About the Port
South of Denali National Park, the Parks Highway winds through spruce forest and open tundra to Trapper Creek, a small community known for homesteading traditions that still shape daily life in this remote stretch of the Susitna Valley. Travelers pause here to meet local families and learn how they live off the land, before continuing toward Talkeetna or Wasilla for a meal and a floatplane flightseeing excursion over glaciers and peaks.
The route continues south along Turnagain Arm, a tidal inlet framed by mountains, ending at the Alyeska resort area near Girdwood. Nearby, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center protects bears, moose, and bison across 200 acres of open land, offering an easy stop for wildlife viewing. An aerial tram to a mountaintop restaurant rounds out the visit with wide views over the surrounding peaks and inlet.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Wrangell-St Elias National Park.
Meet a Homesteading Family
Visit with locals in Trapper Creek to hear firsthand how families still live off the land in this remote stretch of the Susitna Valley, a rare window into rural Alaska life.
Floatplane Flightseeing
Board a floatplane from Talkeetna or Wasilla for an aerial tour over glaciers and the Alaska Range, including views of Denali on clear days; flights typically run about an hour.
Ride the Aerial Tram to Dinner
Take the tram above Girdwood to Seven Glaciers Restaurant for sweeping views of Turnagain Arm and surrounding peaks—reserve ahead, as tables fill quickly.