Alaska Ride the Circle Tour

July 2008

July 8th 2008 Fly in
July 22nd 2008 Fly home

• $3400 double occupancy with more than 20 riders
• $3700 20 or fewer riders
• Single Room $1300 more
• Plan on excursion expenses too!

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Join us on our second year to Alaska. Experience the grand mountains and quaint towns of this fantastic place. July is a perfect time to visit, as the daylight window is around 23 hours. There are segments of gravel or road construction so we recommend a road bike with 25 mm tires. We will only have 2 sag vehicles so there maybe times that riders will need to pocket extra snacks and stop at mini-marts. In December, registered riders of the PAC Tour Ride the Circle will receive a complete Tourist Packet that will include many activities in the places we visit. Riders are encouraged to review the information.

We are doing two tours in Alaska in 2008; this is the second. We're also doing one in June.

Click here for more photos by Debby Henning from the 2006 tour..

Day 1: Anchorage 20 miles
Our hotel is located downtown, with bike paths connecting historic sites, museums and shopping. Our test ride loop is out to Kincaid Park along the Inlet. The hotel provides airport shuttle and bike case storage. Rider check in will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dinner is on your own this night.

Day 2: Anchorage-Moose Pass 100 miles
Leaving Anchorage on bike paths we follow the Alaskan RR line south, passing bald eagles fishing in the Turnagin Arm. See spectacular mountain scenery with glaciers tucked away in the high valleys, glacier run off into fast moving streams and rivers, and the cute B & B’s along side the highway. Possibly the prettiest section of road in the world! Our destination is Trail End Lake and Lodge. Flight Planes dock right at our Lodge and excursions* are available. Riders should attend the Alaska PAC Tour banquet and rider meeting under the lakeside pavilion at the Trail End Lodge.

Day 3: Moose Pass Seward Moose Pass 54-75 miles
We will enjoy a café breakfast so you can leisurely ride toward Seward. Lunch today will be served at Exit Glacier and Seward, so you can eat your lunch while hiking or exploring. The route takes the road to Exit Glacier – where a sag car will provide bike parking so you can take a morning hike up to this massive glacier. Susan has encountered black bears both times she has hiked on this trail! Exciting to be so close to nature. On Exit Glacier road you can visit an Iditarod Sled Dog Farm*. Then continue riding to Seward where the sag there will provide bike parking so you can explore the seaside town – hike up the Marathon Trail Run or plan an excursion: visit the Seward Aquatic Center*, join a Glacier Wild Life Boat Tours*, try sea kayaking*. Finally riding back to Moose Pass.

*Riders should plan on making their own reservations for these excursions, as these fees are not part of the tour package.

Day 4: Moose Pass via Ferry to Valdez 60 miles
We depart early for the ride to Whittier to catch the noon ferry. We shuttle through a one-way tunnel and catch the Alaska State Ferry to Valdez. Enjoy seeing Columbia Glacier, Epicenter of 1964 Earthquake, Fox Islands, and the Terminus of Alaskan pipeline on this relaxing ferry ride. Watch the stellar sea lions, sea otters and dolphins en route. In Valdez, you will have time for an evening hike or exploring this famous halibut fishing harbor.

Day 5: Valdez to Glennallen 120 miles
Ride by beautiful waterfalls up Keystone Canyon, past alpine meadows at Thompson Pass, stop by for an up close and personal look at Worthington Glacier and enjoy the panoramic views of Wrangell-St. Elias Mountain Range. If you still have some energy when you arrive at the Caribou Hotel, you can take an evening white water rafting excursion*.

Day 6: Glennallen to Tok 136 miles
All day we ride with the Wrangell - St. Elias mountain wilderness over our shoulder. This wilderness is 20,000 square miles, 6 times the size of Yellowstone National Park. It includes 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the United States. You will be astounded with the incredible expansive views of glacier run off river basin. Our journey today ends at the Alaska Highway!

Day 7: Tok to Delta Junction 110 miles
Ride all day on the Alaska Highway to its terminus in Delta Junction, Construction begun in 1942, the Alaska Highway travels over 1,400 miles from Dawson Creek, Canada. Dawson Creek was chosen to be the start of the Alaska Highway because a train ran from Edmonton, Alberta to Dawson Creek. Ride quietly through moose habitats!

Day 8: Delta Junction to Fairbanks 108 miles
This rolling ride slices through dense forests and follows sections of the Alaskan Pipeline. The North Pole is a stones throw off of the route – could be an interesting afternoon destination. Our lunch stop is at the Knotty Wood Shop. A cool genuine Alaskan experience. A young couple owns the Knotty Shop. The husband does the knotty artwork with burls of spruce and his wife and her sisters’ run the store. Enjoy wildlife displays and Alaskan souvenirs.

Day 9: Fairbanks – Fairbanks
On your own ride exploring Fairbanks or a variety of other activities. You can arrange a private small plane excursion up to the Arctic Circle or Purdoe Bay, book as early as possible. Arrange to be driven up to the Arctic Circle and get your “official Arctic Circle Certificate”. Exploring Fairbanks and the University of Alaska, hiking, hot air balloon ride*, visiting the Dog Musher Center*

Day 10: Fairbanks to Denali 120 miles
Travel on the Old Nenana and Parks Highway crossing the Nenana River as we ride south toward Denali. Rolling terrain with unbelievable vistas. Staying in Denali you can enjoy the many tourist spots and restaurants.

Day 11 and 12: Denali We spend two full days in Denali to either ride or relax
Ride: On your own in Denali National Park. The $10 fee* allows you to ride the road deep into the park. The road is paved for 15 miles – where most cyclists turn around. There are enforced restrictions on cycling in the park- such as stopping and getting off the road when a shuttle bus approaches. This can be bothersome. The park feels that cycling is a dangerous activity because you will be riding among the wild animals. You can continue past the 15-mile post on a dusty hard packed road. There is no food to purchase in the park beyond the new Visitor’s Center.

Relax: Tourist Activities Galore in Denali from Flight-Seeing over Mt. McKinley to White water rafting. Visit Denali National Park by purchasing a shuttle bus ticket*. They transport you into the park where you can hike around. More information will be available in the December tourist packet. Plan on our final group dinner in Denali!

Day 13: Denali to Talkeetna 153 miles
We will start out early for our longest day, which will be broken up by the breathtaking views of Mt. McKinley and many sag stops. Our final 15 miles to Talkeetna is on a quiet relaxing bike path. Experience a night in the historic town of Talkeetna, base camp for expedition ascents on Mt. McKinley. An excursion options is to take the *Alaskan Railroad from Denali to Talkeetna instead of bicycling.

Day 14: Talkeetna to Anchorage 110 miles
The final day is a combination of the best bike paths in Alaska. Alaska has more bike paths per paved roads than anywhere in the US. In the winter, cross-country skiers use the bike paths. Closer to Anchorage, civilization hits hard but there are still enjoyable sections around the Palmer Hay Flats, Cook Inlet, and the Knik River. Arrive back in Anchorage with time to pack your bike and take that late night flight home. Hotel stay in Anchorage is included.

Day 15: Anchorage
Airline Departures for the lower 48 most commonly leave late in the evening. You should plan on checking out of the hotel by noon or make arrangements for a late check out.

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Daily Schedule

Alaska July 2008 Ride the Circle Tour

Total Miles 1283

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