Cantwell is mostly known for its place on the road to Denali or the drive to Anchorage from Fairbanks however it is also known for it’s broad pass in the Alaskan Range. The town was named after Lieutenant J.C. Cantwell, commander of the steamer Corwin on the Yukon River in the 1900’s. Before the military explorer came, primarily native and Athabaskan Alaskans lived in the area. The town began as a flag stop on the Alaskan Railroad in the 1920’s which supplied the Valdez creek mining area. Cantwell is the backdrop to the movie “Into the Wild”, 2007. Cantwell is founded off the parks highway and has mild summers with chill nights and long snowy winters. It is now known as a full service community that provides camping, lodging, food and fuel for travelers. Every time I have visited, there has been a wind through the mountains if you are traveling on the parks highway, you will most likely see the remnants of the igloo hotel – an abandoned Igloo not made from snow that sits on the side of the road.
Where To Stay
Not many people stay in this little town as most push through to Denali where there are more mountain views and options for things to do however, I will include the few places available.
BluesBerry Inn THE BLUESBERRY INN IS THE FARTHEST NORTH MOTEL IN THE PARKS HIGHWAY/DENALI AREA WHERE ONE CAN SEE MT. MCKINLEY! P.O. Box 104 Milepost 210.8 of the George Parks Highway (i.e. the “Parks Hwy.”) Cantwell, Alaska 99729 907-768-2415 info@bluesberryinn.com
Log cabin style buildings, surrounded by forest, lying at the intersections of highway 3 and 8. This lodge is 21 Miles from Denali National Park
Cantwell RV Park PO BOX 210
Cantwell, Alaska 99729
1-907-888-6850
Open May20 -Sept 10th
For all your RV and camping needs Our office facility offers a mini-mart, ice, laundry mat, free WiFi and handicapped-accessible showers and restrooms.
We also have a cabin for rent for those without an RV of their own .
What to See and Do
The things to do here are all seasonal as it is a small town of less than 300 people. Most people travel south and go to Denali National Park (if you click that link you can read all about the stuff you can do there) But if you want to stay in Cantwell, the town offers some activities as well.
In the summer is where you will find most of your options including
Hiking/Biking along the trails
Berry picking starting in July (Blueberries and cranberries!)
Fishing
Kayaking/canoeing along the rivers and lakes
Dog Mushing tours (summer and winter)
Wildlife viewing and Photography
What to Eat
There are not many places to eat in Cantwell minus the gas station and the food served at the lodges here. There are more options if you continue traveling to Denali National Park ( if you are heading North) or get food before or after Cantwell (Heading South).
Windy Creek Trailhead Address: N63.3955 W148.958083, Cantwell, AK 99729
Camping can be found in almost any area that looks good here. My favorite part about cantwell is you are close enough to Denali that you get to see all the beauty it offers without all the people that come with tourism.