Alaska's vast areas of mostly uninhabited terrain make it the perfect place for stargazing...but there's a catch. By the end of April, constant sunlight makes it all but impossible to see the stars. Now's the perfect time to take a trip to one of the best places to view the heavens - Denali National Park.
Denali National Park and Preserve is one of the best places to witness the beauty of Alaska's winter night skies.
The park is open during winter months, and you'll find plenty of solitude this time of year, before tourists flock here in the summer.
For the best possible stargazing experience, camp overnight so you can spend hours gazing at the star-filled heavens.
Riley Creek Campground remains open year-round, and there aren't any nightly fees to camp here until Mother's Day.
You can also camp in the backcountry, but you'll need to stop in at the Winter Visitor Center for a free backcountry permit.
Winter camping season is from October 1st to April 15th. The park service notes that March and April are the best months for winter camping, since daylight hours are increasing and the weather starts to warm above freezing during daylight.
Out here in the peace and quiet, the thousands of stars in the sky are magical.
You'll be tempted to stay up all night to view them.
If you're lucky, you might even see the aurora borealis.
It's impossible to predict when it will be visible, but you'll only be able to witness this jaw-dropping spectacle during the fall, winter and early spring.
For more information on visiting or camping at Denali during the winter, visit the park's website.
While it's not possible to enjoy starry skies in the summer, we're definitely looking forward to warmer weather. Here are seven rail trails to explore this summer.
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