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Denali Highway

Yahoo Message Number: 30073
Has anyone driven the Denali Highway (not the Denali National Park Road) from Cantwell to Paxson? I know its 133 miles of unpaved road but my favorite travel guide - Frommer's - says its not to be missed and is as or more beautiful than the road in Danali National Park and a whole lot less crowded.?

Thanks

Bob Amory

2002 Allure 30760

Re: Denali Highway

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30081
I have not driven that one. We were down in Homer and came back up to Glen Hwy took it over to Valdez and then back north to Tok cutoff and was a beautiful trip. Tok had many road areas under repair with gravel, but that is the nature of the beast in Alaska. The conditions were not bad provided you slow down in the gravel areas.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: amoryrf
Has anyone driven the Denali Highway (not the Denali National Park > Road) from Cantwell to Paxson? I know its 133 miles of unpaved road

but

Quote
my favorite travel guide - Frommer's - says its not to be missed and

is

Quote
as or more beautiful than the road in Danali National Park and a

whole

Re: Denali Highway

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30083
Hi Jim,

What about buses and trucks coming at you - isn't there alot of gravel flying?
Fred Kovol

Quote from: Jim Hughes

> I have not driven that one. We were down in Homer and came back up

to

Quote
Glen Hwy took it over to Valdez and then back north to Tok cutoff

and

Quote
was a beautiful trip. Tok had many road areas under repair with > gravel, but that is the nature of the beast in Alaska. The

conditions

Quote
were not bad provided you slow down in the gravel areas.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

[quote author=amoryrf"

>

> Has anyone driven the Denali Highway (not the Denali National Park > > Road) from Cantwell to Paxson? I know its 133 miles of unpaved

road

Quote
but

> my favorite travel guide - Frommer's - says its not to be missed

and

Re: Denali Highway

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30096
We didn't take this road as we were heading on to Anchorage, but I can't imagine it would have many trucks or buses on it as it is really a scenic road an not a connector between major towns. We did come down the Cassier Highway with its many miles of unpaved roads and found patience and driving at 25 MPH for long stretches makes it easy to navigate - plus you get to see more.

Dave

#30187 '98 Allure 36

Quote from: Ron Schonscheck\[br\
]
 

Re: Denali Highway

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 30100
You are going to find gravel anywhere you travel up there. The main thing is to slow down, even with oncoming traffic. If you travel up there and try to keep a tight schedule then your force yourself to try to drive a faster speed.

We went up there in 2005. I left Jacksonville, FL in early April, crossed into Canada early May. We went through Canadian Rockies at Banff and Jasper and then onto the ALCAN starting at Dawson Creek.
We spent six months on the road and traveled all over Alaska with no problem with having any damage to the coach. Except for all the dirt on the coach and the towed, everything went great. If someone taking the trip gets uptight about their coach getting really mudbog type dirty, the the trip is not for them. You will drive your self crazy trying to keep it clean. Many of the road repairs include some type of oil tar mixture that is sprayed over the gravel and if you happen to drive through one of the fresh patches, plan on using some mineral spirits to clean the rear of your coach and front of the toad.
We did just fine until we got to the lower 48 on our way home. While going down the interstate we had a truck throw up a rock and put a small chip in the windshield. I have since had it fixed.
I had someone who has experience in making the trip mentored me before we made the trip. The two best pieces of advice he offered was to slow down and don't try to drive the speed limit like you do in the lower 48. Second, watch out for the frost heaves and learn to quickly recognize them before you hit one and become airborn.

Jim Hghes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Jim,

What about buses and trucks coming at you - isn't there alot of

gravel