There are many Alaska flightseeing tours to choose from, but none match our accessibility and proximity to Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Unless you set off on a month-long climbing expedition in Denali Park there is no better way to experience the amazing and diverse landscapes of the Park than from the eagle-eye perspective you’ll enjoy on board our safe, small aircraft. Views of Denali from train or bus can be awe inspiring but these sights only scratch the surface of what one can see from the air.
Denali National Park and Preserve encompasses roughly half of the 300 plus mile Alaska range. The tectonic plates uplift over 20,000 feet of granite rock from the neighboring tundra valleys creating the most dramatic view of any mountain on the planet.
The tallest Mountain in North America, Denali, has a larger bulk and rise than Mount Everest. Although the summit of Everest is higher at 29,029 feet (8,848 m), it sits on the Tibetan Plateau at about 17,000 feet (5,200 m), giving it a real vertical rise of a little more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m). The base of Denali is roughly 2,000 feet (610 m), giving it an actual rise of 18,000 feet (5,500 m).
More glaciers than one can count, most over 20 miles in length, towering granite walls, snow and ice covered peaks for as far as the eye can see are just a few of the attractions you will see on a typical flight with Kantishna Air. Denali is located approx. 60 miles from the entrance of the park, 45 miles from Talkeetna and only 20 miles from Kantishna. This means flightseeing tours based from our airstrip in Kantishna will give you more time over glaciers and up close to Denali than other Alaska flightseeing tours. If weather allows we can completely circle Denali in a one hour flight. Occasional wildlife sightings occur in this vast 6 million acres of wilderness. Dall sheep on the upper slopes of the Alaska range foothills are the most common sightings, followed by Moose, Bear and Caribou.
Choose one of our guest-favorite flight tours, or ask us about more customized options. Alaska air charter flights to other destinations such as Talkeetna, Fairbanks and Anchorage can all be customized to fly by or around Denali. Our experienced team of expert pilots can charter flights to just about anywhere in Alaska.
If you have a few extra days to spend inside Denali, we invite you to stay with us at Skyline Lodge, the perfect retreat for independent-spirited travelers!