Denali National Park Travel Guide

Check out out travel guide to Denali National Park, one of the biggest and most famed wilderness conservancies in the world. Denali National Park is a six million acre wilderness park in Alaska. Below is our visitor guide to help you plan your trip to Alaska’s most popular National Park, Denali.

Explore Denali & the best of alaska on our guided active wilderness tour

✔ Wildlife Cruise to Resurrection Bay
✔ Explore Wrangell-St Elias National Park
✔ See Kenai Fjords National Park

✔ Stay at Wilderness Camps & Cabins
✔ Sea Kayak Among Icebergs
✔ Hike to and on Massive Glaciers
✔ Explore Denali National Park

Spend 12 days exploring the best Alaska has to offer on our guided wilderness tour in Alaska. Discover Denali, Wrangell-St Elias and Kenai Fjords National Parks, jetboat to a wilderness camp, kayak among icebergs in Valdez, and cruise wild ocean inlets in search of whales. Small and sociable groups offer the chance to travel with other fun and open travelers as well as our expert guides to ensure you make the most of your trip to Alaska!

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Denali National Park Introduction

Denali National Park’s beginnings come from over a hundred years ago when Charles Sheldon, who had spent much time in the area of the park, became concerned with the amount of game hunting in the area. Sheldon and others spent over 10 years working on getting official conservation status of the area, with hopes of protecting the wildlife that calls Denali National Park home to this day.

Over time Denali grew to more than six million acres of protected land, with a goal of maintaining most of the land without significant human use. This is why there is only one entrance to Denali National Park and only one road inside the park, known as the “Park Road”.

While we can trace back one hundred years of history of the official park, the lands where Denali National Park exist has far more history, tracing back hundreds of millions of years. Glaciers and ice ages tell much of the story in the park, and before that even traces of dinosaurs can be found in Denali.

Today, Denali National Park is still one of the most significant expanses of protected wilderness in North America, and home to abundant wildlife populations that roam the land. Denali is just a few hours away from Anchorage by road, and is one of the primary attractions that draws tourism to Alaska. Denali National Park is a playground for serious wilderness enthusiasts, who take to the high ridges to mountaineer, and the trails near the park’s entrance to hike. You can camp in the park, but there are no lodges or hotels to this day, which speaks to the Parks Service’s dedication to retain the healthy wilderness in the park. Below is our guide to Denali National Park and a complete set of travel information and trip planning resources for your visit to Denali National Park.

Visitor Information

Seasons:

Denali National Park is a wild stretch of wilderness that is untamed and serious. The lands are shaped by severe winters and harsh weather, so this is not the best place for a sunny beach vacation. Denali Park has two seasons- summer and winter, with very little time between each season for a prolonged fall or spring.

Summer In Denali National Park

If you are planning a summer visit to Denali National Park, you are best to plan your trip to the park between May and the end of September. While these are the peak summer months, May and September are still noticeably colder than July, where peak temperatures make for the most pleasant visiting time.

During the summer months in Denali, expect roughly 50 percent of the days to bring precipitation in the form of rain. Daily temperatures rarely get above 66 degrees Fahrenheit, so expect cool days even in the peak of summer. Clouds cover the sky roughly 60 percent of the summer months as well.

Summer activities in Denali National Park include hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and can be easily accessed from the park road.

Winter in Denali National Park

While visiting Denali National Park during the winter months is possible, the winter conditions and snow reduce the amount of infrastructure that is available, which makes visiting tough. Expect most of the park road to be closed throughout the winter months, as almost all of the road is unplowed.

Winter temperatures in Denali National Park range from 40 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit, and snow falls roughly 1 in 3 days each winter month. While the depth of snow is not so great, with roughly 12 inches of snow each month, the wind can transport snow to form large drifts unpredictably.

The winter season is best for activities like snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Denali National Park Travel Information

Use this information to help you plan your trip to Denali National Park. Read about how to get to Denali, where to stay and what to do! We’ve dug up the best places to stay in Denali, as well as provided information on the top activities in Denali. You can pair your Alaskan adventures with a trip in the Yukon, to experience the best things to see and do in Whitehorse and the Yukon.

How To Get To Denali National Park

Getting to Denali by Car

Denali is easily accessible by car from Anchorage, or Fairbakns, Alaska. Expect to drive 4 hours from Anchorage and just over two hours from Fairbanks. There is only one road into Denali National Park, which is only possible to travel on with the official park bus and vehicles are not permitted past mile 15 of the park road.

Getting to Denali National Park by Bus

From Anchorage

The Park Connection runs a shuttle from Anchorage to Denali National Park and back twice a day June 1 to August 31 each season. The trip is roughly four hours long with a quick stop in Talkeetna on the way. The bus drops you off at most of the lodges near Denali, and the Denali National Park village.

From Fairbanks

There is currently not a great bus option from Fairbanks to Denali National Park, but there are several companies that offer a range of shuttle services. Most of the services require a minimum number of passengers booked in order to confirm a departure. There is also a train from Fairbanks to Denali National Park, with various levels of service available on the four hour trip.

Where To Stay In/ Near Denali National Park

Denali National Park has very few lodges and hotels within the actual park, but there are several great options near the park entrance. The hotels and lodges listed below are properties that we recommend and are within a 7-15 minute drive of the park visitor center.

Budget Friendly Denali Lodging:

Denali Grizzly Bear Lodge

Choose from hotel rooms, private cabins or their campsite while staying a mere 6 miles from the park entrance. The Grizzly Bear Lodge is just outside the tourist area, so you can relax without feeling crowded.

McKinley Chalet Resort

Stay in comfortable and newly renovated hotel rooms with access to a wide variety of common areas and amenities, including two restaurants. The lodge's lower rooms are set along the banks of the Nenana River for a wilderness feel! This resort is located just one mile from the park entrance.

Luxury Lodging Near Denali National Park

Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

Stay in a luxurious lodge complete with indoor and outdoor common fireplaces, a delicious restaurant and comfortably appointed rooms. The lodge is just 7 minutes away from the visitor center and surrounded by some beautiful mountains.

Denali National Park Remote WIlderness Lodges

You can also plan a visit to Denali National Park staying in one of three remote, fly in access wilderness lodges as well! These must be booked far in advance and are in a budget category on their own, but with their private, remote settings a stay here can be a truly amazing experience. Below are the wilderness lodges available in Denali National Park.

Camp Denali

Camp Denali had its first beginnings in 1951 when the founders arrived in the area, fell in love and began to homestead the 67 acre area. Today Camp Denali consists of 19 timber frame cabins, which are described as somewhat rustic in nature, with woodstove heat.

Stays are a minimum of 3 nights and there is a heavy emphasis on learning through experiences while staying at the lodge in Denali National Park.

Denali Backcountry Lodge

No cell service, no television, no stress! Come for a 2-5 night set stay and build your own adventure package hiking, paddleboarding and more at the “farthest out” lodge in Denali National Park. Delicious home cooked meals and a variety of spa services ensure you will be comfortable and enjoy your experience in Denali!

Kantishna Roadhouse

An original roadhouse from the gold panning early days of the area, the Kantishna Roadhouse is an oasis in the middle of nowhere, where you can immerse yourself in a relaxing time filled with hiking, paddling, fishing or try out gold panning! There are some historical cabins, to reflect on the early pioneering days. Each stay is all inclusive with delicious meals provided for your set stay of 3-7 nights.

What To Do In Denali National Park

Denali National Park offers many amazing outdoor pursuits and things to do while visiting. There are numerous hiking trails to stretch your legs while enjoying an active day in the park. Just outside the park you can go whitewater rafting to get away from the crowds and spend some thrilling time in the wilderness. The main attraction to Denali National Park in the summer months is searching for wildlife to watch and take photos of. There are numerous opportunities to spot caribou, moose, deer, wolves as well as both grizzly and black bears. Animals roam freely in the park, so keeping a lookout from the park bus is a surefire way to spot some. Remember to keep an eye and ear open as you hike to avoid any surprise encounters!

Winter months bring endless snowshoe and cross country ski opportunities, as you can ski right along the unplowed park road, or forge your own trail over the tundra. Denali Park is also a haven for serious mountaineering quests, as the notably high peak brings alpine climbers from all over the world.

Camping In Denali National Park

Camping in Denali National Park is a great way to experience more of the park and immerse yourself in the wilderness. There are a series of campsites along the park road that can be reserved in advance, but don’t necessarily need to be. Reservations can be made with the park service campsite reservations page

Below is our guide to the campsites in Denali National Park:

Riley Creek Campground- Mile 0.25- RV’s and Tents

Savage River Campground- Mile 14- RV’s and Tents

Sanctuary River Campground- Mile 22- Tents only

Teklanika River Campground- Mile 25- RV’s and Tents (3 night minimum for RV’s)

Igloo Creek Campground- Mile 35- Tents only

Wonder Lake Campground- Mile 85- Currently Closed

Hiking In Denali National Park

Hiking in Denali National Park is a little unlike most other national parks you might have visited and we will explain why in our Denali travel guide. Here there are only a small handful of designated trails clustered near the park entrance, and the rest of the park is open to unmarked wilderness hiking with no trails.

The trails around the entrance suit a range of difficulties and you can do the full hike or partial segments of most of the hikes. There is the Healy Overlook or Rock Creek Trails, as well as the Triple Lakes Trail, which is a through hike from one point to another via a trio of pretty lakes.

If you plan to hike off trail in the wilderness, you should absolutely be equipped with a map, compass and ideally a GPS with reliable batteries. With all the wildlife you should be in a group and ideally make enough noise to alert animals to your location to avoid surprise encounters. Having a reliable non-cellular communication device is a good idea. You will be traveling in Denali National Park on unmarked trails, using basic route finding skills to pick your path, which will be crossing creeks and streams, and bushwacking through brush.

One of the best strategies to hike in Denali National Park is to ride the bus west and scope out areas that you may be interested in hiking. On your ride back east, you can hop off the bus in an area you planned on hiking. This way you can browse some potential areas before committing to something!

Denali National Park is featured in some of the best hiking tours in the United States.

Denali National Park Rafting

One of the top ways to enjoy the park in our Denali National Park travel guide is to head out on a wild river to go rafting! You can choose a mild or wild trip to suit your thirst for adventure. Most trips raft down the Nenana River, which passes right near the entrance to the park. From some areas on the river you can see Denali in the distance, and some areas you’ll just be hanging on for dear life!

Choose from a 2 hour to full day tour to suit your schedule.

Denali Rafting Companies:

Denali Raft Adventures

New Wave Adventures Rafting

Traverse Alaska Rafting

Biking in Denali National Park

You can cycle along the park road, but to be honest, cycling is fairly limited in the park and can be a hazardous mix with wildlife. We don’t recommend Denali National Park as a cycling destination, though there are plenty of places not too far away that are more suitable for cycling and mountain biking.

Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing In Denali National Park

While most people wouldn’t think to visit the far north of Alaska in the winter months it is actually a great time to be here and to explore Denali National Park. For one, there are zero crowds and you may even have the place to yourself! The main activities to do in Denali National Park in winter months are to cross country ski and snowshoe. Both of these can be done along the park road, which is unplowed and covered in snow, or along the dog sled trails and some hiking trails.

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, there is actually a fair amount of sun in Alaska during the winter season, and the sunsets tend to be very long and drawn out, which present incredible opportunities to take photos. The visitor center is also open, so you can head in and watch some films about the park and warm up before or after our adventure.

Denali National Park Wildlife Viewing

Did you know that over 80 percent of visitors to Denali National Park report seeing bears, and 35 percent see moose? Denali National Park is home to over 30 species of mammals and 169 species of birds, which make for some fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. Many people believe that the park was created to protect the mountain wilderness, but in fact, it was actually created to protect the animals, and the mountain was only added to the park area in the most recent expansion!

The big five mammals are Dall’s sheep, wolves, caribou, moose as well as grizzly and black bears. These can be seen in their natural habitat of choice.

Moose tend to be spotted most in low lying wetlands and open marshy areas. Caribou can be seen crossing open expanses of tundra, while Dall’s sheep prefer the safety of steep, rocky crags where predators would be hard pressed to approach them.

Wolves are elusive but can sometimes be seen traveling through the park, while bears are seen anywhere that presents a snack for them.

Golden eagles can also be spotted throughout the park, as well as bald eagles, though bald eagles are less common and most likely just traveling through.

Dusk and dawn are both great times to spot animals, so be sure to catch the early bus into the park!

Mountaineering in Denali National Park

Mount Denali presents some incredible mountaineering challenges that are famed among the mountaineering community and attract climbers from around the world. The typical season for mountaineers is April to June, avoiding peak summer months when clouds are more prevalent. The Parks Service is the best source of information to plan a mountaineering trip to Denali, including info on permits, routes, preparation and more!

Questions About Travel To Denali National Park

Are there park fees in Denali National Park?

Yes, anyone 16 years of age or older must have a valid Denali National Park entry pass. A standard pass is $15 usd and is valid for 7 days from the date of purchase. You can purchase your pass online, or in person with debit or credit at the park entrance.

Do I need reservations to visit Denali National Park for a day?

No, Denali National Park does not require reservations for day visits. You enter on arrival with no reservation required at any time of year.

Do I need a guide for Denali National Park?

You do not need to hire a guide to enter or enjoy Denali National Park. Simply enter the park on the park bus and explore as your desire, with a valid park entry pass. You can opt to hire a guide to make the most of your stay in the park if you desire.

Are there a lot of bugs in Denali National Park?

The bugs in Denali National Park can be very bad in certain places and times, though the bug season is typically very short. The first half of summer brings the most bugs, while August onwards tends to have less mosquitoes as they begin to die off in the colder temperatures.

We suggest bringing bug spray, citronella, long sleeve and even a bug net to make your stay more enjoyable.

Are there forest fires in Denali National Park?

Denali National Park is subject to forest fires, though a substantial portion of the park is above treeline and is only covered with sparse tundra and scrub brush, which means there is no fuel for a forest fire to burn.

Over 1 million acres of forested land burn in Alaska each year, with somewhere around 400 active fires at any given time. The fire season is from June through the end of August.

That being said, Denali National Park is a safe place to plan your vacation without having to worry about forest fires.

How far is Denali National Park from Anchorage?

Denali National Park is a 4 hour drive from Anchorage, lying 237 miles from downtown Anchorage.

Where is Denali National Park?

Denali National Park is a 6 million acre protected area 4 hours (237 miles) north of Anchorage, Alaska. Denali National Park’s border is adjacent to Highway 3, which runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks.

How Many Days Do I Need To Explore Denali National Park?

The average visit to Denali National Park is two nights, with 1-2 full days to enjoy the park. To simply ride the park bus, and stop to walk around in some areas, 1 full day is fine, though if you plan to spend some more time hiking off trail and explore the park more extensively, you may want to spend a few extra days.

Can I See Denali National Park In One Day?

You can absolutely see Denali National Park in one day, though you would want a full day, so you would need to travel to the park the day before, and back from the park the day after.

What Is The Closest City To Denali National Park?

Fairbanks is the closest city to Denali National Park, though most visitors find that Anchorage is easier to include on their trip as it has a bigger airport and is a bigger city. Fairbanks is two hours away by car, while Anchorage is 4 hours away.

Do You Need A Car For Denali?

You don’t need a car to explore Denali National Park, in fact there are limited places in the park that you can explore with a car. You can access Denali National Park by bus or train from Fairbanks and Anchorage, and then make use of the Denali Park Bus to access the areas along the park road.

Plan Your Trip to Denali National park

We hope that you are more excited than ever to visit Denali National Park! While Denali is a destination all on it’s own, good things are best when paired with other good things. We would recommend planning a more extensive trip in Alaska, or consider joining a guided tour, like our 12 Day Amazing Alaska Adventure, where you can spend 12 days exploring the best national parks in Alaska, including Denali, Kenai Fjords and Wrangell-St Elias, among other incredible stops and adventures.

Denali National Park is a must see destination in Alaska, much like Banff, in the Canadian Rockies. Check out our visitor guide to Banff National Park to explore the Canadian Rockies.