ALASKA
McKinley Explorer
July 2023
This morning we left Denali and boarded the luxurious domed rail cars of the McKinley Explorer bound for Anchorage. The train depot is actually a mile inside Denali National Park, so we had to take buses from the resort to the train depot.
McKinley Explorer rail cars seat around 86 passengers in the upper level dome. Each passenger has a reserved seat and the large curved glass dome windows run the full length of the car, offering superb 360 degree views. Seating is comfortable, with foot rests and fold down tray tables.
Each train car has its own host guide who provides tour commentary and answers questions throughout the journey.
On the lower level there are restrooms, outdoor viewing platforms, and a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and snacks. The total train ride is around 8 hours long, so we will definitely need the restaurant and the restrooms. ;)
We saw some amazing scenery including the Hurricane Gulch Bridge, where the train crosses a 918-foot bridge 296 feet above a creek.
Some of the areas that the train passes through are truly wilderness even the ones where people are living. The train is the only thing within hundreds of miles. The Alaska Railroad (on its regular routes) will stop to pick up passengers along the rail.
We briefly stopped in Talkeetna, Alaska along the way. Talkeetna is located at the confluence of three rivers in the shadow of Denali. A cat was once the unofficial "mayor" of Talkeetna. He served as the "mayor" from 1997 to 2017.
Train travel like this is amazing. So comfortable. Great views.
We arrived in Anchorage, and I got a shuttle to my hotel which was located nearby.
Tomorrow evening, I will be flying home from Anchorage, but before I leave, I will be exploring Anchorage.
