Tracks & Trails: Discovering Denali With Your Grandchild

Alaska

Grandparent

National Parks

Water Sports

Science & Nature

Ages 9-11

Wishlist Start

Set out on an adventure as big as Alaska itself as you hike in Denali's wilderness, raft the Nenana River, visit a sled dog kennel and learn about Native Alaskan culture!

Rating (5)

Activity Level

Program No. 2515RJ

Length

8 days

Starts at

2,849

8 days

7 nights

20 meals

7B 6L 7D

Fairbanks, AK

Denali National Park

At a Glance

Venture deep into the wilds of Alaska with your grandchild as you uncover subarctic secrets in Denali National Park! Search the landscape for signs of caribou, moose, Dall sheep, grizzly bear, wolves and a host of smaller creatures. Follow in the actual footsteps of the animals that have walked these paths before you, and learn from real-life explorers about winter wilderness survival in Alaska. And top it all off with a rafting adventure on the Nenana River!

Activity Level

Outdoor: No Sweat

Walking up to three miles daily on varied terrain. Class II and mild Class III whitewater rapids during the Scenic Wilderness raft adventure. Elevations change between 500 and 2,000 feet.

Best of all, you'll ...

Watch for wildlife on an epic day-long journey into the Denali National Park wilderness.
Meet the four-legged heroes of Denali at the only park in the US National Park system with a kennel of working sled dogs!
Delve into the history and traditions of Alaska's natives as you work with your grandchild to make your own spirit mask.

Suggested Reading List

View 10 books

Julie of the Wolves

by Jean Craighead George

A great option for your Grandchild before their program! To her small Eskimo village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When her life in the village becomes dangerous, Miyax runs away, only to find herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness. Miyax tries to survive by copying the ways of a pack of wolves and soon grows to love her new wolf family. Life in the wilderness is a struggle, but when she finds her way back to civilization, Miyax is torn between her old and new lives. Is she Miyax of the Eskimos—or Julie of the wolves?

Hatchet

by Gary Paulsen

A great option for your Grandchild before their program! This Newbery Honors book begins as thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered Windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present—and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parent’s divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self-pity, or despair—it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive.

Jimmy Blue Feather

by Kim Heacox

Old Keb Wisting is somewhere around ninety-five years old and in constant pain and thinks he wants to die. He also thinks he thinks too much. Part Norwegian and part Tlingit Native, he’s the last living canoe carver in the village of Jinkaat, in Southeast Alaska. When his grandson, James, a promising basketball player, ruins his leg in a logging accident and tells his grandpa that he has nothing left to live for, Old Keb comes alive and finishes his last canoe, with help from his grandson. Together (with a few friends and a crazy but likeable dog named Steve) they embark on a great canoe journey. Suddenly all of Old Keb’s senses come into play, so clever and wise in how he reads the currents, tides, and storms. Nobody can find him. He and the others paddle deep into wild Alaska, but mostly into the human heart, in a story of adventure, love, and reconciliation.

Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival

by Velma Wallis

Based on an Athabascan Indian legend passed along for many generations from mothers to daughters of the upper Yukon River Valley in Alaska, this is the suspenseful, shocking, ultimately inspirational tale of two old women abandoned by their tribe during a brutal winter famine. Though these women have been known to complain more than contribute, they now must either survive on their own or die trying. In simple but vivid detail, Velma Wallis depicts a landscape and way of life that are at once merciless and starkly beautiful. In her old women, she has created two heroines of steely determination whose story of betrayal, friendship, community, and forgiveness "speaks straight to the heart with clarity, sweetness, and wisdom" (Ursula K. Le Guin)

Snapshots from the Past: A Roadside History of Denali National Park

by Jane Bryant

Visitors come to Denali National Park and Preserve for many reasons - spectacular scenery, wildlife, the continent's highest peak, and the cultural experiences. This amazing book does a wonderful job of presenting snapshots of Denali's past and telling many of the stories that have shaped its history. This book included user-friendly maps of the Park's road and innumerable historic photos to highlight its content. It is arranged to follow the park road from east to west, from the park entrance to Kantishna, and is a must-read for anyone interested in delving into the Park's rich history.

A Naturalist in Alaska

by Adolph Murie

First published in 1961, this book is an entirely charming and magical study of the life cycles and interrelationships of Alaska's animals. The pen-and-ink drawings are by Adolph's brother Olaus and serve to highlight Adolph's explanations of Alaska's diverse wildlife populations.

Wildflowers of Denali National Park

by Verna E. Pratt

This book is considered a classic plant ID guide for the Denali area and is a good "picture guide" to many of the flowering plants of central Alaska, more specifically the Denali National Park & Preserve area. It is arranged by color of the flower and then loosely by the family of plant.

Shopping for Porcupine A Life in Arctic Alaska

by Seth Kantner

Seth Kantner returns to the setting of his debut novel , Ordinary Wolves, with an autobiographical account of his own life growing up in Northern Alaska. Beginning with his parents’ migration to the Alaskan wilderness in the 1950s and extending to his own attempts to balance hunting with writing, Kantner recalls cold nights wrapped in caribou hides, fur-clad visitors arriving on dog sleds, swimming amidst ice floes for wounded waterfowl, and his longstanding respect for the old Iñupiaq ways. Captured in words and images, these details combine to reveal a singular landscape at a pivotal moment in its history. Both an elegy and a romp, the book illuminates a world few will see as Kantner has.

Two in the Far North

by Margaret Murie

This enduring story of life, adventure, and love in Alaska was written by a woman who embraced the remote Alaskan wilderness and became one of its strongest advocates. In this moving testimonial to the preservation of the Arctic wilderness, Mardy Murie writes from her heart about growing up in Fairbanks, becoming the first woman graduate of the University of Alaska, and marrying noted biologist Olaus J. Murie. So begins her lifelong journey in Alaska and on to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where along with her husband and others, they founded The Wilderness Society. Mardy's work as one of the earliest female voices for the wilderness movement earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Arctic Dreams

by Barry Lopez

Based on Barry Lopez’s years spent traveling the Arctic regions in the company of Eskimo hunting parties and scientific expeditions alike, Arctic Dreams investigates the unique terrain of the human mind, thrown into relief against the vastness of the tundra and the frozen ocean. Eye-opening and profoundly moving, it is a magnificent appreciation of how wilderness challenges and inspires us.

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8 days

7 nights

20 meals

7 B 6 L 7 D

DAY

Check-in & Program Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Fairbanks, AK

River's Edge Resort

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 12:00 Noon (AKDT).

Afternoon: Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the main lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: At the River's Edge Resort, we’ll have a buffet dinner with coffee, tea, water included.

Evening: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. We will be joined throughout the program by local experts who will provide commentary and help us understand what’s involved in topics such as botany, natural history, subarctic ecology, The Group Leader will also be happy to answer questions. The schedule of evening presentations by local experts at the Denali Education Center will be announced after arrival at their campus. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY

Train to Denali, Denali Education Center, Hike

Denali National Park

B,L,D

Denali Education Center

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; on/off a railcar; on/off a bus. The train ride is about 120 miles, approximately 4 hours. The drive from Denali Depot to Denali Education Center is 10 miles. Walking 2 miles; wide, well-maintained gravel path, minimal elevation change.

Breakfast: Resort buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the resort, we will transfer to the train station via motorcoach and board the train. Enjoy sweeping views as we ride the 120 miles south to Denali National Park and Preserve. Along the way, we will hear from one of the railroad’s on-board interpreters about the history of the railroad and the area. From the depot, we will travel 10 miles by bus to the Denali Education Center (DEC), our home for the next four nights. The Center is situated on a 10-acre campus across the Nenana River from the Park.

Lunch: In DEC’s Riverside Hall, we’ll have a buffet lunch with lemonade, coffee, cold tea, water.

Afternoon: We’ll board a bus and ride 10 miles by bus to the Visitor Center Campus and the McKinley Station Trail for our first hike. This 2-mile wide gravel trail traverses the area that was at one time the Park’s original township. We’ll get oriented to Denali National Park and start learning about its rich natural history. Returning to DEC late afternoon, grandparents and grandkids can settle into their rooms to freshen up and relax, explore our 10-acre campus, or find board games and additional resources in Riverside Hall until dinner.

Dinner: In Riverside Hall, we’ll have a buffet dinner featuring healthy and balanced home-cooked foods; lemonade, coffee, cold tea, water included. Snacks such as toast, fruit, and granola bars are available at all times.

Evening: We’ll gather to hear the schedule for expert local evening presenters. The remainder of the evening is at leisure to enjoy one another’s company.

DAY

Hike Savage River Loop, Spirit Mask Activity

Denali National Park

B,L,D

Denali Education Center

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus. Hiking up to 2 miles; maintained gravel trails.

Breakfast: Riverside Hall buffet. After breakfast, we will pack our own lunches to take with us in reusable lunch sacks. Choose from favorite sandwich fixings, snack bars, fruit, plus coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll hop aboard the bus and travel 15 miles to start the Savage River Trail. One of DEC’s field educators will lead and explain the terrain as we travel through it. This hike will highlight ecosystems found in the subarctic with a focus on alpine specific plants, wildlife, and geology.

Lunch: At a scenic spot, we’ll have the lunches we prepared this morning.

Afternoon: Returning to the Center, Grandparents and Grandkids will work together to make Yup'ik-style spirit masks with the help and assistance of a field educator. Masks have been utilized in the celebrations, prayers, and other community rituals of Alaska's diverse Native peoples for countless generations. Through this fun, hands-on activity, we will focus on one aspect of masks as a storytelling tool. Everyone is invited to tell their story through this traditional style of art. By learning how many Alaska Native stories are used to teach lessons, give thanks, or entertain, we will focus on the characters and adventures from our own Alaskan journey. Our stories will then be brought to life through the creation of a wearable mask that represents characters, events, or an even deeper element in their unfolding.

Dinner: Riverside Hall buffet.

Evening: We’ll gather with a member of the DEC year-round staff to learn about the seasonal trials and joys of life in Denali.

DAY

Subarctic Ecosystem, Rafting the Nenana River

Denali National Park

B,L,D

Denali Education Center

Activity note: Kids hiking 2 miles; compacted gravel surface, average grade 5% or less. Group river rafting gradually increases from Class I moving currents to Class III/IV rapids; approximately 3 hours.

Breakfast: Riverside Hall buffet.

Morning: With a DEC field educator, we will learn about the sometimes surprising, always extreme, conditions that shape life in Denali and define a subarctic ecosystem in an interactive class. The whole group will attend the first hour of class. Grandkids will then depart for a 2-mile expert-led hike on the Oxbow Trail while grandparents continue with class and delve deeper into the subarctic. Everyone will re-group for lunch.

Lunch: Riverside Hall buffet.

Afternoon: Grandparents and grandkids will go rafting together with a local expert on the glacially fed Nenana River. The rapids gradually increase from a mild Class 1 current to an exhilarating Class III/IV in the lower part of the canyon. Dry suits, rafting booties, and all necessary safety gear will be provided. Wear warm clothing under rafting gear. Group Leaders will be available to answer any additional questions.

Dinner: Riverside Hall buffet.

Evening: We’ll gather for a presentation on topics related to the program.

DAY

Journey to the Heart of Denali, Eielson Visitor Center

Denali National Park

B,L,D

Denali Education Center

Activity note: Getting on/off a shuttle bus. Hiking 1/2 mile to 2 miles.

Breakfast: Riverside Hall buffet. After breakfast, we will pack our own lunches to take with us in reusable lunch sacks.

Morning: We’ll set out by shuttle bus for a full-day field trip into Denali National Park. We’ll enjoy stunning scenery and wildlife watching opportunities on our way to the Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 66 on the Denali road. The shuttle driver is a local expert who will point out interesting features of the landscape and park and answer questions. Throughout the day, be on the lookout for grizzly bear, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, and other animals in the diverse array of wildlife that can be found in Denali.

Lunch: At a scenic spot, we’ll have the lunches we prepared for ourselves this morning.

Afternoon: At the Visitor Center, we’ll have some time to check out the exhibits including a 3-dimensional map of Denali and its surrounding peaks. For those who wish to hike independently, the area surrounding the Visitor Center has several well-maintained gravel trails that range in difficulty from 1/2 mile with little elevation change to 2 miles round trip with 800 feet of elevation change. We’ll then reboard the bus and travel out of the Park. Let the Group Leader know if you would like to stay longer at the Eielson Visitor Center and take a later bus back from the Park to DEC.

Dinner: Riverside Hall buffet.

Evening: At leisure. Rest, relax, and unwind after an exciting day in the Park.

DAY

Denali Wildlife Class, Interpretive Hikes, Spirit Masks

Denali National Park

B,L,D

Denali Education Center

Activity note: Grandkids hiking 4.5 miles; maintained, packed gravel trail; sections of uneven footing, roots, rocks, steeper sections; elevation gain 1,800 feet. Grandparents hiking 2 miles; trail with sections of packed gravel, roots, rocks, possible wet sections; elevation change less than 100 feet.

Breakfast: Riverside Hall buffet. After breakfast, kids will pack lunches to have in the field.

Morning: Together with a field educator, we’ll learn more about the extraordinary animals that call Denali home and their marvelous adaptations to life at high latitudes. After the first hour, grandkids will set out on a 4.5 mile hike with a field educator while grandparents continue learning how Denali's creatures survive in the subarctic.

Lunch: Riverside Hall buffet for grandparents; packed lunches in the field for kids.

Afternoon: Grandparents will head out with a field educator on the Park’s Oxbow trail. This 2-mile trail follows the path of the Nenana River and does a great job of highlighting how Denali is ever changing. When everyone has returned from their hikes, grandparents and grandkids will work together with the help of our field educators to put finishing touches on their spirit masks. As the masks dry, each team will write a narrative for their mask.

Dinner: Riverside Hall buffet.

Evening: We’ll gather for a presentation by a guest speaker.

DAY

Interpretive Hikes, Free Time

Denali National Park

B,L,D

Denali Education Center

Activity note: Hiking; 3 miles on wide maintained trails; 700 feet of elevation change.

Breakfast: Riverside Hall buffet.

Morning: We will travel 6 miles by bus to the Horseshoe Lake Trail. Grandparents will work together with grandkids throughout this hike. By using the knowledge we have gained throughout the week, we’ll work to uncover the stories of animals that used this trail today and the processes that have helped to shape this area.

Lunch: Riverside Hall buffet.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and answer questions. You might like to see more of the Park independently or engage in activities at DEC.

Dinner: Riverside Hall buffet. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We’ll have a program wrap-up and art show featuring our spirit masks. Then prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY

Transfer to Fairbanks, Program Concludes

Denali National Park

Activity note: 9:00 a.m. motorcoach transfer to Fairbanks Airport. 10:00 a.m. check-out.

Breakfast: Riverside Hall buffet.

Morning: Those who are returning will board a motorcoach and travel directly to the Fairbanks airport. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals

20 Meals

7 Breakfasts

6 Lunches

7 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free, Low Salt, Low Fat, Vegetarian

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

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Jun 22, 2019 - Jun 29, 2019 (Fairbanks, AK to Denali National Park)

Jun 22, 2019 - Jun 29, 2019 (Fairbanks, AK to Denali National Park)

River's Edge Resort

1 night

Fairbanks

No description

TripAdvisor Reviews

Denali Education Center

6 nights

Denali Park

The Denali Education Center campus was built in 1990 along the eastern boundary of Denali National Park, on the banks of the Nenana River. This quiet wooded campus, consisting of 12 cabins and Riverside Hall, a combined dining and classroom facility, was the first in the U.S. built exclusively for Elderhostel programs. The cabins have been recently renovated and feature a shared enclosed porch (perfect for your wet gear and gathering with your cabin-mates) and two bedrooms. Each room has two double beds and private bath. Amenities include: linens, heat, electric outlets, soap, and views of wild surroundings. The absence of TV, radio, microwave, fridge, hairdryers, etc. encourages guests to unplug and get outside. Complementary Wi-Fi connection and good cell reception allows visitors to stay in touch with the world beyond Denali. All facilities are on the ground floor with four steps leading into each cabin. The longest walk from your cabin to Riverside Hall is about 200 yards on a gravel walkway, and the shortest is about 15 yards.

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5 Average

Linda

Class of 2011

Burlington, WA

(5) 2 months ago

This is an excellent way to spend quality time with your grandchild. We did things together, but the children and the adults sometimes were separated which was a good fit for us. In the 3 hour free time on the last day, visit DogGoneIt Kennels where they raise sled dogs and give the children lots and lots of "Puppy time. It was a wonderful experience for the 3 of us.

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