Alyeska Denali View

This camera at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska is positioned for the distant view toward the Alaska Range — and, on exceptionally clear days, Denali itself, North America's highest peak at 20,310 feet, rising far to the north beyond the Chugach Mountains. Such views are rare and weather-dependent, which makes a clear day worth catching. The foreground is Alyeska's snow-loaded coastal terrain above the Girdwood valley. Winter is the resort's signature season, with deep maritime snowfall and low, golden far-north light; the aurora is a frequent bonus on clear nights. Summer opens the high country to hikers via the aerial tram. Either way, the long sightlines from the upper mountain are the draw. Alaska runs two hours behind Hawaii. Girdwood and Alyeska sit at the head of Turnagain Arm, an hour south of Anchorage — a hub for skiing, glacier tours, and exploring the Kenai Peninsula gateway. When the clouds lift and Denali appears on the horizon, it's one of the great long-distance views in the state.