Denali - Savage River

Boondockers

By morning there are 8 RV and Cars that had pulled in for the night.  We are only about 10 minutes from the Denali park entrance. Just before the entrance  to the Park we pass the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, kind of an oxymoron.  Nothing wilderness about this area. A long line of touristy shops, a rather ugly area, typical of what springs up outside of many national park entrances. 

Another super duper RV

We head to the visitor center in the Park. Watch a couple movies and walk through the museum.  Most national parks, you pay the entrance fee at a booth when you drive in.  Here there is no collection booth or even a sign with the fees on it.  We eventually go to the Visitor center front desk and wait in line behind most people just asking questions. When finally we talk with the ranger at the desk we ask about where people are supposed to pay and she says right here.  No signs here stating that, and we don’t see any folks paying the park fees.  They don’t give out any receipts to prove you paid. I am sure most people are not aware there are any fees to use this park.. The Park Service must lose a lot of money, with their lazy-ass honor system.

We have lunch at the cafe here and I have an excellent Salmon stew and Linda has an excellent beef stew. After lunch we drive 15 miles west in the park, as far as you can drive in your own vehicle. You can do a day long bus tour to the end of this road which goes on for nearly 70 miles on a gravel road. This is the first fully sunny day we have had in a while, but not clear enough to see Denali.

Denali out there in the clouds

We return to the entrance to check in on our campground reservation. I thought we were in the main campground, but it turns out we are in the Savage Campground which is about 8 miles in on the access road and we had passed on our way back. Beautiful spot, secluded and quiet. Sites are in a cluster of trees, but the surrounding area is open to expansive views.

Alpine meadows at Savage Campround

10:30 PM Sun