Est. 1917 | Alaska | 4,740,911 acres

Denali

Truly the crown of the continent, Denali National Park boasts the tallest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet. Below, taiga forests rise to high alpine tundra in turn giving way to glaciated mountains ultimately converging in Denali itself. Grizzlies roam rocky slopes, caribou wander wide grasslands, and moose graze untold waterways in the vast untamed wilderness of Alaska’s most accessible national park.

But even still, Denali is remote, barely touched by today’s standards. The park has only one entrance and one road penetrating its vast wilderness. Running along the northern boundary of the Alaska Range, Denali Park Road is 92 miles long providing visitors with up-close wildlife action and intimate peeks of the 20,310-foot behemoth. The only downside is the road is only open to private vehicles for the first 15 miles. These beginning miles offer a lot to the park with front country hikes, lakes and viewpoints, but a transit bus must be scheduled for the back portion of the road to really experience the grandeur of Denali.

Park Highlights

Mt. Healy Overlook Trail—Located off the Horseshoes Lake Trail near the Denali Visitor Center, this 5.4-mile roundtrip out-and-back trail passes through dense forest and alpine meadows to Mount Healy, ultimately rewarding hikers with views of Denali (Mt. McKinley) on clear days. As one of the steepest paths in the park, Mt. gains about 1,700 feet in elevation and covers rocky terrain.
Savage Alpine Trail—The Savage Alpine Trail is a stunning 4-mile one-way hike connecting the Savage River area to the Mount Vista area. Panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, valleys, and tundra reward the steady 1,500-foot ascent through open meadows and rocky ridgelines. It’s a moderately difficult trail, ideal for those seeking a longer, more rewarding trek with excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting and photography.
Thorofare Ridge Trail (Eilson Alpine Trail)—66 miles back on Denali Park Road, this short 1-mile ascent up Thorofare Ridge from Eielson Visitor Center grants hikers extraordinary views of Gorge Creek, Muldrow Glacier and of course Denali. A transit bus must be scheduled to access this portion of the park.
Wonder Lake—Nearing the end of Denali Park Road at mile 85 sits Wonder Lake, a prime viewpoint for Denali. Consider camping overnight at Wonder Lake to take advantage of Denali’s pink and purple alpenglow reflected in the lake.
Flightseeing Tour with Glacier Landing—On the more expensive side of activities, some visitors choose to book a flightseeing tour for a closeup view of Denali. This is the best way to see Denali, especially if clouds continue to obstruct views at lower elevations. The added option of landing on a glacier takes this experience up a notch as visitors are transported to an icy world of sheer rock cliffs and snow-studded ridges. Most flight tours are based in the small town of Talkeetna, Alaska, roughly 85 miles south of the mountain.

Best time to visit Denali

Most people visit Denali in the summer (mid-June to mid-September) when the park is fully functioning, wildlife is active, and vegetation once again coats the tundra in green. Located so far north, the summer days in Denali can reach 20 hours long, barely getting dark at night. While this may not be conducive to sleep, it does allow for extended hours exploring the park. Keep in mind mosquitos and biting insects are at their peak in the wet summer months, mainly June and July, making August an extremely popular time to visit.

Winter in Alaska (October–February) is often overlooked for the warmer summer days, but winter is the predominant season for the park with incredible potential. If willing to brave the elements and remain flexible with limited operations, a visit to Denali can be quite magical. Denali Park Road often closes at mile 3, but opportunities to ski, snowshoe, winter bike and dog sled are abundant in the park entrance area. This is also prime time to view the northern lights when skies are clear and dark. Not to mention travel costs are close to half the summer rates, making for a budget-friendly trip.

Fall’s transition from summer to winter (September) is short in Alaska as winter arrives quickly with sudden snowstorms in late September. However, if timed right, a trip in early September can be particularly gorgeous, with autumn colors of reds and yellows blanketing the hillsides. Because of the risky weather window in the fall, lodging and airfare are much cheaper.

Spring (March–May) is perhaps the worst time to visit the park as snow holds on late into the year and foliage does not green up until mid-June. With the melting snow, the landscape is often muddy and mushy.

How long should I visit Denali?

To do Denali justice, a 3–4 day trip is necessary. While the park entrance area can be explored in 1–2 days, chances of seeing Denali are slim as it is shrouded in cloud roughly 2 of every 3 days in the summer. In addition, because transit buses alone are allowed in the backcountry, travel to these remote hiking trails requires a full day. To explore multiple sections along Denali Park Road multiple days would be required, especially for areas around Eielson Visitor Center and Wonder Lake. 3–4 days would allow ample time to explore the front country, hike multiple day hikes along Park Road and leave room for wildlife viewing.

Getting to Denali

Denali is located along the Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3) which runs north-south from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Most out-of-state visitors fly into either airport, rent a car and drive to the park. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in Anchorage usually hosts cheaper and more convenient flights, but Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is much closer, about half the distance (120 miles) to the park than Anchorage (240 miles). However, if you plan to visit other parks on the same trip, the central location of Anchorage may be worth the extra drive time.

As an alternative to renting a car, the Denali Star Train operated by Alaska Railroad makes daily trips from Anchorage to Fairbanks, along a scenic route through the state’s interior. While this could be a romantic mode of travel, keep in mind the train runs slower than cars and makes frequent stops along the way. If speed, efficiency or autonomy are important, we recommend not booking a train ticket.

Where to stay in Denali

Lodging—There are no lodges or hotels operated by the National Park Service in the park. Several privately-owned and operated lodges (Camp Denali, Denali Backcountry Lodge, Kantishna Roadhouse and Skyline Lodge) exist in the Kantishna area of the park at the end of Denali Park Road. Outside the park, lodging can be found all along the highway between Healy (11 miles north) and Cantwell (30 miles south). Multiple cabins, hotels and lodges operate directly outside the park across the highway with a short 2-mile walking path running directly to the visitor center.

Campgrounds—Denali National Park hosts 6 campgrounds along Denali Park Road. With 142 sites, Riley Creek Campground at mile 1 is the largest most accessible campground in the park. It is also the only campground open year round. Though Teklanika River Campground is technically past mile 15, the restriction point for private vehicles, on Denali Park Road, campers and RVs may opt for a Tek Pass to drive to this campground, under two conditions: (1) they must keep their vehicle at their campsite during the duration of their stay and use transit buses to commute within the park and (2) the duration of their stay must be three nights or longer.

Mile 1: Riley Creek Campground—142 campsites (RV and tent)
Mile 14: Savage River Campground—32 campsites (RV and tent)
Mile 22: Sanctuary River Campground—7 campsites (tent only)
Mile 29: Teklanika River Campground—53 campsites (RV and tent)
Mile 35: Igloo Creek Campground—7 campsites (tent only)
Mile 85: Wonder Lake Campground: 28 campsites (tent only)

When should I book?

Since Denali is a top destination in Alaska, especially for summer travelers, it’s common for visitors to book lodging months in advance, particularly for lodges outside the park and predominant campgrounds inside the park, like Riley Creek and Wonder Lake. Popular lodges like Denali Backcountry Lodge in Kantishna and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge in Denali Park can sell out as early as January for summer dates. For any summer trip to an Alaskan national park, it is wise to book 6–12 months in advance as these are high tourist areas during a tight time window.

Booking accommodations during off-season however, can be done closer to your arrival (1–3 months). But bear in mind, it’s still a good idea to confirm lodging early as some places may have reduced services or limited availability.

There is no timed entry permit system for Denali National Park during peak visitation periods.

How much should I budget?

A 4-day trip booked 6 months in advance can cost roughly $800–$1,200 depending on your required needs. Here is a range of what to expect:

Roundtrip Airfare to Fairbanks	$400–$700
Roundtrip Airfare to Anchorage	$300–$600
Car Rental	$70–$120/day (not including taxes/fees)
Campsite	$16–$50/night (not including taxes/fees)
Lodges	$200–$450/night
Camp Store Meals	$15–$25/meal
Entrance Fee	$35/vehicle for 7 days

Packing list for Denali

Each park requires different gear for its unique characteristics. For Denali National Park, we wouldn’t want to be caught without bug spray, hiking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, layered clothing, camelback and a hat. Bear spray is not required, but a good safety precaution for back country trails especially if camping.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed trip report for a peek into our trip to Denali.

For more detailed information on Denali National Park, visit the official park website.