Group Excursions
Our guided activities offer a unique opportunity to connect with others and expand your knowledge and skills all while having fun in a structured and purposeful manner. Spend your day with our naturalist guides expanding your understanding of Denali’s diverse flora, fauna and history.
Hiking
Guided hiking leaves the Roadhouse each morning—you can choose a two hour walk or take a bag lunch and hike for up to six hours. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced trekker, the Roadhouse offers an opportunity for you to explore the Park on foot and learn about the wildlife and flora of the Kantishna Hills from one of our experienced Naturalist Guides. Footwear is important and good hiking boots with ankle support that are water resistant are a must, as you will be hiking over rocks and through boggy tundra at times on most of our intermediate and challenging hikes.
Fannie Quigley Cabin Tour
During the Kantishna gold rush, there were thousands of male gold miners who traveled to Kantishna Valley to strike it big, but there was only one Fannie Quigley, a frontierswoman and miner renowned for her independence and fierce skills to survive in the backcountry. Even though she never found a fortune of gold in Kantishna, her story is perhaps the most fabled of all Kantishna miners. Just a short shuttle or hike from the Roadhouse, Fannie Quigley’s cabin still stands today. We hold regular guided tours of the Quigley cabin. This is an incredible opportunity. Please ask experienced Naturalist Guides at the front desk about availability.
Gold Panning
The Kantishna district was the site of a gold rush in the early 1900s. Every afternoon you will have a chance to slip on a pair of rubber boots, grab a pan and head for Moose Creek with an experienced Naturalist Guide to learn the history and methods of the old-time prospectors and try your hand at panning for a little “color”. Any gold you find is yours to keep and we are happy to create a complementary “Gold Card” for you at the front desk—your gold flakes will shimmer and shine when they are laminated onto the black card. Kids of all ages—9 to 90–thoroughly enjoy this activity and are astounded to learn about the legendary lives and times of the early prospectors.
Wonder Lake Shuttle
Often referred to as the crown jewel of Denali, Wonder Lake is one of the largest lakes in Denali National Park and is conveniently located a short 10 minute shuttle ride from Kantishna Roadhouse. At about 2 ½ miles long and 1/2 mile wide, the crystal blue waters of Wonder Lake make this one of the most premier places to see Mt. Denali and the Alaska Range. We offer at least one shuttle every day to Wonder Lake. If you’re one of the lucky 30%, you might just see the elusive mountain.
Cultural Presentations
Join us each evening for cultural presentations as well as educational and exciting topics about Kantishna, Denali or the surrounding area.