Alaska Overland

The grandeur of Alaska is difficult to capture in one visit—or even a lifetime of residence! The sheer size of this immense state spans what were once four time zones. Within its vast boundary, an abundance of diverse wildlife habitats and spectacular landscapes can be seen on all sides. Nowhere else in the US can you find such majestic panoramas awaiting our focus as photographers.

Ask virtually any Alaskan and they will tell you that autumn is an unparalleled time to visit “The Last Frontier.” Fall colors carpet the landscape in a living tapestry of red and gold as bearberry and cranberry of the tundra, and birch and willow of the taiga prepare for the promise of winter soon to come. Now, moose rut in the wetlands as flocks of honking Canada geese and trumpeting sandhill cranes fill the skies. Northern Lights start to become visible on many clear nights.

It is, perhaps, the best time of year to photograph Alaska’s spectacular mountains. Blue-sky days, cold nights and heavy morning frosts herald descending mountain snowlines. Quaking aspen and balsam poplar provide a “sea” of flowing foreground color and texture in counterpoint to the serrate, unyielding snowcapped peaks. Countless hours can be spent photographing the ever-changing light that falls on this land.

Alaska Overland is a classic photography road trip planned to provide a comprehensive cross-section of the heart of Alaska’s interior and dynamic coast. We explore the vast Alaska Range, sail the rich coastal waters of Prince William Sound, and feel the thundering roar of the calving Columbia Glacier. For the most part, we have time to poke around and take our time as we “cruise” the wilderness roadways in search of the “real Alaska” and, of course, great images. No Alaska experience is complete without a visit to Denali National Park and our trip includes a day-long concessionaire’s tour to get up close to superlative Mt. McKinley.

Our journey takes us past ancient Athabascan villages, pristine tundra ponds, expansive marshes and photogenic waterfalls. We skirt the immense and scenic Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve—the largest US national park, six times the size of Yellowstone. Four major mountain ranges converge in the park, which include nine of the sixteen highest peaks in the United States.

Join us on this incredible autumn overland journey as we experience a world of rushing, glacier-fed rivers, vibrant foliage of secluded wilderness valleys, and mountain peaks in such sheer numbers you’ll quickly quell your urge to learn their names! You will come away with a new understanding of the immense forces which shaped this land, great photos, and an appreciation for the amazing history of those who came to eke out a living at the end of the road.