Alaska is a vast and breathtakingly beautiful state, known for its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife. And while some of its natural wonders may be more challenging for families with kids, there are plenty of national parks that are perfect for families looking for adventure. Let’s explore the best national parks in Alaska to visit with kids!
Denali National Park:
Denali is one of Alaska’s most popular national parks and is home to North America’s tallest peak, Denali. The park offers a variety of hiking trails, scenic drives, and opportunities to see wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose and caribou.
In spite of its remote and rugged location, you may be surprised to know that Denali National Park actually has some of the best children’s programming and opportunities in the entire National Park System!
The Denali Visitor Center is the main visitor center, but it is only open during the summer. Those who visit from May through September will be elated to find this exciting, museum-like first stop on the way into the park.
Between the exhibits, the park movie, the junior ranger packets, and the general planning, this visitor center deserves an hour or two of dedicated time. One of the first things you will find at this location is the lengthy list of educational and ranger-led programs that your kids will actually BEG to attend!
Did I hear someone say “puppies?”
Absolutely! Your family will NOT want to miss our family’s favorite ranger program in the entire NPS system: the SLED DOG program! It is a BLAST for kids! This popular program is a favorite among visitors, so be sure you secure your spot early.
Park rangers give a brief talk on the experience and care of the dogs. Then, they show the dogs in action. After using the sled for the demonstration, they offer it to visitors to explore and take pictures as below.
As if this weren’t enough excitement, the next part of this ranger program is playing with puppies meeting the sled dogs! Denali hosts this ranger program several times per day, and the rangers seem to genuinely love witnessing the visitors’ delight.
Personally, this was a “bucket-list” experience. And, fortunately, it was FREE with the cost of the park admission!
On the way back from the sled dog program, we took the 1.5 mile McKinley Station Trail that runs adjacent to Riley Creek. It is an easy, level trail that is a great way to burn off some energy. We even saw two moose at the pond we passed.
The Murie Science And Learning Center is the other visitor and educational facility within Denali. Every summer, from 1pm-3pm, they host world-class educational programming for families!
Between the wildlife viewing, the ranger programs, and the educational programming, Denali National Park is one of our top picks for kid-friendly Alaskan adventures!
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park:
This national park is the largest in the country, covering over 13 million acres. The park offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, and scenic drives, as well as stunning views of glaciers, mountains, and wildlife.
Visitor Centers and Junior Ranger Programs
Both the Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center and the Kennecott Visitor Center offer multiple, daily ranger programs. Some kids will enjoy this sort of learning, and others may require a little more activity.
To keep kids engaged at this magnificent park, we suggest procuring junior ranger booklets. This gives each child a mission, and it helps connect some of the programming and scenery to valuable learning.
Mill Tours
For those who like to explore, families can go on a tour of the old Kennecott Mill and its surrounding, historic town. Children may enjoy walking through the decrepit structures and hearing the stories of the people who once lived there.
The Wrangell Mountains Center & WISE
The Wrangell Mountains Center is a wonderful, non-profit organization that supports the park. Their mission is to promote both education and conservation.
They proudly serve the youth that visit the area by hosting Mountains Arts & Science for Youth every Wednesday from 1pm-4pm throughout the summer. They cover a broad array of topics in highly engaging ways.
Your junior rangers can experience hands-on fun with geology, ecology, art, and history. Should you have a committed middle or high schooler, they even offer an annual summer camp in July!
The Wrangell Mountains Center also offers numerous community events including the annual Wrangell Mountains Storytelling Festival at the beginning of August.
Wise is another, local non-profit that offers educational programming to visitors. During the summer months, they host several camps and numerous, family-friendly educational hikes.
Outdoor Fun
Wrangell St. Elias offers numerous opportunities for outdoor experiences. From hiking, to mountaineering, to rafting, to fishing, they represent some of the best variety of Alaskan adventures!
How about a guided glacier hike? Or a glacier cave tour? These are often once-in-a-lifetime opportunties in this very remote wilderness. We suggest you visit the budget and see what unique activities will create the best memories for your family!
We took our son ice climbing when he was twelve-years-old, and he made memories to last a lifetime!
Wrangell St. Elias is a remote and lesser-visited national park; however, it offers all of the excitement of any Alaskan dream. It is very kid-friendly for those willing to make the journey!
Glacier Bay National Park:
This national park is home to one of the largest glaciers in North America and is a popular destination for whale watching and kayaking.
While the park does offer ranger-led programs for kids and scenic boat tours, Glacier Bay is difficult to access since the defining feature is the glacier. Most people access this park via cruise ships.
Bartlett Cove
Bartlett Cove is the location of Glacier Bay’s main lodge and visitor center. It is the “land” portion of this national park, and it can only be accessed via boat or plane. There are a few hiking trails in the area, and park rangers offer many guided hikes throughout the summer months.
A recent addition to Bartlett Cove is the Huna Tribal House which was created to share the tribal history and culture of the Tlingit people. Visitors can watch films, study totem poles, and engage in frequent, summer educational programming.
Boating
Glacier Bay National Park is primarily a water park. It is best experienced from that vantage point. We strongly suggest that you get onto the water via boat or guided excursion.
For tour operations, click HERE. Kayaking in Glacier Bay is also a special experience accessible to the entire family. For more information and tours, the park-approved concessionairre can be found HERE.
Cruise Ships
Due to its remote location, many families will choose to visit this magnificent park via cruise ship. Cruising to Alaska is a bucket-list adventure for many, myself included! However, it is important to know that not all cruise ships visit Glacier Bay National Park.
From my 2023 research, there are three major cruise lines offering children’s programming that visit the park: Princess Cruise Lines, Holland America Cruise Lines, and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Although I love the Holland America line and it has the longest running history with Glacier Bay, it tends to have the oldest demographics. Thus, I generally suggest Norwegian or Princess for families.
If you have a lot of highly active children and prefer entertainment such as laser tag and bumper cars, Norwegian is likely for you.
For those going on multi-generational trips or preferring a slightly more relaxing experience, I suggest Princess Cruise Line. This is the line we have chosen for our 2023 trip. I will report back with a full review.
Glacier Bay National Park is full of fun and unique opportunities for families. Although your visit may be brief, it will be one to remember!
Kenai Fjords National Park:
Kenai Fjords is a fantastic, easily accessible park during Alaskan summers. It is around three hours from Anchorage, and you will pass some of the most scenic beauty you will witness this lifetime!
It’s gateway town of Sewards is a charming place to stay for several days. It offers shops, restaurants, campgrounds, and general comforts.
This southern Alaskan park is home to glaciers, fjords, and abundant wildlife. The park offers opportunities for kayaking, fishing, and wildlife viewing, as well as ranger-led programs for kids.
We suggest you start at the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center which is right in the town of Seward. Pick up junior ranger programs, maps, and the park newspaper to get the lay of the land.
Ask about the Fjord Junior Ranger Walks, which are 90 minute, ranger-led programs for the junior ranger crowd. We always suggest the families participate in any programming specificly geared to the junior ranger crowd!
One of the main attractions that families enjoy is Exit Glacier. You can drive or take a shuttle up to viewpoints and family-friendly trails.
We also recommend a boat tour to view the exciting wildlife of the park. You can see seals, whales, otters, and endless other marine life. It is a truly spectacular adventure with photography opportunities that require no editing!
Note that for extra engagement you can slip your kids a couple of disposable (or real) cameras and challenge them to capture as many different species as possible. Tell them it is their special Alaskan safari!
On our last trip, we took a simple, three hour bout tour using Major Marine Tours. There were lots of snacks and no seasickness!
The diversity of wildlife we witnessed on this tour became a highlight of our Alaskan adventure, and we wish the same excitement for you and your family, too.
Alaska is a nature lover’s paradise, offering breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife, and endless opportunities for adventure. From glaciers and mountains to scenic drives and wildlife watching, the best national parks in Alaska are sure to provide a family-friendly adventure that will be unforgettable.
So grab your kids and get ready to explore the beauty of Alaska!
If you love the cold parks, read more about where to go and what to do to enjoy the solitude of winter in our National Parks!
