When you’re in the Denali area, conventional tours are great, but sometimes, you crave something a little… more. That’s precisely what led us to Denali Fat Truck Tours, and their incredible SHERP excursion. This off-road ride helped us dive into the Alaskan wilderness, facilitated by a truly remarkable machine, and guided by someone whose passion for the land it was infectious.
We boarded one of their mighty SHERP Vehicles for a 3-hour journey into the heart of Denali State Park. Just stepping into this monstrous, almost lunar-rover-like truck is an adventure in itself! As of this writing, there are only 22 of these incredible vehicles in the entire US, and this family-owned company proudly owns four of them, having recently transitioned from solely search and rescue operations to offering these unique tourist experiences. Knowing we were among the first several hundreds of people to experience this was a pretty cool feeling!
The inside back has 4 seats with a center isle, maybe a 5th jump seat, and two seats up front, one reserved for the driver, and Justin, the tallest in the group, was chose to ride up front and was tasked with helping getting us back-seaters in and out of the vehicle. We put on headsets so we were able to hear and talk with the guide more easily and binoculars were available at all the seats. We buckled up excited for the next three hours.
Our guide, Tim, was an absolute treasure. His knowledge was encyclopedic – from local plants and intricate geology to the nuances of glaciers and the fascinating behaviors of wildlife, especially moose. He was a walking encyclopedia of the Alaskan wild, and his enthusiasm was contagious.
The tour quickly took us off-road, climbing steep trails that led to breathtaking vista views. The SHERP, with its massive tires and amphibious capabilities, tackled inclines and uneven terrain with an almost absurd ease, making for a thrilling yet surprisingly stable ride.
Our first opportunity to exit the truck was at the Upper Lookout. Stepping out, we were immediately struck by the panoramic beauty of the landscape – rolling hills, distant mountains, and the vastness of the Alaskan wilderness. Tim used this moment to point out various plants, explaining their uses and ecological roles, and shared fascinating facts about moose. He even whipped out a drone, capturing incredible video footage of us and the surrounding grandeur, adding a modern twist to our wilderness immersion.
Back in the SHERP, we rumbled downhill towards the Dry Creek Riverbed. Here, we discovered some impressive vertical permafrost, a tangible reminder of the ancient ice beneath, and on, Alaska’s surface. And then, another magical wildlife moment: a moose with its little one, calmly walking across the riverbed. While the inside of the truck is a bit loud, from the outside it is quieter. Tim’s expertise truly shone here; his respect for the animals was clear as he guided the SHERP to a safe viewing distance while trying not to scare it off.
We spent some time driving around, Tim skillfully scanning for more wildlife. While they’d seen bears the day before (no such luck for us this time), our focus shifted to an area of the creek where we learned more about local rocks and continued our discussion about permafrost. Tim even shared a thrilling story about his very first bear encounter, a vivid tale that made us all appreciate the sheer bulk of the SHERP truck – it adds a significant and comforting safety component when you’re in prime bear and moose country!
On our way to the final stop, we passed other adventurers on ATVs and in horse-drawn carriages, each enjoying their own piece of the Denali experience. It was a neat contrast to our unique mode of transport. Many eyes looked at us like – what is that thing?
Our grand finale was at Otto Lake, where the SHERP’s amphibious nature truly came to life. We drove right into the water, and the truck floated around, turning the vehicle itself into a gentle, unique boat ride. It was a memorable way to end the tour.
The three hours flew by, truly. Justin and I both thoroughly enjoyed every part of the experience. Tim’s endless stream of information, the interesting stops, and the pure novelty of the SHERP made for an incredible adventure. Honestly, with such a cool vehicle, you almost wish for more – more wild inclines, more unevenness, more time just pushing the SHERP’s limits! But in reality, three hours is perfectly paced, offering a substantial experience without becoming overwhelming. This unique tour offered a fantastic blend of education, excitement, and unparalleled access to the Denali wilderness. If you’re looking for an unforgettable way to explore Alaska, get a little off-road, and learn from an expert, the SHERP tour is an absolute winner!
Plus, they just started to give the drone video footage at the end of your tour. And that was icing on the cake. I took photos and a few videos, but how do you explain to people what this was really like? The video beautifully captures this using some of their stock video mixed in with video from your actual tour.
What I would do differently: I would have went for the earlier or later tour, not the one smack dab middle of the day. When I booked our tour, I wasn’t really sure what our other plans would be. I knew I didn’t want to miss this, but I wasn’t far enough to finalize other itinerary options. With our actual itinerary, by doing the earlier or later tour, we would have had a little more time to explore Denali National Park and Preserve. But our middle of the day tour was small, so that was also really nice.