These pictures are the personal property of Megan Ancheta, © copyright 2013 Allergy Free Alaska, LLC. They may not be copied or reproduced without prior written consent. Thank you for your courtesy!
We are home from visiting Denali National Park & Preserve. It was incredible – definitely a trip of a lifetime.
Back in June I applied for the Denali National Park Road Lottery. Every year the park opens the entire park road (weather permitting) for 4 days to lottery winners (you can read all about the lottery and get the details here). We were very blessed to be selected this year, so we decided to turn it into a mini weekend vacation getaway. This picture was taken at the park entrance. When we were walking up to the sign a gentleman asked us if we’d like him to take our picture – and come to find out, his wife, Sarah, who I had never met, recognized me from Allergy Free Alaska. It was so great to meet them. 🙂 And thank you, Sarah’s hubby, for taking our picture!
Also, to learn more about Denali, earlier last week we watched the National Geographic’s Extreme Alaska: Denali National Park. If you have Netflix, it is available to instant stream, but you can also purchase it on Amazon. We enjoyed it and we think you will too.
Kylie saying the Denali Junior Ranger Pledge:
In addition to providing gluten free meal options, Black Bear Coffee House also sells gluten free/vegan desserts. Although I’m not supposed to have any forms of sweetener, I broke down and sampled a triple berry oat bar (it was sweetened with pure maple syrup) and a chocolate almond cookie topped with sea salt. I was on vacation and just couldn’t resist (do you blame me?). Both were wonderful.
Black Bear Coffee House closes down today, September 16th, for the winter, but will reopen again for business next summer. If you are in the Denali area, I highly recommend them. They are located at mile 235.5 of the Parks Highway. Their staff is friendly, the food and coffee are amazing, and they are more than accommodating for those of us with food allergies. We definitely will be back to visit again!
We saw this an amazing rainbow on the way to the gift shops and Black Bear Coffee House:
This picture was taken about 20 minutes south of Cantwell, Alaska.

Denali Trail Mix
Whether you're road tripping or just need a quick snack to throw in your bag and go, this trail mix is convenient and sure to satisfy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
- 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
- ½ cup raw almonds
- ½ cup raw pecans or walnuts
- ½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
- ½ cup Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine.
- Divide the trail mix between 9 sandwich baggies (about ½ cup of mix per bag) for a handy grab and go snack.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my pictures and hearing about our trip. We really did have an amazing weekend, but it’s good to be home too!
All my love,
Megan
This post is linked to Wellness Weekend, Fight Back Friday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Fat Tuesday and Allergy Free Wednesday.
Vicky says
Wow Megan! What a fantastic trip and to see bears in their natural habitat must have been amazing!
The pictures are awesome, I wish I could go there!
And I love the trail mix recipe, just what I need to snack on!
Vicky xo
Megan says
Hi Vicky!
It most definitely was a trip of a lifetime – I’ll never forget it as long as I live! I hope you are able to see it for yourself one day. Come visit me! 😉
Hugs,
Megan
Vicky says
Wish I could! You are so fortunate to live in this part of the world xo
Gwen says
Beautiful pictures with incredible scenery, thanks for sharing your trip and the Trail Mix recipe!
DC says
Megan,
What beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing! Looks like a wonderful time was had by your whole family.
Best,
Donna C.
Kate {Eat, Recycle, Repeat} says
AMAZING! I envy you for living in AK. But I’m super happy that you got the lottery and had such a wonderful vacation! And those slippers look incredible 🙂
Megan says
Come visit me, Kate!! 😉
Joanne Peterson says
Hi Megan,
How extraordinarily beautiful! What a trip! I like the rustic cabins, they have character! And no where else early in the morning can you step outside with a cup of coffee and instantly be in such sweet peace and tranquility with amazing surroundings.
My husband has been to Alaska, and would love to go back! I would love to go for the first time some day……
The trail mix is a very good combination. I use coconut in my granola but, had never thought to use flaked coconut in the trail mix. I’ll have to start.
Blessings,
Joanne
Shirley @ gfe & All Gluten-Free Desserts says
Megan, your photos are simply stunning! What an awesome trip for you all! I love that cabin, that your little one was sworn in as a junior ranger, that you saw bears (from the distance, even bear-phobic hubby would be okay with seeing them! LOL), that you had such an amazing meal and didn’t have to cook, and those slippers, of course! I could use them this morning. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing with us! Hope we get to go one day!
xo,
Shirley
Katie @ Produce on Parade says
Oh Megan, you lucky duck! So jealous! Todd and I spent the weekend backpacking at Sheep Mountain complete with homemade trail mix as well 🙂 Your Denali photos are amazing, it looks like you guys had a wonderful time. How fun that Sarah recognized you. That’s awesome! 🙂
Jeanne says
What a wonderful trip! Wonderful pictures!! We would love to be able to visit Alaska some day.
Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry says
Stunning Megan! You are an amazing photographer and have such a gift. Ahh my birthplace Alaska is calling me to come visit very soon. It is simply breathtaking!
Joanne says
Hi Megan. I love reading your food and travel stories. With 3 of 5 in our family diagnosed with coeliac disease in the last 2 years I’ve been looking for ideas everywhere. I was drawn to your site because of gluten free and as an added bonus – Alaska. Years ago, pre husband and children I visited Alaska and loved every minute of it. Your photos of Denali have brought back so many memories. They are beautiful.I loved the wild flowers and scenery. I also loved eating halibut but I live in Australia and i haven’t been able to get it here.
Thanks for all your food ideas and photos – a double bonus!
Anne says
Thanks for the amazing pictures! I’ve been to Denali twice (and got clear views of the mountain both times!) but I’ve never seen pictures of it in fall foliage… how beautiful!!
amber says
Hi Megan,
These pictures made me gasp. They really did, Megan. I agree with Laura…you have such a gift. I can’t believe the beauty. You really captured the land superbly. Those bears are so cute roaming around. Wow, so fun! The picture with rainbow should be in frame or postcard or SOMETHING…it’s gorgeous!!! Thank you for sharing these lovely, lovely images.
Oh, and your trail mix ain’t half bad either. Ha ha.
Hugs to you girl…have a great weekend.
–Am
Allen says
Thank you for such wonderful recipes and the grand pictures of Denali Park. May our Lord bless you and yours. Have a blessed Easter, Allen.
Megan says
Thank you, Allen! Happy Easter!
Carie Beard says
I’m late to the party, but when I saw the Trail Mix link on a different recipe page, I just had to click it. The trail mix sounds yummy! All my favorite snacking things combined. But the pictures are amazing! Mom and Dad rode the train from Fairbanks to Anchorage and got some awesome pics. Apparently the mountains make their own weather and clear days are hard to come by. Like you and your family, they were blessed with a brilliant blue sky. Mom said she’d never seen anything so beautiful.
Megan says
Awe! Thank you, Carie! I’d totally have to agree with your parents… the views are absolutely breathtaking!