Plan your Denali National Park visit successfully and you will be rewarded with unforgettable memories. For many visitors to Alaska, Denali is high on their wish-list, wanting to catch a glimpse of the towering peaks of Mt. Denali, North America’s tallest mountain.
But summits aside, there are so many other activities to experience when visiting Denali national park. Walk through boreal forest and arctic tundra, see glacial valleys and look for animals, both large and small.
Denali is like no other Alaska national park.
If this is your first time visiting Denali National Park , this post covers all the essential information you need to plan your trip and make the most of your time. Whether you want to hike, view wildlife or enjoy tours, we have you covered. Denali has options for every type of visitor.
PLANNING YOUR DENALI VISIT
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Summer access to facilities and services in Denali remains altered due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide and the associated closure of the Park Road at Mile 43. The closure of the Denali Park Road at Mile 43 is expected to remain in place through summer 2024, while the Polychrome Area Plan is implemented.
Visitors primarily visit the park during the main summer season from late May through to early September, so the following information will apply to this period.
Follow these four easy steps to plan your trip:
STEP ONE: GET TO KNOW DENALI NATIONAL PARK
DENALI NATIONAL PARK FACTS AND HISTORY
Denali National Park and preserve AK was originally set up to protect Dall sheep. However since 1917, park boundaries have been expanded and now protect Denali (originally known as Mount McKinley national park) and wilderness.
- Size of Denali National Park: 6 million acres
- Denali National Park elevation: Denali Visitor Center is 1,746 feet above sea level | Eielson Visitor Center is 3,733 feet and the Summit of Denali is 20,310 feet
WHERE IS DENALI PARK?
If you look at an Alaska map Denali National Park is located in the Alaska Interior Region. Denali is part of the Alaska Range, and the park is 120 miles south of Fairbanks and 238 miles north of Anchorage.
HOW TO GET TO DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Getting to Denali National Park is just the start of your journey into this 6-million-acre park.
By Train: Alaska Railroad runs daily passenger trains during the summer, from Anchorage and Fairbanks. Enjoy sweeping mountain views as you travel through wilderness only accessible on the track.
On a clear day, you can view Denali from a stop on a railroad bridge over a gorge known as Hurricane Gulch. The train depot is only a 5-minute walk from Denali Visitor Center.
By Road: If visiting Denali by car, travel time is roughly 5 hours from Anchorage and 2 hours from Fairbanks. Denali Park entrance is located at Mile 237 of George Parks Highway, also known as Alaska Highway 3.
If using GPS, input Latitude 63.728443 and Longitude -148.886572.
By Plane: If you are wondering how to see Denali National Park when you are strapped for time, you can fly there. The only company with an airstrip actually inside the Park is Kantishna Air Taxi.
- A flight to Denali National Park from Downtown Anchorage takes 1.5 hours
- They also have an airstrip in Kantishna, at the end of the park road.
If you like the idea of small ship cruises, see if you can include a land tour with your itinerary. Princess Cruises combine Glacier Bay National Park with a train trip to Denali National Park.
MAP OF DENALI NATIONAL PARK
The Denali national Park map above shows Denali park road in grey, and George Parks Highway in red. As a reference here are some pointers:
- Entrance to the park is at mile 237 of the George parks Hwy
- The first 15 miles of the park road is open to public vehicles
- From Savage River onwards, you have to take a shuttle bus
BEST TIME TO VISIT DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Plan your Denali National Park visit during the summer months, between Mid-May and Mid-September. May will be quieter with less tourists, but by June the weather will feel warmer.
You can still visit Denali National Park in winter to enjoy winter activities such as dog mushing and seeing the northern lights.
HOW LONG TO STAY IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK?
We recommend you visit Denali for a minimum of 2 days, longer if possible. Planning your trip can take time as you have to factor in the travel time to get to the park.
With just one road through Denali National Preserve, it is distinctively different from other Alaska national parks. If you plan to take a tour, hike or try other fun activities, you will want to stay longer.
Plus, the longer you are in the park, the more chances you have of seeing Mt. Denali!
PARK OPERATING HOURS AND SEASONS
Summer is the main season for visitors, from mid may through the third week of September.
- Denali Park Road is closed for most of the winter and local services limited even in Spring and Fall.
- Riley Creek Campground near the park entrance is open all year.
- Park Headquarters at mile 3.4 is open while the Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) serves as the park’s winter visitor center.
- If travelling outside the summer months, check weather conditions and road status at the winter visitor center.
PARK ENTRANCE FEES
The Park charges a year-round entrance fee for visitors 16 years and above. Entry is free for visitors 15 years and below. The entrance fee is valid for 7 days and there are no refunds given for inclement weather.
- Denali Individual Weekly Pass is $15.00
- An Annual Denali Pass is $45.00 and covers the cardholder plus up to 3 fellow travellers.
WHERE TO EAT
Inside Denali National Park restaurants are limited, with the only one being The Morino Grill which is located adjacent to Denali Visitor Center. They sell Starbucks coffee, packaged sandwiches, snacks and hot food.
Denali Bus Depot sells coffee and there is food sold at Riley Creek Mercantile at the campground during summer.
You can purchase food at restaurants located north and south of the park entrance, along Highway 3.
DENALI NATIONAL PARK WEATHER
With regards to weather, Denali National Park has its own unique weather pattern. Park rangers will tell you that Denali is hidden by cloud, two out of every three days.
The “mighty one” makes an appearance on its own terms, so don’t assume a viewing during your trip or you’ll be disappointed.
- Summer: typically cool and wet with temperatures averaging the upper 50s to the low 40s.
- Fall: Alpine tundra fall colours appear in August/early September
- Winter: Generally starts mid-September and temperatures as low as -40 can be expected by January. However, snow can fall any month of the year!
- Spring: The short season between April/May sees temperatures above freezing.
GETTING AROUND DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Pick up one of the maps of Denali National Park available at the visitor center, to help orient yourself with the park layout.
Locations on Denali Park Road are denoted by mile markers, measured from the park entrance.
- During summer, private vehicles are restricted beyond mile 15, Savage River Crossing.
- Pedestrians and bicycles are permitted to travel (barring closures) on any part of the park road.
- You can take free shuttles to the dog sled kennels and Savage River.
- Denali has free and fee-based transit and tour bus services. Transit Buses run Mid-May to Mid-September, departing from Denali Bus Depot. You can get on/off along the Park Road, to hike before boarding another bus.
VISITOR CENTERS
Visitor centers within Denali Park are a great place to find information, talk to knowledgeable staff, or just need to buy bus tickets:
- Denali Visitor Center – the main visitor center near the park entrance, open summer only. Mile 1.5 Denali Park Road. Be sure to check the board here, which gives Denali National Park weather forecast for the forth coming days.
- Denali Bus Depot – During the summer, this is the place to buy bus tickets, arrange for stays in park campgrounds, or to check in for an existing reservation. You can also buy coffee and snacks. Only credit cards are accepted here.
- Murie Science & Learning Center – serves as winter visitor center. Mile 1.3 Denali Park Road
- Eielson Visitor Center – Currently Closed due to the ongoing Pretty Rocks landslide and the closure of the park road at Mile 42. Mile 66 of the Denali Park Road
STEP TWO: WHERE TO STAY IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK
ACCOMMODATION INSIDE THE PARK
If you choose to stay inside the park entrance, you have several accommodation options:
- The National Park Service maintains 6 public campgrounds which should be booked prior to your visit. Reservations for each summer season can be made as early as December 1st the preceding year. Three campsites are open to tent or vehicle camping (RVs, etc) and three can only be used by tent campers. Most sites are open May 20th to Mid-September, though Riley Creek is open year-round.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Wonder Lake Campground will be closed in 2022 and possibly 2023. Conditions apply for reaching some of the campgrounds. Check National Park Service for up to date news.
For fees charged, check individual campsites – Riley Creek, Savage River, Sanctuary River, Teklanika River, Igloo Creek and Wonder Lake.
2. There are a handful of privately owned and operated lodges in the park, most of which are open in summer only (roughly mid-May through mid-September. They usually offer transportation for guests, to and from the Denali Visitor Center.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Check individual lodges for up to date booking information for 2023
ACCOMMODATION OUTSIDE THE PARK
Most visitors, especially those not camping stay in accommodation outside of the park. Many businesses’ are listed as a specific milepost along the George Parks Highway. When deciding which accommodation to choose bear in mind that the park entrance is mile 237.
Here are a small selection of properties close-by the entrance to the park.
- McKinley Creekside Cabins: Located 13 miles south of the Park entrance on Carlo Creek. Cabins feature views of the surrounding forests and mountains and an on-site café serves homemade food.
- Carlo Creek Cabins: Located 13 miles south of the Park entrance on Carlo Creek. Rooms have mountain and river views.
- Denali Park Hotel: Located 11 miles north of the park entrance. Its secluded location allows guests to frequently spot moose, fox and other wildlife on the property.
- Denali Wild Stay: Located 11 miles north of the park entrance in Healy. A lovely holiday home with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, free private parking and modern amenities.
STEP THREE: HOW LONG TO SPEND IN DENALI
We recommend a minimum of 2 days to explore the park, however if you plan your time well, you can certainly get a good taste of this incredible national park.
Have a look at the sample itineraries below, and start thinking about how you can spend your time here.
One Full Day In Denali: While you won’t get much chance to see a lot of wildlife, you can still have a good experience.
- Stop in Denali Visitor Center
- Take a tour bus or ride the transit bus into the park
- Walk some of the short easy trails near the visitor center or visit the dog sled kennels
Two full Days In Denali: This is a good length of stay for many visitors and increases your chance for wildlife spotting. In addition to the above:
- Drive or take the free shuttle to Savage River and hike the Savage River Loop or Savage Alpine Trail
Three Full Days In Denali: This amount of time in the park means you can work around any unpredictable weather. Plus, you increase your chances of seeing Mt. Denali. In addition to the above:
- Take a second bus tour into the park
- Hike extra trails such as Mount Healy Overlook Trail or Triple Lakes Trail
- Enjoy experiences outside the park such as a zipline tour, jeep excursion or a flightseeing tour
STEP FOUR: PLAN YOUR DENALI NATIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES
Some of the best things to do in Denali National Park include hiking and wildlife spotting. Decide which activities you want to experience and whether you will reserve them in advance.
1. EXPLORE DENALI PARK ROAD
One of the best ways to soak up the wilderness of Denali is to take a trip along the only road in the park, Denali Park Road.
As you travel through high mountain passes and low valleys, you also parallel the Alaska Range. If you are lucky, the grey skies will clear to give you unforgettable sightings of Denali’s incredible and stunning landscapes.
Hopefully as you drive along, you will see wild animals roaming the hillsides and even crossing the road. You have several choices of travelling this iconic road, but bear in mind the present closures at Mile 43.
- Drive yourself to Mile 15, Savage River where you will have to turn around at the check point. We did this on our last day and saw more wildlife than we had on our bus tour.
- Take a shuttle bus to Savage River for camping and hiking. These are free and don’t require reservations.
- Take a Non-Narrated Transit Bus (Green Bus)
A great option for those wanting to hike and get off/re-board along the road. They are cheaper than the tour buses, stop at restroom stops and most will pull over if someone spots wildlife. Basically, you don’t get the narrated information but have a great independent experience while moving around the park. There are several choices of non-narrated trips, of varying length.
- Take a Narrated Transit Bus (Tan Bus)
These buses have a trained naturalist who both drives the bus and narrates during the trip. They do not pick up or drop off along the route, but the information learned is both interesting and fun.
You also get a snack box with water plus a lovely souvenir book of Denali to take away with you.
The motto is, if you spot anything, shout out and the driver will stop. There are normally 3 tours to choose from, Natural History Tour, Tundra Wilderness Tour and Kantishna Experience.
Check the official website for updates on available tour details plus pricing.
Whichever bus you ride, take the earliest one from the bus depot, carry water and snacks, be bear aware and take lots of photos.
2. GO HIKING IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Whether you are looking for an easy stroll or a strenuous climb, there are hikes in Denali National Park to suit all level of walkers.
You may want to download a trail information map and study it before your visit. Denali is a trail-less wilderness, which means there is a limited trail network.
Hikes from Denali National Park visitor center include:
- Horseshoe Lake Trail – moderate 4-mile round trip.
- McKinley Station Trail – moderate 1.6-mile one way
- Mount Healy Overlook Trail – strenuous 5.4-mile round trip
- Triple Lakes Trail – moderate 9.5-miles one way
Drive or take the free Savage River shuttle to Mile 15 for wonderful views plus two great hikes:
- Savage River Loop – easy 2-mile round trip
- Savage Alpine Trail – strenuous 8-miles round trip
3. VISIT THE DOG SLED KENNELS
Since 1922, rangers and huskies have worked as a team to transport and connect the community during the harsh winters, where temperatures go as low as -40 degrees.
In fact, they are the only sled dogs in the United States that help protect a national park together with its wilderness and wildlife.
During your visit, which is free, you can walk around the yard meeting the dogs and learn about mushing from numerous exhibits. A ranger gives a short talk about the work of the kennel and the sled dogs and this is followed by a demonstration.
Parking here is very limited so I suggest taking the free dog sled shuttle from the visitor center which runs from May 15 to mid-September during the summer. The kennels are open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm, however times are more limited during the winter.
Watch a demonstration at 10 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm. Buses depart from the visitor center at 9.20, 1.20 and 3.20.
Top Tip: Take the free shuttle bus to the kennels, then after your visit return to the visitor center via the Roadside or Rock Creek Trail.
4. GO WILDLIFE SPOTTING
Although you have a good chance of spotting some wildlife, remember that wild animals are unpredictable, and so no sighting can be guaranteed. Sometimes you simply have to be lucky and in the right place at the right time.
Remember that Denali National Park wildlife has 6 million acres to call home, with few predators.
Here are some pointers to help increase your chances of spotting wildlife:
- The longer you spend in the park, the higher your chances of seeing wildlife
- Riding a bus along the Park Road takes you past vast stretches of wide open spaces, giving you the chance to view wildlife moving around.
- Moose are frequently seen up to Mile 15, Savage River area and also Riley Creek Campground.
- Look for moose, caribou and bears along hiking trails.
- Keep an eye out for Dall sheep on mountains.
- Don’t forget to look for birds everywhere in the park, including golden eagles
- Smaller mammals are a joy to see too and actually outnumber larger mammals.
- Make sure you know how to behave safely in the event that you encounter a wild animal.
- Carry binoculars with you.
DENALI AK QUESTIONS
Below are some common questions that visitors ask before they visit Denali National Park.
#1. Is A Trip To Denali national park still worth it at the moment?
That really depends on you. If you are visiting from overseas and are travelling around Alaska, then you may not want to postpone your trip. There are so many incredible places to see in Alaska that you can still have an amazing trip.
We visited in 2022 and really enjoyed our time in the park, despite not seeing Mt. Denali, or travelling past Mile 42. But the decision is up to you.
#2. Will I definitely see Mt. Denali?
The honest answer is maybe but maybe not. Don’t come here counting on seeing Denali in all its glory. If it fancies showing itself, count yourself very lucky.
#3. Should I pay for a narrated bus tour?
The narrated tour is more personal, very interesting with in-depth facts and you are all actively looking for possible wildlife. If anything is seen your driver will stop so you can get a better view and take photos.
#4. Which animals will I see?
Some lucky visitors will see the Big 5, bear, caribou, moose, wolf and Dall sheep. Others will more likely see small mammals including arctic ground squirrels, red squirrels, foxes and marmots.
Now you know how to visit Denali National Park in Alaska, which activities will you choose to experience? Are you an avid hiker looking to forge new trails, or are you a more relaxed traveller content to watch for wildlife and enjoy spectacular scenery?
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR ALASKA TRIP
DRIVING IN ALASKA: Read our guide to driving in Alaska before checking out our detailed scenic drives around the country. The Seward Highway takes you from Anchorage to Seward with stunning stops along the way, while road tripping from Fairbanks to Valdez shows you the best of the Richardson Highway.
WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK: There are so many amazing things to do in this national park such as hiking the Root Glacier Trail and exploring McCarthy and Kennecott.
TOWNS IN ALASKA: Check out these great things to do in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Homer, Seward and Valdez.
Read all our articles about Alaska on our dedicated Alaska Destination Page
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