If you’re craving true wilderness, Alaska’s national parks and preserves are unlike anywhere else on Earth. These landscapes are wild, untamed, and breathtakingly vast—places where silence stretches for miles and nature still rules the land. But make no mistake: this kind of adventure has to be earned.
Together, Alaska’s national parks cover an area so massive that if they were one state, they’d rank as the 14th largest in the U.S. Most parks don’t even have roads leading to them, much less through them. You’ll need to plan ahead—and sometimes charter a flight or hop on a boat—just to step foot in them.
But once you arrive, you’ll witness a raw and untouched world. Here, glaciers crash into oceans, volcanoes smolder beneath snowy peaks, and rivers cut through empty plains. It’s nature in its purest form, and it’s waiting to be explored.
10. Noatak National Preserve
Tucked between the Baird and De Long Mountains, Noatak National Preserve guards one of the most pristine mountain-ringed river basins in North America. Flowing through this remote region is the Noatak River, winding from boreal forest into the treeless tundra as it nears the Arctic Ocean.
Getting here isn’t simple—you’ll need to fly or boat in—but once you arrive, the isolation is magical. Paddle down one of the best wilderness rivers in the U.S. or hike into the endless backcountry, where nearly half a million caribou roam freely across the tundra.
9. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
Situated on the Seward Peninsula in western Alaska, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is a place of ancient stories and natural extremes. This land once connected Asia and North America, serving as a gateway for early humans crossing into the Western Hemisphere.
Here, you’ll find a surreal mix of polar tundra, hot springs, volcanoes, and barrier islands. These habitats are critical for migrating birds and a wide variety of wildlife. While it’s not the easiest place to access, those who make the journey are rewarded with a powerful blend of nature and history.
8. Lake Clark National Park
Lake Clark is Alaska in a nutshell: glaciers, volcanoes, wild rivers, and towering mountains. It’s remote, yes, but it offers more creature comforts than you might expect. Once you fly into Port Alsworth, you’ll find lodges, hiking trails, and guided activities.
Go boating on Lake Clark itself—Alaska’s sixth-largest lake—or cast a line for salmon. Explore the trails around the village or venture out to see Tanalian Falls. This park packs a lot into its rugged borders and gives you that wild Alaska feeling without having to rough it too much.
7. Kobuk Valley National Park
Kobuk Valley National Park may have the most unexpected landscape in Alaska. Located north of the Arctic Circle, the park is famous for its massive sand dunes—yes, sand dunes—in the heart of the Arctic.
There are no roads, no trails, and no visitor centers here. You’ll need a plane and a strong sense of adventure. But when you arrive, you can hike across shifting dunes, float down the Kobuk River, and feel like you’ve stepped into another planet. It’s raw, silent, and beautifully strange.
6. Gates of the Arctic National Park
If you’re looking to completely disconnect from civilization, this is your park. Gates of the Arctic has no roads, no trails, and no visitor services—just 8 million acres of untouched wilderness above the Arctic Circle.
To get here, you’ll fly into a small village and possibly charter another flight or hire a guide. What you’ll find is endless freedom to explore. Trek across tundra under the midnight sun, paddle through glacial valleys, and share the land with caribou, grizzlies, and wolves.
5. Kenai Fjords National Park
Where ice meets ocean, Kenai Fjords National Park delivers dramatic scenery and rich wildlife. The Harding Icefield is the park’s centerpiece—an immense sheet of ice feeding 40 glaciers. Hiking the Harding Icefield Trail gives you panoramic views you’ll never forget.
Easier to reach than many Alaska parks, Kenai is just over two hours by car from Anchorage. You can also explore by boat, cruising past towering fjords while spotting whales, puffins, and sea lions. It’s a place where the landscapes feel alive.
4. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
This national park is so massive it’s hard to wrap your head around—it’s the largest in the United States and bigger than the entire state of Connecticut. Wrangell-St. Elias is a land of towering peaks, sprawling glaciers, and forgotten gold mines.
Despite its size, the park is surprisingly accessible. Two roads lead into its wild heart, and once there, you’ll find hiking, ice climbing, and even flightseeing tours. It’s linked with Glacier Bay as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is still off the radar for many travelers.
3. Glacier Bay National Park
For all the glory of Alaska’s rugged coastline, look no further than Glacier Bay. With no roads leading in, most visitors arrive by cruise ship—and for good reason. The park’s awe-inspiring fjords, icy peaks, and marine wildlife are best seen from the water.
From your ship or kayak, you can witness glacier calving, watch orcas slice through the sea, or see brown bears combing the shores. It’s Alaska at its most photogenic, and surprisingly, you don’t have to hike a single mile to enjoy it.
2. Katmai National Park
Katmai is famous for one thing: bears. Lots of them. If you’ve seen those iconic photos of grizzlies catching salmon mid-leap, they were probably taken at Brooks Falls in Katmai. But this park has so much more to offer.
Aside from bear-watching, Katmai is home to the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, a surreal landscape left behind by a massive volcanic eruption in 1912. To get here, you’ll need to fly from Anchorage, but the experience—wild, remote, and unforgettable—is worth every mile.
1. Denali National Park
Denali is Alaska’s crown jewel. Just a few hours from Anchorage, it’s the easiest major national park to reach. It’s also home to North America’s tallest mountain, Denali, which towers over the landscape at more than 20,000 feet.
There are only a few maintained trails, encouraging visitors to go off the beaten path. The wildlife here is legendary—look for moose, caribou, wolves, bears, and Dall sheep, known collectively as the Big Five. And if the skies are clear, catching a glimpse of Denali’s summit is an unforgettable moment.