The Richardson Highway runs for a total of 368 miles and connects Fairbanks to Valdez. For our trip we did the about 290 miles of this highway starting from Fairbanks, and were amazed by the incredible views of glaciers, towering mountain ranges and lakes spreading over hundreds of miles. In fact, there are two 100-mile sections on this highway that have been designated as State Scenic Byways. The Richardson Highway also happens to be the first major road built in Alaska.

We started early in the morning from Fairbanks and crossed several small towns (the most notable being North Pole – about 20 miles south of Fairbanks). You got to stop here to take a quick pic! Luckily, there is a sign just next to the road 😀

Heading further south one of the first stop was at Black Rapids Glacier (mile 225.4). Try and find the sign describing the advance of Black Rapids Glacier. During the winter of 1936, this mile-wide, 300-foot-high glacier moved at an average of 115 feet a day over 4 miles, to within a half-mile of the highway! It was dubbed the Galloping Glacier and has been receding ever since.

Less than 10 miles south of here, one can view the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in a zigzag pattern at the Denali Fault/Pipeline View (mi 216). Even further along, the pipeline can be viewed from several sections along the road and we stopped a couple of times to see it up close and snap some really cool pics. At mile 209.1 is the Rainbow Ridge Scenic View – This 6,000 foot high ridge was named for its varicolored talus slopes. The highest point is Rainbow Mountain at 6,700 feet. The reds and greens are volcanic rock and the yellows and pastels are siltstone. Richardson Monument (mi 200.4) is a must stop. There is a signboard mentioning how the highway was named after the former Alaska road commission director, Captain Wilds P. Richardson. Also visible from here are cool views of a glacier. Just down the road from here are the Summit Lake and Paxson Lake, that offer some great photo ops.

It was also while driving along this route, that we saw a black bear cross the road about 50 feet ahead of us. Where else but in Alaska will you have a bear cross a state highway!!

Just outside Glen Allen, you’ll find some great views of the Copper River and the Wrangell Mountains, as well as the opportunity for some great pics. Mt. Drum will be visible straight in front, with Mt. Sanford on the left side, and Mt. Wrangell on the right. Cloud cover is the only way you’ll miss this dramatic scene. And these mountains are definitely dramatic! The western face of Mt. Drum rises 9,000 feet in less than 10 miles, while the southern face of Mt. Sanford rises 8,000 feet in just 1 mile. Sure, lots of mountains in, say, Colorado top out at 14,000 feet, but they may start at 9,000 feet. These mountains emerge from a valley floor with an elevation of just 1,000 feet, so the mountain itself is much bigger; Mt. Wrangell is estimated to contain seven times the volume of Mt. Rainier!

We were fortunate to have perfect weather this day, and it produced some really nice photos. Out last stop for the day was the Princess Wilderness Lodge in Copper Center. The amazing mountain views from here makes this property special. This was the perfect place to spend a couple of nights and soak in America’s largest national park – Wrangell-St. Elias.