U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Denali Highway Region Watchable Wildlife This rugged 135-mile stretch of primarily gravel highway offers a taste of wild Alaska with its wide-open vistas of mountains, glaciers, tundra, forests, lakes, and rivers. Visitors may see grizzly bear and moose throughout the journey between Cantwell and Paxson. In August, large numbers of migrating caribou may be visible from the many waysides and pullouts. Bob Wick, BLM Habitats Arctic tundra | Alpine tundra | Boreal forest | Shrubland | Riverine/riparian | Freshwater lakes/ponds Species to See Grizzly bear Northern flying squirrel - In the nighttime hours, this small, Gray wolf quarter-pound mammal glides from tree to tree using lateral skin Wolverine folds called patagia. Alaskan subspecies of flying squirrel prefer Red fox to live in old growth forests where they find cover from predators, Moose nest in tree cavities, and raise their young. They survive the winter Caribou Yu i months by entering torpor, a state similar to hibernation. River otter mi Kawaguch Hoary marmot Arctic warbler - Listen for the loud trill of an Arctic warbler singing Muskrat from willows near streams. This warbler is one of the few birds that Common loon flies to North America from Asia. Most of the individuals of this Long-tailed jaeger species breed in northern Asia and Europe, but a small population Willow ptarmigan flies from Asia to breed in Alaska each summer. Watch for them Salmon (5 species) flitting from bush to bush along the Denali Highway. Arctic grayling A r lan Schmiere North American beaver - Look for this distinct reddish-brown rodent swimming through streams and ponds. Beavers are the largest rodents in North America and are known as “ecosystem engineers” for their environment-altering lifestyle. Beavers use their Wildlife Viewing Tips large teeth to cut down trees and place them to build lodges and dam rivers, creating new still-water pools that provide habitat for The Denali Highway Je many other species. is open mid-May to rem LM y Matlock, B October 1. It is gravel Trumpeter swan - This graceful white bird is the largest waterfowl most of the way species in the world, with a typical weight of 21-30 pounds and and has very limited a wingspan of up to six feet. Their huge mass requires a long, services. Prepare to be approximately 300-feet, “runway” for them to take off from water. self-sufficient. Mating pairs of swans pluck aquatic plants to build nests in the marshes adjacent to freshwater lakes. These nests can be up to 12 Hunting season in D on S na FW Dewhurst, US feet in diameter and two feet above the water. September and October brings crowds to the area, especially near Other Resources the road system. Wear Denali Highway Georeferenced Map | Denali Highway Brochure | Gulkana Wild and Scenic River Guide | bright clothing. Tangle Lakes Archaeological District Brochure | Delta Wild and Scenic River Guide https://www.blm.gov/alaska/wildlife Delta National Wild iver a R & Scenic River elt To Tok Sevenmile Lake D Summit Tangle Lake Lakes Tundra To Viewpoint ighway Cantwell Denali H (MP 13) M Mud Lake 1 Paxson a 2 c (MP 0.5) l a r 3 Fiftymile Lake e 4 n Tangle Lakes (MP 50) R i & Tangle River v e r (MP 21.5) Swede Legend Lake R ic h Wildlife a r d s Other Lands Lands BLM Habitat o Paxson n Arctic Tundra 5 Lake H i Alpine Tundra Dickey Lake G g ulk h a 7 w na Boreal Forest Ri a ver Paxson Lake y Riverine/Riparian (MP 175) 6 Freshwater lake/pond Gulkana National Wild & Scenic River To Wild & Scenic River Corridor Glennallen # Watchable Wildlife Site Wildlife Viewing Sites 1 Mud Lake (Denali Highway 6 Gulkana National Wild and Scenic River - This large Wolf tracks (DNHW) MP 0.5) - Walk the short system of lakes connected by the West Fork of the Gulkana trail to this shallow lake for a River, part of the Copper River Watershed, offers nesting habitat chance to see moose, trumpeter to about 30% of the world’s trumpeter swans. Extended canoe swans, and bald eagles. Look in trips through this seldom-visited area reward the adventurer with the water for brightly colored red numerous opportunities to view wildlife. salmon. 7 Paxson Lake (Richardson Highway MP 175) - Camp, launch 2 Tundra Viewpoint (DNHW a boat, or just relax at this large scenic lake. Eagle nests and MP 13) - As you head west, the eaglets are common in the area, while moose or caribou may be land around the highway opens seen near the water. into expansive tundra. Watch carefully for moose, caribou, Erin Julianus, BLM wolf, ptarmigan, long-tailed jaegers, fox, and bear. Other Notable Locations 3 Tangle Lakes & Tangle River (DNHW MP 21.5) - Trumpeter ■ Wrangell St. Elias National Park, National Park Service. swans, long-tailed ducks, common mergansers, common loons, The largest national park in the United States offers the and Arctic terns splash in this network of lakes and rivers all opportunity to see many different animals, including caribou, summer while songbirds nest in the surrounding shrubs. Launch moose, mountain goats, and Dall sheep. a boat to explore the Delta National Wild and Scenic River. Watch for grizzly bear, moose, and caribou in the surrounding alpine ■ Copper River, multiple land managers. Flowing from interior tundra. to the Gulf of Alaska, the Copper River is famous for its salmon runs and the bears that feed on the fish. 4 Fiftymile Lake (DNHW MP 50) - Bald eagles, trumpeter swans, moose, caribou, and grizzly bear roam nearby. Beavers ■ Susitna River, multiple land managers. Moose, beavers, swim and build in the waters. This lake can be viewed from the waterfowl, and all five species of salmon thrive in this large Denali Highway. glacially fed river. 5 Dickey Lake - Visit this pristine lake south of the Denali ■ Lake Louise, Department of Natural Resources. The 37 square Highway. Careful wildlife observers may see ptarmigan, bald miles of this state recreation area provide the opportunity to eagle, moose, bear, and a variety of waterfowl. see bear, fox, Dall sheep, trumpeter swan, and gulls. BLM Glennallen Field Office | Milepost 186.5 Glenn Hwy, P.O. Box 147 Glennallen, Alaska 99588 | 907-822-3217 BLM/AK/GI-21/007+6500+931.