Nat Hab's Bear Camp Itinerary
Photo Expeditions are guided by Expedition Leaders who are expert naturalists and photography pros, adept at helping you get memorable images of Alaska's legendary landscapes and wildlife. Geared toward photographers of all ability levels, our itinerary includes flexibility to adapt to changing light and weather conditions. A small group assures personal attention and coaching from your Expedition Leader, plus plenty of room for your camera equipment aboard our vehicles. This itinerary features three nights at Nat Hab's private fly-in Alaska Bear Camp for brown bear photography in Lake Clark National Park.
Our grand Alaska photography adventure begins in Fairbanks, Alaska's "Golden Heart City." Capital of the vast Interior, Fairbanks retains its frontier flavor with pioneer saloons, paddlewheelers and outlying mining camps. Fairbanks is also home to the flagship campus of the University of Alaska system, where the famous Geophysical Institute is headquartered, leading research in the study of permafrost, earthquakes, sea ice and the aurora borealis. Meet your Expedition Leader at a welcome dinner this evening, who offers an orientation to all the photo opportunities to come.
This morning we drive south through boreal forest along the Nenana River to Denali National Park. At 6 million acres—larger than the state of Massachusetts—Denali is one of the world’s great wilderness preserves. The park's namesake is the highest peak in North America, towering 20,310 feet over alpine tundra and taiga that provide habitat for abundant wildlife. The mountain's name—Denali—means "The High One" in the Athabascan language.
Due to an extended road closure in the interior of Denali National Park as a result of a major landslide in 2021, access to the remote backcountry at the end of the 92-mile-long park road is currently possible only by air. At the park entrance, board a chartered helicopter for a spectacular aerial journey to Denali Backcountry Lodge, isolated in a vast expanse of wilderness. Spending two nights here is an experience very few visitors to Alaska get, even before the road was closed – and it's an even rarer opportunity now. As we fly over the tangled veins of glacier-fed rivers, broad valleys and steep mountainsides, look for wildlife along the edge of the spruce forest and on the braided gravel river bars—we could see moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzlies and occasionally wolves—“Alaska’s Big Five.”
Our base at Denali Backcountry Lodge provides exceptional access for nature photography. Choose among a host of activities that offer a chance to learn about the natural and cultural history of our environs, including the wildlife that thrives here, the Athabascan people who lived off this land for 10,000 years, and the pioneers who mined for gold in nearby Kantishna at the turn of the 20th century. Take a hike in search of wildlife with our Expedition Leader and lodge guides. Paddle a kayak on Wonder Lake to get the iconic postcard shot of Denali’s white hulk rising behind. Try your hand at fishing in Moose Creek. Ride a mountain bike. Or just drink up the profound beauty and silence of wild country on a scale few people will experience in their lifetime. At the end of our day of adventure, return to the lodge for a hearty dinner featuring fresh seasonal and regional fare. Afterward, head to the campfire to roast marshmallows for s’mores.