Our Memorable Journey on the Wilderness Express Dome Train to Denali

Booking with Alaska Tour & Travel

Deciding to go with Alaska Tour & Travel for our train ride and hotel in Denali was a great choice. They were easy to work with, which made the planning process smooth. We opted for the Wilderness Express Dome Train to Denali. On our return to Anchorage, we chose the Adventure Class since the Wilderness Express Dome was unavailable.

At the train station in Anchorage, we checked in at the Wilderness Express counter. They took care of our luggage, and we followed the staff member to our designated train car. The Wilderness Express offers first-class service aboard deluxe double-deck dome rail cars. The dome was fully hosted, featuring a bartender and dining car on the first deck, along with a tour guide who narrated our trip. We enjoyed French dips for lunch, which were quite tasty. Just a heads-up: drinks and food are not included in the ticket price and cost extra.

A Scenic Stop in Talkeetna

Before reaching Denali, the train makes a stop in Talkeetna. Here, passengers can unload and new ones can board. It’s a lovely little town worth a visit if you have the time.

Once we arrived in Denali, passengers unloaded and walked to designated areas for shuttles assigned to their hotels. Our luggage was taken care of, and we saw it outside our room within a couple of hours after checking in. We stayed at the Grande Denali Lodge. The room was okay, but we were on the first floor and could hear footsteps from the room above us.

Dining at the Lodge

For dinner, we visited the lodge restaurant, the Alpenglow. The food was fine, but options are limited in Denali, making this the closest choice.

The next morning, we started our day with coffee at Peak Espresso, conveniently located in the lodge's lobby. Afterward, we took the shuttle into town. We enjoyed walking around the shops and ended up at the Princess Lodge Restaurant for breakfast. Their blueberry pancakes were delightful!

Exploring Denali National Park

After breakfast, we hopped on a shuttle to the Denali National Park Visitor Center. We decided to hike the Horseshoe Lake Trail, which was a fantastic experience. After our hike, we returned to the lodge and later went to dinner in town at Prospectors Pizza. Let me tell you, that pizza was really good!

Before heading back, we grabbed some caramel corn and cinnamon rolls from Denali Sugar Shack for the next day's breakfast. The caramel corn was delicious, but the cinnamon rolls? Not so much.

Rainy Day Back to Anchorage

The next morning, we woke up to rain. Our shuttle to the train station was scheduled for 10:30 AM, with a 12:00 PM train ride back to Anchorage. We enjoyed coffee again at Peak Espresso, paired with our cinnamon rolls. We had to have our luggage outside our room by 9:00 AM for pickup.

We hung out in the lobby area until it was time for the shuttle. At the train station, we had to go inside to get our tickets and then wait for the train. The Adventure Class on the train was okay, but nothing fancy. If I could do it again, I would have paid for the upgraded Gold Class.

A Long Journey Home

There were kids running around, despite being told at least three times not to run on the train. I understand that 7 ½ hours on a train can feel long, but running won’t get you to Anchorage any faster! Instead of a dining car, they had a counter with pre-made soggy sandwiches, chips, and drinks. I wish I had picked up sandwiches at Subway in Denali to bring onboard.

Once we arrived in Anchorage, we had to wait for our luggage to be taken off the train. It took at least 15 minutes, and of course, our two pieces of luggage were the last off the train. After grabbing our bags, we called an Uber to take us to our hotel for the night, the Hyatt House Anchorage.

A Comfortable Stay in Anchorage

The Hyatt House was much nicer than the hotel we had stayed at for the first two nights in Anchorage. However, it was not close to downtown, so you would need a vehicle or Uber to explore the area. By the time we settled into our room, it was after 9 PM, and nothing nearby was open for dinner. We ended up grabbing hot pockets from the little store area by the reception desk in the lobby.

In summary, our trip on the Wilderness Express Dome Train to Denali was filled with beautiful sights, delicious food, and a few hiccups. If you’re considering a similar journey, I hope my experiences help you plan your adventure. Happy travels!