The wild, untouched nature of Denali National Park has been captivating imaginations for centuries. This is the real American frontier, overlooked by the continent’s tallest mountain – Denali itself.
I have been to Denali National Park during a recent trip to Alaska and was impressed with the beauty of the landscape. I spent my time in the area hiking, taking in the stunning views, spotting the wildlife and engaged in many adventurous things to do in Denali National Park.
This vast national park offers the chance to see just a slice of pristine, unapologetic wilderness. Here you’ll find glaciers, mountains, seemingly unending forests, canyons, roaring rivers and a selection of wild animals that call this huge park home.
Today, Denali National Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Alaska, and there are several ways that visitors can experience its dramatic landscapes. These include cycling, mountaineering and dog sledding.
To help you plan your trip, including accommodation, food and hiking routes, I thought I’d write an in-depth guide to Denali National Park. It’s time to get ready for the most amazing adventure!
History Of Denali National Park
Denali National Park was originally established in 1917 as Mt. McKinley National Park.
Back then, the park was a designated area to protect the wildlife who lived in the wilderness surrounding North America’s tallest mountain. In fact, it was the first national park in the United States to specifically be created with the mission of protecting wildlife.
Fast-forward to 1980. Mt McKinley National Park was renamed to become Denali National Park and Preserve.
Now encompassing 6 million acres, the park is made up of a number of ecosystems including mountains and enormous glaciers, and is home to Alaska’s “Big 5” — wolves, caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, and moose.
In 2015 it was decided that Mt McKinley itself would be renamed too, becoming Mt. Denali. This was intended as a homage to the native Athabaskan people — in the Koyukon language, Denali means “the tall one”. And it is tall: 6,190 meters (20,310 feet) above sea level.
Where Is Denali National Park?
Denali National Park is situated in Interior Alaska, north of Anchorage and to the southwest of Fairbanks. To give you an idea of how far it is from pretty much anywhere in the country, here is the rough distance by road of Denali from some other major destinations in Alaska.
Anchorage: 240 miles (386 kilometers), 4 hours
Fairbanks: 121 miles (195 kilometers), 2 hours
Talkeetna: 150 miles (241 kilometers), 2 hours 30 minutes
Seward: 360 miles (579 kilometers), 8 hours
Homer: 458 miles (737 kilometers), 9 hours 30 minutes
Whittier: 300 miles (482 kilometers) 6 hours 30 minutes
Valdez: 491 miles (790 kilometers), 8 hours 30 minutes
Best Time To Visit Denali National Park
Denali National Park is open for visitors all year round, and offers a different experience depending on which season you choose to visit. But what really is the best time to visit Denali National Park?
For mild temperatures and plenty of daylight (up to 22 hours per day!), the best time to visit Denali National Park is between June and the beginning of September. This is when all of the accommodation and hiking routes are open, but it’s also the busiest time of year.
Summer also means you’ll have a good chance to spot wildlife, as they roam around looking for food and grazing in meadows.
Temperatures start to fall during autumn in Alaska, but it’s also a beautiful time of year to visit Denali National Park. You can see the leaves of all the different trees in the park begin to turn red, brown and yellow. This is also the time of year when the northern lights start to appear in the skies – though you have to be really lucky with a clear sky to see them.
The winter months are also beautiful in Denali National Park. The park becomes coated with snow, and the Northern Lights regularly dance across the sky. Exploring the park at this time of year means donning snowshoes or exploring via husky sled, with hiking out of the question.
By the time spring rolls around, the Northern Lights can still be seen and the temperatures are still cold. But towards the end of April, life starts to bloom again in the park. It’s a wonderful time of year to see the landscape changing.
I visited Denali National Park at the beginning of September, just as fall starts to roll in Alaska. While the sky was mostly cloudy throughout my stay, I was lucky with dry long days. Unfortunately, I did not get to see the Northern Lights.
How Long To Stay In Denali
Although you can visit Denali National Park on a day trip, I recommend spending at least 3 days there. That means you’ll have a better chance of spotting wildlife, catching sight of Mount Denali itself (even that took several tries for me!), and exploring more of the 6 million acres of the park.
Of course, you won’t actually be able to see everything, but if you’ve got more time, I would say 5 days surrounded by the stunning landscape is well worth it. If you’re a fan of hiking, you’ll want more time to hit the epic trails that wind their way through the park.
Best Things To Do In Denali National Park
Hike
Hiking is one of the best things to do in Denali National Park for sure – here you will find some of the best hiking trails in Alaska.
Let me highlight the hikes you may want to consider:
Horseshoe Lake Trail – This trail is one of Denali’s most popular hikes. The hike takes around two hours and sees you descending from high above Horseshoe Lake. There are plenty of benches along the way where you can rest and soak up some dramatic views of the park. It’s best to start earlier in the day to avoid bumping into too many other hikers.
Triple Lakes Trail – Taking its name from the collection of three lakes that run along the course of the trail, this is Denali’s longest one-day hike. At 16 km (almost 10 miles), it may be somewhat strenuous, but your efforts will pay off with the chance to see plenty of wildlife along the way.
Dragonfly Creek – This hike features a lot of elevation, so I would say you need to be a fairly experienced hiker to embark on it. But that said, the trail is beautiful. It takes you through fields of wildflowers and plenty of opportunities to see golden eagles, Dall sheep and osprey.
Bison Gulch – Bison Gulch is a good all-round hike to experience what Denali has to offer, introducing you to a lot of the highlights that you can see in the park. The route takes you along river canyons, through Alpine forests and up to a summit for a showstopper view. Overall, it’s 7 miles (a little over 11 km) in total.
Savage Alpine Trail – This is a short but strenuous hike, with an elevation gain of 1,400 feet (almost 477 meters) across 4 miles (6.4 km). It sees you trekking through mountainous scenery, offering views throughout the park. It’s very rewarding and perfect if you only have a short amount of time in Denali National Park.
My post How To Hike The Savage Alpine Trail will give you more detailed information on how to tackle this challenging hike.
Mount Healy Overlook Trail – This trail starts with a bang. It’s very steep for the first mile or so, eventually flattening out through forests — and then the landscape opens up for sweeping views across the park. Taking you along alpine ridges, the final mile and a half is also pretty tough going.
Sugarloaf Mountain Trail – It may be steep, and pretty challenging, but this hike is also a fun one. Passing through the Alpine zone, hiking to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain is its reward. The trail starts steeply at first and then you gradually ascend towards the peak for breath-taking vistas.
Go on a flightseeing tour
If hiking is too strenuous for you, then seeing Denali National Park from the skies is one of the best things to do in Denali National Park.
Flightseeing tours among the most popular Denali National Parks tours, and for good reasons: they are an amazing way to experience the sheer scale of the epic landscapes on offer in this slice of Alaska.
The flightseeing tours usually begin by floating above the Ruth Glacier, before flying over crevasses, rivers and forests. It’s a truly awesome way to see this ancient landscape. And if you’re lucky, you’ll see the summit of Denali itself.
This Grand Denali Flight with optional glacier landing is of the best reviewed Denali National Park tours. It lasts about one hour – sometimes a bit more than that – and includes hotel pick up if you need it.
See Denali’s Big Five
The “Big Five” refers to five iconic Alaskan animals that call Denali National Park home. They are caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, moose and wolves. Many visitors to Denali come just for the chance to see one of these majestic mammals.
Caribou tend to be found in barren tundra, while moose are often among willow trees, and Dall sheep can be seen on hillsides. Then there’s the always elusive grizzly bear.
The best way to see Denali’s Big Five is to start early in the day. That way you have a better chance to see more of the animals as they forage in search of food during quieter times.
Another tip is to avoid making too much noise. Animals tend to not want to hang around where human footfall is heavy, and so going deeper into the park in more remote areas will usually yield rewards in terms of wildlife spotting. But sometimes it’s simply down to pure luck!
Go rafting
Rafting is one of the most fun things to do in Denali National Park, and a really great way to experience what it has to offer.
There’s a number of different Denali National Park tours that you will take you rafting. Some are just a couple of hours, others are epic, full-day adventures.
These rafting tours usually take place on the Nenana River. It’s a good mix of calm, some areas of white water, and rapids.
I recommend this Canyon Wave Raft Class III-IV Paddle/Oar. It lasts 3.5 hours and it’s not too tough even for people that have little experience rafting. You will receive all the needed equipment and get a short but essential safety training before you start rafting.
Join an ATV tour
Among the most popular tours in Denali National Park there are ATV tours. I tried it when I visited, and I must admit it was very cold (colder than I would have liked) but also a lot of fun!
ATV tours allow you to see more of the area without hiking for miles on end.
The ATVs go up to 30 mph and can navigate everything from trails to rocky riverbeds, leading you to amazing viewpoints.
Guides well-versed in the flora and fauna of the park will be on hand to guide you through the terrain, and will help you to spot wildlife along the way.
Many companies in the area offer ATV tours so it’s kind of hard to pick what’s good. I recommend this Denali Wilderness Adventure ATV tour that lasts 2.5 hours and has excellent reviews.
Try ziplining
For more adrenaline, one of the best things to do in Denali National Park is ziplining. Denali Park Zipline started recently, only in 2016, but has become a very popular way to see the national park from up high.
The ziplines have been built specifically to offer the best views of the wilderness that makes up the dramatic landscapes of the park.
The course is available for everyone from complete beginners to ziplining enthusiasts, with a combination of challenging and introductory ziplines to try out.
This Denali Park Zipline Adventure is one of the best on offer in the area. It includes hotel pick up if you need it and you will walk along 6 suspension bridges and fly on 8 zip lines.
Visit the Sled Dog Kennels
Sled dogs have been part of the history of Denali National Park for over 100 years. But they have been used as working dogs in this vast landscape for much longer. Sled dogs were once integral to the families of native Alaskans, who used them for transport and trapping.
The park’s first sled dogs were purchased by the first superintendent of Denali National Park, who used them to patrol the boundaries of the park. Denali has had a team of working dogs ever since then, and today you can visit their kennels and learn about their story.
In autumn/winter, they’re open Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm; in summer, they’re open daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
How To Visit Denali National Park
Denali National Park tickets
Standard Denali National Park tickets cost $15 USD (anybody aged 16 and above).
Children aged 15 and younger get free admission.
The pass is for seven days, so you won’t have to worry about buying a new pass every day.
There’s also a trick (kind of) to save a bit that I actually learned when I visited with a friend — a US senior (that’s 62 years old plus) can purchase an annual membership for $20 USD. With that, he or she can also bring in up to two guests free of charge. Yep, my friend is older than that so I basically got in for free!
The Denali Annual Pass costs $45 USD and admits the owner of the pass and three additional adults free of charge.
How to get to Denali National Park
By car
If you have your own car, getting to Denali National Park is very easy: it will take you around 10 minuted from Denali Park Village (where most visitors base themselves) along the highway.
By bus
Depending in where you are based, you can also find a bus to take you to Denali National Park – that’s what I used when I visited. The bus departs from Denali Park Village and is available also to guests staying at Denali Grizzly Bear Resort on the other side of the highway. Make sure to enquire at reception for the departure times.
By taxi
There are taxis that can take you to Denali National Park, but as you can imagine, they’re fairly limited in number and tend to be on the expensive side!
The number I used once to get back from The Overlook Restaurant where I had dined was +19075225820, but there’s also Denai Taxi (907/227-0936). You can call the taxi companies to get a quote for your proposed journey and to book in advance.
How to get around Denali
By bus
There are three types of bus that help visitors to get around Denali National Park.
First of all, there are the non-narrated transit buses. These buses help visitors to reach trailheads and access different parts of the park. You must reserve tickets for these buses online in advance (recommended in peak summer months) and the price does not include the national park access fee.
Then there are the narrated tour buses. This is more like a guided visit to the national park. The buses are driven by a trained naturalist, who will inform you about various features and parts of the park you’re exploring. They’re much more expensive, but do include the price of admission into the park.
There are also free buses to take you around Denali National Park. These run in the summer months and shuttle visitors between the park entrance, the visitor center, various trailhead and other landmarks inside the national park. There are three shuttle routes in all:
The Savage River Shuttle
The Riley Creek Loop Shuttle
Sled Dog Demonstration Shuttle
The buses depart every 30 minutes and run only during daylight hours.
By car
If you have your own car, you can drive to get around Denali National Park. There’s one main road running through that the public can drive on.
However, as of 2023 private cars can only drive up to Mile 15 (that’s where the trailhead to the Savage Alpine Trail is located) inside the national park because of the Pretty Rocks landslide, a slow-moving landslide which has recently worsened and which has caused the road to be unsafe to pass.
It’s provisionally due to reopen in 2025, but it may take longer (roadworks only happen during the summer months in Alaska).
What to wear + pack when visiting Denali National Park
I can’t stress how important it is to wear pack the right equipment when you’re planning to explore Denali National Park. Here are a few of the essential items that you absolutely need to have with you:
Sturdy hiking boots: Having the right shoes is crucial when you’re exploring the vast natural landscapes of Denali. Make sure you pick comfortable shoes that have a good grip. It’s better to bring shoes you have used before and you know are comfortable, just to avoid the risk of getting blisters.
Proper rain gear: This is one of the driest areas of Alaska, but the weather isn’t always reliable in this national park, so I would recommend bringing waterproof jackets and pants to wear over your regular hiking gear. Walking while soaked through isn’t fun. I ended up having to buy some emergency rain gear in Seward when I realized what I thought were waterproof pants and jackets weren’t. I got a Black Diamond jacket and pants that proved to be perfect.
Hat / scarf / gloves: Make sure you keep protected from the elements by packing these essential items. I visited at the beginning of September and it was very cold (to me) already. I was glad to have my gloves!
Sunglasses: Not only do sunglasses help to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays, but they also help protect your eyes from the wind (and it can get very windy in Denali National Park).
Sunblock: It doesn’t have to be boiling hot for you to get sunburned, so make sure to keep your skin protected from harmful UV rays with some good sunblock.
Snacks: Don’t hike hungry! Bring along a good selection of snacks that can help keep your energy levels high. Think things like protein bars and trail mix. I love Clif Bars: they are vegan and come in a variety of delicious flavors.
Bear spray: It’s important to be aware of bears while in the park. Make sure you come prepared for a bear encounter with some good bear spray. You can easily get it online, but if you left it last minute you should be able to get some in any store in Alaska (think Walmart).
First aid kit: Just in case. This can include everything from painkillers to plasters for blisters and bandages.
Water bottle: Keeping hydrated is very important, so bring plenty of water with you. Bring along a refillable bottle so you can refill if needed. If you plan on hiking for a few hours, bring at least 2 liters with you.
Camera: Denali National Park is a stunning spot, and it seems that just about everything is photogenic here. You’re definitely going to want to take some photos, so don’t forget your camera.
Where to stay in Denali National Park
There are several good places to stay not far from Denali National Park.
When I visited, I stayed at the Denali Grizzly Bear Resort but I honestly would not recommend it – I found it to be on the basic side, and a bit lacking in terms of cleanliness.
On the other side of Denali Grizzy Bear Resort there’t the much better (and significantly less basic) Denali Park Village, which is a cozy, clean and convenient spot. It comes with a good restaurant that also serves an excellent breakfast, a nice souvenir shop and an information center. It’s open from May through to September and even has a bus that takes guests to the national park.
If you are looking for where to stay in Denali National Park, here’s a further selection:
Alpine Creek Lodge – This charming, rustic lodge is situated at the midway point of the Denali Highway. Run by a helpful, friendly bunch of staff, you can start the day here with a hearty breakfast before heading off to explore.
Backwoods Lodge – Take a break in the beautiful surroundings of a quiet area, complete with views of Mount Denali on a clear day. Set along the Denali Highway in the town of Cantwell, rooms here include TVs, private bathrooms and dining tables.
Denali Park Hotel – Situated just outside of downtown Healy, Denali Park Hotel is surrounded by the wild landscape of the region. It’s situated close to Denali National Park but without the tourist crowds. Rooms come equipped with everything you need for your stay.
McKinley Creekside Cabins – The collection of cabins that make up this accommodation option are down-to-earth but welcoming. Some rooms come with balconies, which open up onto the wild landscapes beyond. Location-wise, it’s around 13 miles to the south of the park entrance.
Aurora Denali Lodge – Also located in Healy, this lodge features a selection of modern, clean rooms with all the amenities you’ll need during your stay. It’s a great place to get a comfortable night’s sleep, and also offers a buffet breakfast in the summer months.
Camping in Denali National Park
If you’re looking for where to stay in Denali in a budget and would rather get close to nature, then a lodge outside the park perhaps won’t cut it. In that case, you should take a look at the camping options to be found in Denali National Park.
Riley Creek Campground – Set in a wooded area, this campground is one of the best places to go camping in Denali National Park. It’s open to both tents and RVs. Located close to Highway 3, there’s a bit of traffic noise here, but it’s perfect for exploring the park’s popular trails. In the summer months, you need to book in advance (though you won’t need to for winter).
Sanctuary River Campground – Sanctuary River Campground is only open during the summer months (May to September). Camping here means spending the night under canvas in thick woodland. On clear days, you can glimpse Denali itself to the south. Reservations aren’t accepted and campers are welcome on a first come, first serve basis.
Savage River Campground – Also open only in the summer months, this campsite is set among a spruce forest at Mile 13 on the Denali Park Road. It’s a fairly basic campground, without any cellphone reception or firewood for sale among other things. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Teklanika River Campground – Teklanika River Campground is beyond Mile 15 of the Denali Park Highway and while no cars can go beyond that point, you can if you are staying there. I’d pick this option for camping in Denali National Park if you want to explore the park more in depth. Open in the summer months, there’s a minimum 3-night stay if you use your car to access the site. Reservations are very much recommended if you want to camp here.
Best restaurants in Denali
There are several good restaurants in Denali.
For starters, you could head to Denali Park Village, which as a resort has a couple of good dining spots. I went a few times as it was easy to reach from where I was staying, and the food and service didn’t disapoint.
For breakfast, make your way to Black Bear. This coffeehouse is the best breakfast spot in the area. Here you can fill up on eggs, bacon, toast, muffins and locally roasted coffee before heading off to explore the park. I also recommend the delicious pancakes.
If you’re looking for fine dining, go to The Overlook at Crow’s Nest Resort. Going strong since 1985, this restaurant has an amazing location — set on Sugarloaf Mountain overlooking the national park. I tried their halibut curry on black rice and it was probably the best meal I had in Alaska. And service is spot on.
If you want a place to grab a drink surrounded by beautiful landscapes, then head to 49th State Brewing. It’s a chain brewery/pub kind of place that does great beer and hearty dishes to match.
If you are looking for something quick and cheap, you can try the Thai Food truck that is located just outside the Denali Grizzly Bear Resort.
Other Tips For Visiting Denali National Park
Denali National Park Visitor Center
There are several different visitor centers throughout the park, but the main Denali Visitor Centre opened in 2005 and is located near the entrance to the park. There are plenty of facilities here including a bag check, restaurant, gift shop, bus stop and even a railroad depot.
You can ask questions, pick up a map or spend time learning more about the landscape. It’s open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (summer months only).
In the autumn, winter and spring, the Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) doubles up as the winter visitor center for Denali National Park. It’s open from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where to eat
There’s only one option for eating in Denali National Park, and that’s the Morino Grill, which is located next to Denali National Park Visitor Center.
However, around the park, there are several spots where you can pick up sandwiches and other snacks. For example, at Riley Creek Campground you’ll find the Riley Creek Mercantile (great for sandwiches), but it’s only open in the peak summer months (8:00 am to 10:00 pm).
There’s also the Denali Bus Depot, which serves up snacks and coffee.
Other than that you’ve got to bring your own food, especially if you intend to hike.
Souvenir shops
If you want to pick up some souvenirs to remind you of your adventures in Denali, there are a selection of places to do so. Two of these can be found by the Denali National Park Visitor Center – there’s a larger shop by the Morino Grill, and a smaller one close to the bus stop.
There’s also the McKinley Chalet Gift Shop, which is located at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Here you can pick up a range of souvenirs including ulu knives, newspapers and Alaskan art.
Northern Lights Gift Shop is located at Mile 239 of Denali Highway. This gift shop works to support local creatives and craftspeople, by selling some of their most eye-catching creations.
Finally, there’s the Denali Gift Co. In business since 1988, there are two locations to the north of the national park’s entrance. It claims to be the largest souvenir shop in Denali and stocks everything from T-shirts to kitchen accessories.
Toilets in Denali National Park
You can find toilet facilities at the Denali National Park Visitor Center, and at the Murie Science and Learning Center. In the summer months, there’s a choice of pit toilets dotted around Denali National Park, usually where the bus stops, by the picnic spots and parking lots.
During winter, there’s only toilets available at the Murie Science and Learning Center and at Riley Creek Campground (but these are pit toilets). There are also toilets at Eielson Visitor Center (Mile 66).
Further Readings
For further help in planning your trip to Alaska, make sure to read these posts:
- The Best Itinerary For An Alaska Road Trip
- What You Need To Know Before Visiting Alaska
- What To See And Do In Anchorage
- Where To Go On Day Trips From Anchorage
- A Short Guide To Talkeetna
- How To Hike The Harding Icefield
- A Short Guide To Seward
- Where To See Bears In Alaska
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