001. Denali Star

Anchorage to Denali by train

By Ryan Harrison

November 5^th, 2015

All aboard

August 16, 2015 // 8:11A in Anchorage

I boarded the Denali Star at 8:11AM. Four minutes later the conductor proclaimed “All aboard!”, a whistle blew, and we started moving. After a flight from SEA to ANC and a frantic Super 8 shuttle ride, I was on my way to Denali National Park. The park entrance is 239MI north of Anchorage and can be reached by an 8HR train ride. The glass dome ceilings and an outdoor platform made the GoldStar car an easy choice. The plan was to arrive in Denali, collect a permit, and embark on a five-night trip into the backcountry. Featuring panoramas under foreboding skies, the train ride into the park served as a dramatic introduction to an immense and powerful landscape.

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Denali to anchorage

The next time I boarded the the train I was leaving the wilderness. The air in the car was charged with tales of wonder and astonishment. Most passengers took turns reliving their adventures for each other while some were content to gaze out the window and smile. Denali and the rest of the Alaska Range slowly faded into a distant landmark as we followed the rails back to Anchorage.