Moose sighting?

[staufj22]

Hi,

 

I'll be taking a Princess cruise tour June 9th to the 19th. We'll be in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway for the cruise portion, Mt. McKinley, Denali, and Fairbanks for the land portion.

 

My girlfriend has insisted that she wants to be able to see a moose in the wild. Can anyone recommend a tour, in any of our stops, that will offer the best chance at such a sighting?

 

-Jimmy

[Budget Queen]

Hopefully you have the Tundra Wilderness tour at Denali Park??? It's about a given to see moose. If you have only the Natural History tour- you may also see them in this short distance. Bring binoculars.

[staufj22]

Hopefully you have the Tundra Wilderness tour at Denali Park??? It's about a given to see moose. If you have only the Natural History tour- you may also see them in this short distance. Bring binoculars.

 

Sadly, we're only on the Natural History Tour. I don't see the Tundra Wilderness tour on the optional tour list, this is not something that can be added on?

Are there other tour operators for this location? We only have a short time at the Denali Princess Lodge, do we have time to go into the national park, aside from the NHT?

[KnoxvilleSam]

Sadly, we're only on the Natural History Tour. I don't see the Tundra Wilderness tour on the optional tour list, this is not something that can be added on?

Are there other tour operators for this location? We only have a short time at the Denali Princess Lodge, do we have time to go into the national park, aside from the NHT?

 

Staufj22 -

 

We're also on a Princess cruisetour and the Natural History Tour was included in our package. I called Princess (we booked directly with Princess) and cancelled that tour and got a credit for it, then I called/emailed ARAMARK (the National Park Service concessioner running the shuttle buses) to reserve Wonder Lake shuttle bus. Alternatively, if you want the Tundra Wilderness Tour you can do that directly with Princess. It will cost a bit more than the Natural History tour, but you go farther into the park (to see the mooses :) )

 

Sam

[40yearcruiser]

Our Princess cruisetour also included the Natural History Tour, but we cancelled it (refund of $39 for adults and $16 for children) and reserved the afternoon shuttle to Toklat on the day we arrive at Denali Princess. You will need to check your arrival/departure times at the lodge and determine if you have time to take a shuttle instead of the included tour.

[staufj22]

Staufj22 -

 

We're also on a Princess cruisetour and the Natural History Tour was included in our package. I called Princess (we booked directly with Princess) and cancelled that tour and got a credit for it, then I called/emailed ARAMARK (the National Park Service concessioner running the shuttle buses) to reserve Wonder Lake shuttle bus. Alternatively, if you want the Tundra Wilderness Tour you can do that directly with Princess. It will cost a bit more than the Natural History tour, but you go farther into the park (to see the mooses :) )

 

Sam

 

Thanks for the info. I'm looking at the Wonder Lake shuttle buses, however, it doesn't look like we will have time for such a long round-trip time.

[staufj22]

Our Princess cruisetour also included the Natural History Tour, but we cancelled it (refund of $39 for adults and $16 for children) and reserved the afternoon shuttle to Toklat on the day we arrive at Denali Princess. You will need to check your arrival/departure times at the lodge and determine if you have time to take a shuttle instead of the included tour.

 

I think you're right, looking from the schedule I have, we're leaving Talkeetna at 11:30AM, arriving at 3:45PM in Denali.

Looks like if I'm reading the schedule correctly, the latest departure for the shuttle bus is at 2PM?

Is it possible to catch an earlier train out of Talkeetna? Or is the Princess tour schedule pretty much set?

[Italy52]

Tell your girlfriend to keep her eyes open at all times, you never know where you will find moose. In May '06, we were driving to Portage Glacier when my husband pointed out a moose on the right hand side of the highway. Although the moose was not on the highway itself, it was close enough for me to worry about its safety.

[Squirrel's Mom]

We did the Natural History Tour with Princess two years ago and were delighted to see a mama moose and her brand new babies. It was mid-May and she was trying to teach them to cross the road. We were able to watch her for a good half hour.

[Budget Queen]

I think you're right, looking from the schedule I have, we're leaving Talkeetna at 11:30AM, arriving at 3:45PM in Denali.

Looks like if I'm reading the schedule correctly, the latest departure for the shuttle bus is at 2PM?

Is it possible to catch an earlier train out of Talkeetna? Or is the Princess tour schedule pretty much set?

 

No there is only one train. I would suggest the Polychrome shuttle at the least leaves at 6pm. You will have to find your way back to the lodge yourself. There have been posts on this board on how to do it. Otherwise it's at least a mile walk. You do have to bring all your own food and drink with you, nothing in the park.

 

IN no way to sound harsh- but looking at this post, it is clear that all of you did not know the options into Denali Park, otherwise I will speculate you would not have chosen what you did?? This is a COMMON problem with vague descriptions in brochures and uninformed agents on a very costly trip. I get flamed all the time about my negative posts re cruisetours. But this is a reason I post. Fortunately you all are doing homework and getting yourself informed. There are way more people who aren't. I've seen many times in Talkeetna- cruisetour people coming back from Denali Park - scratching their heads wondering what all the fuss was about going there- they didn't see much. They didn't get into the Park and don't even know it. Hopefully it will work out for all of you.

[wolfie11]

I saw a bull moose right at the entrance to Denali National Park yesterday afternoon and one just north of the park on the way to Healy.

[elkruiser]

We're on the same tour in Aug and I'm also concerned about the times at Denali. I've gotten lots of great help form the exprets here and have some tentative plans. Since we get to lodge at 4pm after being on the train all day, I'm recommending to my group to cancel the NHT(5 - 10pm) and book the 6pm shuttle into the park if they are still interested in seeing it (more than they would see on NHT). That way they have time to grab some food before the shuttle or have a nice dinner at the lodge if they are too pooped to tour some more.

I am going to book a tour that picks up in Talkeetna and finishes at McKinley lodge the previous day as we arrive before 2pm and that will make a good afternood for something a little more energetic.

[staufj22]

I am going to book a tour that picks up in Talkeetna and finishes at McKinley lodge the previous day as we arrive before 2pm and that will make a good afternood for something a little more energetic.

 

 

What sorts of tours were you looking at for Telkeetna?

[elkruiser]

There's a Wilderness jet boat adventure for $55 pp. I thought if we are due at the lodge at 2 we would probably hit Talkeetna around 1pm and could take this trip (5 hours) for the afternoon and still have time to relax in the great room. Does this sound do-able? How close are the times if you book a "From Talkeetna" which drops you off at McKinley lodge?

[Budget Queen]

There's a Wilderness jet boat adventure for $55 pp. I thought if we are due at the lodge at 2 we would probably hit Talkeetna around 1pm and could take this trip (5 hours) for the afternoon and still have time to relax in the great room. Does this sound do-able? How close are the times if you book a "From Talkeetna" which drops you off at McKinley lodge?

 

Is this a cruiselodge Princess tour??? How are you getting to Talkeetna??

[elkruiser]

Yes, we are on a Princess cruise tour. Train from Whittier to Talkeetna then "motorcoach" to the McKinley lodge. The optional excursion brochure lists several excursions for McKinley that you may start in Talkeetna that will drop off at the lodge when finished. I would also like to see the town of Talkeetna so if there is a wait for the tour that would not be a problem. I figure to grab dinner and relax at McKinley lodge that evening before the train trip to Denali lodge the next day at 10 am.

[Budget Queen]

Yes, we are on a Princess cruise tour. Train from Whittier to Talkeetna then "motorcoach" to the McKinley lodge. The optional excursion brochure lists several excursions for McKinley that you may start in Talkeetna that will drop off at the lodge when finished. I would also like to see the town of Talkeetna so if there is a wait for the tour that would not be a problem. I figure to grab dinner and relax at McKinley lodge that evening before the train trip to Denali lodge the next day at 10 am.

 

 

 

This jet boat trip is so so, in my opinion. But a cheap tour with Princess for 5 hours??? You are likely to go stright from the end of the tour to the lodge, but probably have a wait time before it starts. That is what I would plan on. When the lodge opens in a few weeks, call them directly and ask about the tour timing. You have about 5 1/2 hours on the train.

[RSWBADGER]

If your staying a the Princess Denali Lodge keep an eye out for the 2 Adult Moose and 1 calf directly across the river from the outside deck.

 

We saw them both nights 8 - 9 PM, last June during our stay.

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