7 Natural Wonders Unique To The Last Frontier That Should Be On Everyone's Alaska Bucket List
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Megan McDonald
Author
If you’re on the lookout for an epic Alaska natural wonders bucket list, you’re in luck! We’ve rounded together some of the most amazing natural wonders The Last Frontier has to offer. From the largest national park in the country to the depths of the Arctic Sea, Alaska offers an unbelievable experience for everyone who travels its lands.
Sitting at 20,310 feet, this mountain is the tallest mountain in not only the United States but all of North America. It’s the stunning crown of the Alaska Range, and visible over 200 miles away on a clear day. To view it up close, you can book a sightseeing tour that flies up close and personal to this incomparable mountain.
The largest national park in America spans 13.2 million acres. With habitats ranging from temperate rainforest to tundra, you will find a great diversity of animals and wildlife. Almost all of the park is located in the backcountry, so if you’re headed out to explore, brush up on your backcountry safety. It’s also home to the greatest concentration of glaciers, and some of the largest volcanoes in North America.
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Located right outside of Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier is a must-see if you’re in the area. The 13.6-mile-long glacier can be viewed by the Visitor Center, as well as its impressive neighbor, Nugget Falls, a 377-foot waterfall nearby. There are tour groups that will take you to the caves, as it’s best not to explore by yourself. The ice can be unstable and some days unadvisable to visit. If it’s closed while you’re there, make sure to book a tour hiking the top of the glacier; equally as impressive.
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The Arctic Ocean, one of four named oceans on Earth, is accessible from Alaska. It is the smallest and shallowest of all of Earth’s oceans, while also the coldest. For most of the year, it’s covered by sea ice, and during the winter, it completely freezes up. There are plenty of seals, whales, and polar bears that make their home in these beautiful, cold waters.
The Aurora Borealis is a favorite of every Alaskan and can be seen occasionally all the way down in Southeast Alaska. But the prime spots for aurora borealis viewing are in Fairbanks, or close to the Arctic Circle. The long hours of darkness and perfect cold, clear conditions make for excellent northern lights viewing from August 21st through April 21st.
Bering Glacier is the largest glacier in Alaska, and continental North America, reaching 126 miles long and covering 1,900 square miles. It’s no surprise that it’s located in the largest national park in America, Wrangell-St. Elias. The best way to view this immense glacier is a flight-seeing tour out of nearby Cordova.
This forest is the United State’s largest national forest, as well as the largest temperate rainforest in America. Covering much of Southeast Alaska, it is home to a wide array of wildlife, and some of the oldest old-growth trees on the planet.
Have you visited any of the places on the Alaska natural wonders bucket list? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Looking for more unique natural facts about Alaska? Read about how The Seven Biggest Mountains In The United States Are All In Alaska And They Will Take Your Breath Away.
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