INTERIOR ALASKA wide open spaces

Alaska’s Interior spans 175,000 square miles between the Alaska Range to the south and the Brooks Range to the north, covering about 30% of the state. For a little perspective, this region is as large as the states of Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio combined.

Bordering on the Arctic, the White Mountains National Recreation Area north of Fairbanks is easily accessible via the Steese and Elliott highways and offers opportunities for gold panning, cross country skiing, hiking, fishing and camping.

Explore the area stretching south from Fairbanks along the Richardson Highway through Salcha and Delta Junction to the Copper River Valley. The Gulkana, Delta, Tanana and Copper rivers offer scenic recreation with fishing, rafting and boat tours. The towns of Glennallen, Copper Center, Gulkana and Gakona are rich with gold rush history and Alaska Native culture and serve as popular starting points for backcountry expeditions.

At the edge of the Interior, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve encompasses 13.2 million acres of stunning scenery, making it the largest national park in America with four mountain ranges and nine of North America’s sixteen highest peaks.

From Paxson, head west along the Denali Highway through 135 miles (217 km) of Interior Alaska to Cantwell. Only accessible mid-May through September, this road is mostly gravel with gorgeous views of the Alaska Range but few services along the way. Return to Fairbanks via the Parks Highway, visiting Denali, Healy and Nenana on the way.