
HISTORIC MOUNTAIN RAILWAY
The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad offers visitors a historic train journey that climbs nearly 3,000 feet over 20 miles of steep grades and cliff-hanging turns. Originally built during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, this narrow gauge railroad provides spectacular panoramic views of mountains, gorges, waterfalls, and historic sites. Passengers travel in vintage passenger coaches as they learn about the challenging construction of this engineering marvel through narrated tours.
6. Totem Bight State Historical Park
NATIVE ALASKAN HERITAGE
Totem Bight State Historical Park showcases expertly carved totem poles that depict the stories of the Tlingit and Haida people of Alaska. Visitors can stroll through lush forest trails to discover these impressive totems and visit the recreated Tlingit clan house that illustrates indigenous life before migration to non-Indigenous communities. The park's interpretive trails allow guests to explore the rainforest while learning about the cultural legacy represented by the historic totem poles.
7. Misty Fjords National Monument
DRAMATIC COASTAL WILDERNESS
Misty Fjords National Monument features a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, bays, and forested ridges often shrouded in low-hanging clouds. Visitors can marvel at magnificent waterfalls cascading down high granite cliffs and observe wildlife including bald eagles, bears, and whales in this pristine wilderness setting. The monument can be explored by boat, seaplane, or kayak, offering different perspectives of this remarkable coastal landscape.
8. Museum of the North
CULTURAL TREASURE TROVE
The Museum of the North at the University of Alaska showcases artifacts from five different ecological regions of Alaska through various indoor exhibits including the Rose Berry Art Gallery and Gallery of Alaska. Visitors can also explore outdoor exhibits like the Wolf Totem Pole: Everyone's Grandfather and the historic Kolmokovsky Blockhouse which dates back to 1841. The museum offers additional resources including a Virtual Museum featuring a Fine Arts Collection and the Kenelm W. Philip Lepidoptera Collection.
9. North Pole
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT YEAR-ROUND
The town of North Pole offers visitors a year-round Christmas experience, highlighted by the Santa Claus House which has delivered millions of letters to Santa since 1952. Visitors can meet Santa's famous reindeer team at the adjacent Antler Academy and experience the genuine Christmas atmosphere that permeates this charming town. Beyond holiday attractions, the town features the Chena Lake Recreation Area where visitors can enjoy seasonal activities including wildlife viewing, hiking, swimming, and winter sports.
10. Mendenhall Glacier
ACCESSIBLE ICE WONDER
Mendenhall Glacier offers visitors a rare opportunity to observe a massive ice field just 12 miles from downtown Juneau. The glacier spans 13 miles in length with an impressive ice face that stands approximately 100 feet tall and 1.5 miles wide. Visitors can explore the glacier through hiking trails, guided tours, and the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center which provides educational exhibits about glacier formation and the local ecosystem.
11. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
SCENIC URBAN PATHWAY
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail winds for 11 miles along the coast of Anchorage, offering spectacular views of the city skyline, Cook Inlet, and surrounding mountains. Trail users can spot wildlife including moose and bald eagles while enjoying recreational activities such as walking, jogging, biking, and cross-country skiing in winter. The well-maintained pathway connects several of Anchorage's parks and provides interpretive signs about local history, flora, and fauna.
12. Sitka National Historical Park
TOTEM PATHS THROUGH HISTORY
Sitka National Historical Park preserves the site of an 1804 battle between Russian traders and the indigenous Tlingit people, marking a pivotal moment in Alaska's history. Visitors can walk the Totem Trail through temperate rainforest to view magnificent totem poles that represent the rich cultural heritage of the region's Native peoples. The park includes the Russian Bishop's House and a visitor center with exhibits that detail the area's complex cultural interactions between indigenous Alaskans, Russians, and Americans.
13. Alaska Native Heritage Center
LIVING INDIGENOUS CULTURES
The Alaska Native Heritage Center serves as a gathering place where visitors can experience the traditions and contemporary lives of Alaska's diverse Native peoples. The center features full-size traditional dwellings around Lake Tiulana where cultural representatives share stories, demonstrate crafts, and perform dances that highlight their heritage. Visitors can explore exhibits of Native artifacts, watch demonstrations of traditional skills, and purchase authentic Alaska Native art in the center's gift shop.
14. Chena Lake Recreation Area
YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND
Chena Lake Recreation Area encompasses two thousand acres of parkland offering diverse seasonal activities for outdoor enthusiasts. Summer visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing, hiking, swimming, and boating in this pristine natural setting. During winter months, the recreation area transforms into a snowy playground perfect for skiing, snowshoeing, and ice-fishing experiences.
15. North Pole Winterfest
SEASONAL CELEBRATION EXTRAVAGANZA
North Pole Winterfest & Holiday Bazaar brings together local artisans, food vendors, and entertainment for a festive seasonal celebration. Visitors can shop for unique handcrafted gifts, sample regional delicacies, and participate in traditional winter activities that highlight Alaskan culture. The festival creates a magical atmosphere that embodies the holiday spirit for which the town of North Pole is famous.