Alaska’s Greatest National Parks

Established in 1980 to protect some of Alaska's most remarkable and impenetrable wilderness, Kenai Fjords National Park spans more than 2,500 km², at the foot of Seward. Snow and ice cover 60% of its area. From the vast Harding Icefield bordering the park, countless glaciers flow down, carving valleys that fill with seawater to form fjords and icebergs the size of small houses. 

This rugged terrain is home to a wide range of plants and animals. Numerous land animals inhabit this territory, including black and brown bears, beavers, coyotes, mountain goats, river otters, moose, grey wolves and wolverines, and marine wildlife is equally diverse. The glacial waters of the fjords are home to porpoises, sea lions, seals and whales. The park is also a recognised bird habitat, with 191 species recorded to date.

Of all the US states, Alaska has the most national parks. Wrangell-St. Elias is not only its largest park, but also the largest in all of North America. A genuinely impressive scale.

Covering an area of 53,321 km², the reserve boasts an extraordinary landscape. Lush green spaces, numerous snow-capped mountains, magnificent glaciers and striking water sources make this reserve a place of pure natural beauty. You'll also find the second-highest peak in the United States here: Mount Saint Elias. You won't be disappointed.

Denali National Park sits at the center of Alaska, the US state located at the continent's northwestern tip, bordering Canada.
As large as 4 French départements and designated a “Biosphere Reserve” since 1976, the park offers a breathtaking diversity of landscapes: tundra, taiga, deep valleys, glaciers and peaks rising above 6,000 metres form one of the richest ecosystems in the world. Ferns, mosses, lichens, towering trees — you'll find it all here. If you have the chance to visit Alaska, this exceptional park, embodying the sheer scale of the American continent, is not to be missed.

Naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts alike come to Denali to observe wildlife typical of North America. You can see grizzlies, black bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, marmots, and countless bird species, including migratory ones that populate the park at different times of year. An exceptional diversity that will delight any nature lover.

Established in 1918, Katmai National Park and Preserve protects an active volcanic zone and critical habitat for salmon and the thousands of grizzlies that feed on them. Katmai is closely associated with bears because it is one of the best places in the world to observe brown bears. More than 2,000 individuals live here, with many gathering around Brooks Camp to catch sockeye salmon in the Brooks River. A short hike leads to three wildlife-viewing platforms along the river, from which you can watch bears catch their meal.

Besides bears and salmon, you may also spot moose, caribou, wolves, red foxes, waterfowl, bald eagles, seals and whales elsewhere in the park. Katmai has no road access and is reached by air: explore the park by boat or on foot, camera close at hand to capture a few lasting memories.