Kantishna Alaska - An Alaska Jewel

Off the beaten path and often unknown to most Alaska visitors, Kantishna Alaska is a small hamlet 95 miles deep into Denali National Park that has a rich and varied history. From its violent geological origins to seasonal hunting forays by native Athabascan peoples and the rough and tumble life of early twentieth century gold prospectors, this fascinating region is today a jumping off point for those seeking to explore the more remote regions of Denali National Park.

Geology

The Alaska Range within Denali National Park straddles the boundary between the Pacific and North American Tectonic Plates. Movement along this boundary, called the Denali Fault, is responsible for thrusting North America's tallest mountain, the 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley, skyward.

Between 2 million and ten thousand years ago, massive continental glaciers filled the Alaska Range. Glaciers are defined by ice that actually flows downhill over time. The south side of the Alaska Range was (and still is) much more heavily glaciated because of the moist storms coming in from the Gulf of Alaska.

Early Human History

The aboriginal people of interior Alaska were Athabascan Indians and are believed to be one of the last groups to have crossed the Bering land bridge.

Archeological evidence suggests that while there were Athabascan villages in the lowlands to the north where a slightly more temperate climate exists, there were no permanent settlements in the Denali National Park region. Evidence also suggests, however, that small groups migrated into the foothills of the Alaska Range during the summer months to hunt caribou and moose, and collect berries and other vegetation.

These people called Mt. McKinley "Denali" which means "The High One", and numerous legends attest to the wonder and fear the Athabascan people felt toward the mountain.

Mining

The first claims in the Kantishna Hills of Denali National Park were staked by Judge James Wickersham in 1903 after he inadvertently discovered gold in Shitsia Creek during explorations for a climbing route on Mt. McKinley. By 1905 several thousand people were traveling up the Kantishna River by boat and dogsled to settle in the area.

Towns around the Kantishna area were often constructed within weeks. The largest of these towns were named Glacier City, Diamond, Roosevelt and Square Deal. Little remains today to mark their locations. Within a few years of the original rush, few miners remained. The realities of remote life combined with relatively few well paying claims, quickly thinned the crowds. Today, no commercial mining activities exist in the Kantishna area of anywhere in Denali National Park.

Kantishna Today

Kantishna today is a jumping off point for those seeking to explore the interior of Denali National Park, far away from the crowds found at the park entrance.

Transportation to Kantishna is only by shuttle, tour bus or charter plane. The 92-mile bus ride from the Denali National Park entrance to Kantishna takes the better part of a day with visitors treated to some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Several lodges are available in the Kantishna area, all offering clean, comfortable accommodations with the best lodges offering a number of activities including naturalist-led programs, guided hikes & walks, gold panning, mountain biking, photo opportunities and even optional flightseeing tours.

An Alaska Jewel

Popular with those discriminating Alaska visitors seeking a true Denali National Park wilderness experience, Kantishna is truly an Alaska jewel which reflects the many sides of the real Alaska experience.

Learn more about Denali National Park and Mt. McKinley.

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