Page 113 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

ALASKA

Share the Wonder

Alaska is a wonderland of glowing blue
glaciers, towering mountains and some of
the last untouched wilderness in the United
States—where the Aurora Borealis shines
on many nights like a personal lightshow.
Natural resources like gold and oil brought
thousands to this wild expanse of land
and many stayed to make this place home.
Alaska, a state larger than Texas, is split into
6 regions in this guide for those wanting to
discover its varied riches.
Wherever you travel in Alaska, you will
experience the majestic power of this
untamed land. Most come to Alaska to fish
its waters or view wildlife, but leave with
profound appreciation of the history and
culture of the unique 49 State.
th

Brooks Range in the northern part of the state, the Chicken
GATEWAY TO ALASKA Alaska Highway gradually descends alongside the Location: On Taylor Highway 5, approximately
ALASKA HWY Tanana River toward Fairbanks. 66 miles north of the Alaska Highway from
ENTER ALASKA VIA ALASKA HWY The Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Tetlin Junction, 108 miles southwest of Dawson
FROM YUKON, CANADA located about 4 miles from Border City at milepost City via Top of the World Highway. Population
1229, offers high quality interpretive displays on 30 - 50 (summer), 15 (winter).
a variety of Alaskan habitats within the National
Wildlife Refuge System. The Tetlin Refuge covers Exploring the Quirky Charms of Chicken, Alaska
an area of 924,000 acres north of Wrangell-St. Elias Prior to the 1896 Klondike Gold Rush, when
National Park encompassing broad flat river basins, tens of thousands of people made their way to
rolling hills, extensive marsh and lake complexes, the the Klondike River outside of Dawson City, there
foothill areas of the Nutzotin and Mentasta Mountain was an outpost of about 700 miners. On a river
Ranges and the two major glacial river systems 110 miles from Dawson City, these miners spent
forming the Tanana River. their days extracting gold from the local streams,
The refuge protects one of the highest densities of long before the stampede to the Klondike. In 1902,
nesting waterfowl in Alaska. As a migration corridor the U.S. Post Office agreed to the area having mail
the refuge provides habitat for 143 nesting species delivery, but first they needed a name. The miners
of birds and 47 migrants. Big game animals include got together one evening and decided to name
moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bear, black bear, their community “Ptarmigan,” after the abundance
and wolf. Smaller species include lynx, wolverine, of those birds in the area. However, they couldn’t
red fox, marten, snowshoe hare, beaver, otter, muskrat reach a consensus on how to spell the name of the
and mink. bird, so after much discussion, they adjourned the
INTERIOR ALASKA Northway meeting and named the town Chicken instead.
According to the 2020 census, Chicken,
Location: Seven miles south of the Alaska Alaska has a year round population of 10, up
Home of Fairbanks, a metropolis full Highway via a side road. from seven in the 2010 census. You could be
of cultural activities, historical wonders, forgiven for thinking that there isn’t much to
and interesting places to visit like the Northway is within the Tetlin National Wildlife see or do in Chicken. However, the area boasts
University of Fairbanks and Pioneer Park. Refuge. There are hundreds of small lakes and two a rich history, beauty, and Alaskan spirit. It was
Interior Alaska is teeming with hot springs glacial rivers, the Nabesna and the Chisana, which the rugged, frontier spirit that built this outpost
just waiting for a traveler to sink into their combine to form the Tanana River. Northway is located originally consisting of a saloon, post office and
warm, soothing waters. From tiny towns along the banks of the Nabesna River, across from the dining/grocery store, and it is that same frontier
like Chicken to larger urban areas like old village that was flooded in the 1940s. spirit that keeps this quirky community alive with
Fairbanks, this area has something for gold panning, site-seeing and one raucous musical
everyone.
TETLIN JCT. ALASKA HYW TO TOK & festival in July called Chickenstock.
TAYLOR HWY #5 TO CHICKEN, AK Many people arrive at Chicken after traveling
Border City AND THE YUKON the Top of the World Highway from Dawson
City to Tok. Situated in between the two towns,
Location: The Alaska Highway, milepost 1225, Chicken is a perfect spot to spend a couple of days
approximately 300 miles from Whitehorse and Tetlin Junction before catching the ferry across the Yukon River.
Fairbanks. Location: Mile 1301 on the Alaska Highway at Ferries are large enough to hold greyhound buses,
Taylor Highway 5. Visitor information: Alaska so there is no problem with RVs. After leaving
Entering Alaska’s broad interior plateau, which Public Lands Information Center-Tok, PO Box Chicken, the road transitions from paved to hard
extends from the Wrangell and Alaska Ranges to the 359, Tok, AK 99780; Phone (907) 883-5667. gravel. The Top of the World Highway is 78 miles
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