8 Stunning Alaska National Parks Families Should Visit

Alaska is a vast wilderness full of natural beauty and wild rivers. It is one of the best places to visit if you have an adventurous family. If you are planning a vacation here, you will want to check out this list of breathtaking Alaska National Parks.

Alaska National Parks

Alaska’s National Parks are some of the wildest and most beautiful places in the United States! These parks are protected by the National Park Service and cover millions of acres of wild land. They are the perfect place for families to explore nature and learn about the world around them.

If your kids love adventure, they will enjoy seeing glaciers, mountains, and wide open spaces. Wildlife viewing is also a big part of visiting these parks. You might spot grizzly bears, moose, bald eagles, sea lions or even whales.

Whether you visit in person or learn from home, Alaska’s National Parks offer endless opportunities for homeschooling. Let’s take a closer look at these amazing places!

1. Denali National Park and Preserve

Denali National Park and Preserve is the first on our Alaska national parks list. It’s located in Central Alaska and has six million acres of land connected by one road. The lower elevations of the park are covered in boreal forests, home to moose, bears, and wolves. The park is also home to North America’s tallest peak, Denali, which stands at 20,310 feet. ​

In 1906, Charles Sheldon, a conservationist, proposed preserving the Denali region as a national park named Mount McKinley National Park. Congress created the park in 1917 to protect Dall sheep from over-hunting. It was later renamed Denali National Park and Preserve.

Things to Do:

• Bus Tours: Travel along the 92-mile Denali Park Road to spot wildlife.
• Hiking: Explore maintained trails near the park entrance or venture into the backcountry for off-trail hiking.
• Flightseeing Tours: Experience aerial views of the park’s landscapes and Denali’s peak from a small plane!
• Sled Dog Demonstrations: Visit the park’s sled dog kennels to learn about this traditional mode of transportation. ​
• Rafting: Navigate the Nenana River for a thrilling adventure. ​
• Camping: Stay overnight in designated campgrounds or obtain permits for backcountry camping. ​
• Photography: Capture stunning landscapes and wildlife. Guided photography tours are also available.​
• Visitor Center Programs: Attend ranger-led programs and educational exhibits. ​
• Winter Activities: Engage in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and Aurora Borealis viewing of the Northern lights during the winter months.

Educational Resources for Homeschooling

Denali National Park has so many amazing resources for homeschoolers!

Distance Learning Programs

The Denali Education Team offers free, interactive classroom presentations via Zoom that meet national curriculum standards. These programs are offered from November 1 to March 31 and are a great option for homeschooling families.

There are 7 different programs to choose from:

• At Home in Denali’s Biome
• Denali Q & A
• Denali’s Dinosaurs
• Lessons from the Land
• The Science of Sled Dogs
• What Would You Do: Winter Wildlife
• Why Wilderness?

Learn About Sled Dogs

The Science of Sled Dogs is a 30 minute distance learning video that you can watch at home with your children. Learn how the park rangers use sled dogs to work in the national park during the winter. You will also learn how these animals are adapted to the cold environment and how they are created to survive in the winter.

Canine Rangers of Denali is part of the Junior Ranger program that you can complete online to learn about sled dogs and mushing.

Meet the Sled Dogs – See the sled dogs in the virtual online kennel! Browse the litters below to meet all of Denali’s canine Rangers!

Sled Dogs of Denali Printable – This free pdf is a student reading to learn all about the sled dogs of Denali National Park.

More Homeschool Resources

Educational Resources – There are links to videos, printables, and Junior park ranger activities. Your children will learn about Geology and Mountaineering, Sled Dogs, Culture and Heritage, Wildlife, Weather and Climate, the Alaskan Wilderness and more!

2. Gates of the Arctic National Park

Gates of the Arctic National Park is located in Northern Alaska, above the Arctic Circle. It is considered one of the wildest places in the United States and the most remote national park with no roads or trails. The only way into the park is to hike or come in by a plane!

For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples lived and traveled through this land, hunting and fishing. In 1980, the park was created to protect its untouched wilderness and wildlife.

Things to Do:

• Backpacking and Hiking: Explore untouched wilderness with no trails or roads.
• Wildlife Viewing: Spot caribou, grizzly bears, wolves, and Dall sheep.
• River Floating and Kayaking: Paddle down a wild and scenic river like the Noatak and Alatna.
• Fishing: Catch Arctic grayling, trout, and salmon in the park’s rivers and lakes.
• Photography: Capture stunning views of mountains, tundra, and the northern lights.
• Flightseeing: Take a plane tour to see the park’s vast landscapes from above.

3. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is in southeast Alaska, west of Juneau. It is famous for its huge glaciers, snowy mountains, and ocean waters. The park is home to whales, sea otters, bears, and eagles.

About 250 years ago, the area was covered by a giant glacier. Over time, the ice melted, revealing deep fjords and rich wildlife habitats. Indigenous Tlingit people have lived here for centuries, using the land and waters for hunting and fishing.

In 1925, Glacier Bay became a national monument, and in 1980, it was added to the Alaska national parks list. Today, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protecting its unique landscapes and wildlife.

Things to Do:

• Boat Tours: Cruise through Glacier Bay to see massive glaciers and marine wildlife.
• Kayaking: Paddle through calm waters surrounded by mountains and icebergs.
• Wildlife Viewing: Spot humpback whales, sea otters, seals, bears, and bald eagles.
• Hiking: Explore scenic trails like Bartlett Cove for stunning forest and coastal views.
• Glacier Watching: See active glaciers like Margerie Glacier calving into the ocean.
• Fishing: Catch salmon and halibut in the park’s waters.
• Camping: Stay in the backcountry for a true wilderness experience.
• Ranger Programs: Learn about the park’s history, glaciers, and wildlife from experts.
• Visit the Huna Tribal House: Learn about the culture and history of the Tlingit people.

Free Glacier Bay National Park Resources for Your Homeschool

Glacier Bay National Park has some amazing learning opportunities for your homeschool that you can do right at home.

Pollinators of Alaska Free Coloring Book

Learn about the pollinators of Alaska with this free printable coloring book.

Middle School Scientist Curriculum

The Middle School Scientists Curriculum – This curriculum was designed to help teachers and students learn about the natural, historical and geological research that the researchers from Glacier Bay study. This is a free curriculum for middle school students with accompanying videos.

Distance Learning

The Glacier Bay Education Team offers free distance learning programs in January and February each year. Rangers start taking requests on December 1 and will process requests in the order in which they are received. Here are the topics your kids can learn about:

• The Power of Glaciers
• Visiting Glacier Bay
• Survivor Glacier Bay
• Let’s Go Whale Watching in Glacier Bay!
• Ask A Park Ranger – Living and Working in Glacier Bay, Alaska

Curriculum Materials

The curriculum materials page has lots of curriculum and lesson plans that you can download and use at home.

• Echolocation in Action
• Bears of Glacier Bay 2: The Scoop on Poop
• On the Trail of a Whale
• The World of Underwater Sound
• Bears of Glacier Bay Lesson One: Name That Bear
• Humpback Whales of Glacier Bay Lesson 2: A Whale of a Tail
• Humpback Whales of Glacier Bay Lesson 3: You’re the Superintendent
• Bears of Glacier Bay 3: Be Bear Aware
• Seals of Glacier Bay Lesson One: Flipper Feet

Junior Ranger Program

Become a Glacier Bay Web Ranger – Visit Glacier Bay from home by following the Junior Ranger Adventure Story Map. Fill out the answer sheet and email it back to receive a certificate and sticker badge back in the mail!

4. Katmai National Park and Preserve

Katmai National Park and Preserve is located in southern Alaska, across from Kodiak Island. It is famous for its brown bears, volcanoes, and wild rivers. The park is one of the best places in the world to see bears fishing for salmon at Brooks Falls.

In 1912, the Novarupta Volcano erupted, creating the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a vast ash-covered landscape. To protect this area, the park was first made a national monument in 1918. In 1980, it became a national park and preserve.

Things to Do:

• Bear Viewing: Watch brown bears catch salmon at Brooks Falls, one of the best bear-watching spots in the world.
• Hiking: Explore trails around Brooks Camp or venture into the remote backcountry.
• Fishing: Catch salmon and trout in Katmai’s rivers and lakes.
• Flightseeing: Take a small plane tour for to see volcanoes, glaciers, and rivers.
• Camping: Stay at Brooks Camp or in the backcountry for a true wilderness experience.
• Boating and Kayaking: Paddle through scenic lakes and rivers.
• Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Tour: Visit the massive ash-filled valley created by the 1912 Novarupta eruption.

Educational Resources

Learn about bears during Fat Bear Week, and become a junior ranger and a “Not-So Junior Ranger” with these fun freebies!

Fat Bear Week in the Classroom

At Katmai, bears are drawn to the salmon readily available from roughly late June through September to help fatten them up before winter. The park puts together a fun celebration to vote on the best fat bear.

Fat Bear Week in the Classroom has lots of extension activities, videos and resources that you can use with your children at home to learn about the bears of Katmai National Park.

Junior Ranger Program

The Katmai Junior Ranger Activity Booklet is available to download for free online. Your children can complete the activities, fill it out and mail your booklet back to the park. You will receive a signed certificate and badge back in the mail!

Not-So Junior Ranger Program

The Not-So Junior Ranger Program is a unique program designed young adults and adults. Learn more about Katmai’s history and resources perfect for any National Park fan.

5. Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park is located in southern Alaska, near the town of Seward. It is known for its glaciers, mountains, and coastal waters. Over half of the park is covered by the Harding Icefield, which feeds many glaciers.

In 1980, the park was created to protect its glaciers, wildlife, and marine ecosystems. Today, visitors come to see glaciers, whales, sea otters, and puffins, making it one of Alaska’s most scenic parks.

Things to Do:

• Boat Tours: Cruise through fjords to see glaciers, whales, and marine wildlife.
• Hiking: Trek the Harding Icefield Trail for incredible glacier views.
• Wildlife Viewing: Spot whales, sea lions, puffins, and bald eagles.
• Kayaking: Paddle through calm waters near glaciers and rugged coastlines.
• Glacier Viewing: Visit Exit Glacier, the easiest to access glacier in Alaska.
• Flightseeing: Take a scenic flight over the Harding Icefield for amazing views.
• Camping: Stay at Exit Glacier Campground or in the backcountry for a remote experience.
• Fishing: Catch salmon and halibut in the waters near the park.
• Ranger Programs: Learn about glaciers, wildlife, and park history from the park rangers.

Educational Resources for Your Homeschool

Kenai Fjords National Park has distance learning, nature journaling lesson plans, junior ranger programs and free curriculum to use in your homeschool.

Distance Learning

Bring Kenai Fjords to your homeschool with these free distance learning programs.

• Fabulous Fjord Ecosystem
• Listening to the Ice
• Glacier Explorers
• Swimming on Your Back
• Supper Sea

Curriculum Materials

These free lesson plans are available to print and use at home with your children to learn more about this National Park.

• Those Fabulous Fjords!
• Glacial Detectives
• The Scientific Method
• Succession and Nutrient Cycling in a Temperate Rainforest Ecosystem
• Temperate Rainforest Ecology
• Piecing Together the Fjord Estuary Ecosystem Puzzle

Nature Journaling Lesson plans

Learn all about nature journaling with these free nature journal lesson plans. Your kids will learn about how to nature journal, observe animals, plants, and sounds in nature.

Junior Ranger Program

This Junior Ranger Adventure Guide and Explorers Journal are free to download. Learn glaciers, and wildlife by working on these activities. Return them by mail to receive a certificate and badge back in the mail.

6. Kobuk Valley National Park

Kobuk Valley National Park is in northwestern Alaska, above the Arctic Circle. It is famous for its sand dunes, caribou migrations, and wild rivers.

For thousands of years, the Inupiat people have lived in the valley, hunting caribou for food and clothing. The park was created in 1980 to protect the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes and the caribou migration routes.

Things to Do:

• Boat Tours: Paddle or take a guided trip down the Kobuk River to see wildlife and stunning scenery.
• Hiking: Explore the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, one of the largest dune fields in the Arctic.
• Wildlife Viewing: Watch the Western Arctic Caribou Herd migrate across the valley.
• Camping: Set up camp in the backcountry for a quiet, remote experience.
• Fishing: Catch Arctic grayling, pike, and salmon in the park’s rivers.
• Flightseeing: Take a small plane tour for views of the sand dunes, rivers, and tundra.

National Park Educational Resources

Participate in distance learning with a real park ranger, and become a junior ranger right at home.

Distance Learning

You can join a ranger for a live distance learning program to experience the unique landscapes, history, and wildlife of Kobuk Valley. You can sign up for three different programs:

• Visiting the Western Arctic (K – 3rd)
• Arctic Animal Adaptations (4 – 6th)
• The Science of Winter (7 – 12th)

Become a Junior Ranger by downloading the free booklet and completing the activities at home. Return them by mail to receive a certificate and badge in the mail.

7. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is located in southwest Alaska, west of Anchorage. The park is home to Lake Clark, a massive, turquoise-colored lake surrounded by wild landscapes.

The Indigenous Dena’ina people lived here, relying on the land for food and shelter. In 1980, the park was created to protect its wildlife, volcanoes, and pristine waters. Today, it is one of the least-visited but most stunning national parks in Alaska.

Things to Do:

• Boat Tours: Explore Lake Clark and other scenic waterways by boat.
• Bear Viewing: Watch brown bears fishing for salmon at Crescent Lake or Silver Salmon Creek.
• Hiking: Trek through the Twin Lakes area or up to Tanalian Falls for amazing views.
• Fishing: Catch salmon, trout, and Arctic char in the park’s rivers and lakes.
• Flightseeing: Take a scenic flight to see glaciers, volcanoes, and lakes.
• Camping: Stay in the backcountry for a peaceful, remote experience.
• Kayaking and Canoeing: Paddle through Lake Clark or other waterways for a quiet adventure.

Free Homeschool Resources

There are free lesson plans, activities, curriculum and a junior ranger virtual program that you can complete at home.

Curriculum Materials

Learn about ecosystems, bears, fish identification and more with these free lesson plans and activities.

• How Clear Is the Water?
• Can You Identify Me?
• How Many Salmon Are Enough?
• Carrying Capacity and Bears in Alaska
• Brown Bear Survival Game

Junior Ranger Virtual Program

Become a Junior Ranger Virtually by emailing a park ranger for a downloadable booklet and printable badge.

8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the last one on this list of Alaska national parks, located in Southeast Alaska near the border of Canada. It is the largest national park and is bigger than Switzerland and covers 13.2 million acres of wilderness. It includes mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and wild rivers and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It was established in 1980 as part of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Before it became a park, the area was home to Native Alaskan tribes. In the early 1900s, copper was discovered, leading to the creation of the Kennecott Mines, which brought miners and settlers.

Things to Do:

• Visit the Kennecott Mines: Explore the historic copper mining town and learn about Alaska’s mining history.
• Hike Root Glacier: Walk on a real glacier and see deep blue ice formations.
• Scenic Flightseeing: Take a small plane tour for breathtaking views of mountains and glaciers.
• Rafting on the Copper River: Enjoy a thrilling ride through Alaska’s wild landscapes.
• Wildlife Viewing: Look for bears, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep.
• Backpacking and Camping: Experience true wilderness in one of the most remote location parks in the United States.
• Visit the Visitor Centers: Stop by for maps, exhibits, and ranger programs.
• Northern Lights Viewing: See the amazing Aurora Borealis dance across the sky in the winter.

Free Homeschool Curriculum Resources

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park has lots of free curriculum resources, and a free junior ranger program that your kids can complete in your homeschool.

Curriculum Materials

The park offers free curriculum materials, activities and lesson plans that you can download and use with your children at home. There are so many different things to learn about here!

• Pathways to Discovery – Getting to Know a Tree
• Forest Exploration
• Creature Meeting
• Pathways to Discovery – Model Habitat
• Pathways to Discovery – Muir’s Trees and Writing Activity
• Forest Life: The Basics
• Pathways to Discovery – Field Exploration
• Wetlands Exploration
• Bat and Moth
• Basics of Habitat

Junior Ranger Programs

The Wrangell-St. Elias Junior Ranger Program has an online version that can be completed online, or a booklet that you can download and complete at home. You can mail it back to receive a certificate and badge back in the mail!