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Accessibility
Shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible - please advise when making reservation. Tour buses are wheelchair accessible - please advise when making reservation. The Visitor Center, most campgrounds, and Park Headquarters are accessible.
Backpacking Camping / Hiking
Denali National Park is an area that predominately without trails. Hikers must travel crosscountry. Be prepared for uneven terrain and possibly streams and brush. Many rewards await those who take the challenge of hiking without a trail in the backcountry of Denali: spectacular vistas, possible encounters with wildlife, and the experience of traveling the land much as the first explorers did. Be sure to carry the proper gear and be familiar with potential hazards and bear safety precautions. See the Hiking Page and the Camping Page for more details.
Basic Visit Recommendations
At least one full day is required to tour the park road by shuttle or tour bus. Visitors wishing to day hike, backcountry hike, or attend ranger-naturalist programs, should allow several days.
Those visitors arriving without reservations for shuttle or tour bus reservations may experience one to two day waits for an available bus. This is especially true during peak season and visitors should plan accordingly. The park recommends using the shuttle and campground reservation system when planning your trip.
For additional information write:
Denali National Park & Preserve
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755
Phone: 907-683-2294
Email: Denali National Park
Biking
Bicycles are restricted to designated roadways. They may not be used on trails, the roadside path, or in the backcountry. Bicyclists must comply with all traffic and wildlife regulations. Ride single file; remember buses have priority on the gravel portions of the road. Vehicles will slow down so as to not "dust" you; however, you should pull over and slow down/stop when buses are passing or approaching you due narrow roads.
During spring and fall when road closures are in effect, bicyclists are permitted to ride beyond closed gates.
Bicycle Camping
Register for a campsite in advance or at the Visitor center. If you prefer to backpack from a campground, leave your bike locked there (bike racks are being installed with "fee demo" money). Make sure you have a backcountry permit. Store any food or gear not going with you in the food lockers.
Buses
Beyond mile 14 of the park road, you you'll need to be on a bus, a bicycle or your own two feet (most folks opt for a bus). Riding a bus enhances your chances of spotting wildlife. You are sitting higher than if you were in a car and there are many pairs of eyes watching.
There are primarily two bus systems operating in the park. These concessioner-operated buses are provided by Denali Park Resorts. The following information compares the two systems.
You may see other buses along the road. There are businesses at Kantishna, an inholding north of Wonder Lake, which offer bus transportation for guests staying or dining at their private facilities.
Shuttle Bus
Shuttle buses feature wildlife and scenic viewing. Visitors wishing to day hike, camp, backpack, or picnic in the park should use the shuttle buses. Shuttle buses allow passengers to get off and on different shuttle or camper buses on a space available basis. Bring snacks, lunch, beverages which fit underneath the seat or overhead rack.
Riley Creek Loop Bus
Provides transportation between the Railroad Depot, Horseshoe Lake trailhead, the Visitor Center, and Riley Creek Campground. Schedules are posted at these "bus stops."
Savage River Shuttle
Leaves the Visitor Center on the odd hour from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm. Destination Savage River Day Use Area. Two hours roundtrip and costs $2.00 per person (pay driver exact change only please).
Sled Dog Demonstration Shuttle
Provides transportation between Riley Creek Campground and the Visitor Center approximately 30 minutes before each 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm 'dog demo.' It is important to use this shuttle or walk to and from the dog demonstration, since vehicle parking is unavailable.
Gorgeous trail follows the Savage River and then crosses a bridge and continues back to the trailhead.
Advanced reservations are available by calling: 800-622-7275. From Anchorage call locally at: 272-7275. From outside the U.S. dial: 907-272-7275. Reservation requests can also be faxed to: 907-264-4684 or mailed to:
Denali Park Resorts
Visitor Transportation System
241 West Ship Creek Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone reservations can be made every day up to the day before travel. Faxes must be received two days before the date of travel. Reservations that are mailed in must be received 30 days prior to departure. Approximately 50% of the seats are released for sale via the reservation system. The remaining 50% are released for sale two days prior to the date of travel. Tickets are also available, by walk-in, at the Denali National Park and Preserve Visitor Center two days before the day of travel.
Shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible - please advise when making reservation.
Tour Bus
Tour buses feature a narrated bus tour and wildlife viewing. Visitors cannot get on and off to switch buses. Snack or box lunch provided.
Advanced reservations are available, call: 800-276-7234. From Anchorage call locally: 276-7234. From outside the U.S. dial: 907-276-7234. Reservations can be made until two days in advance of travel. Within two days of departure call: 907-683-2215 for advance purchase.
Tour buses are wheelchair accessible - please advise when making reservation.
Camping
Seven National Park Service Campgrounds are available in the park. Three campgrounds, Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River, are open to private vehicles. Morino, near the railroad depot, is for those traveling without vehicles. The other three campgrounds, Sanctuary River, Igloo Creek, and Wonder Lake, are shuttle bus accessible only. Fees are charged for all campgrounds and advanced reservations are available for most. Riley Creek is the only campground open year round. For reservation information call: 800-622-7275 from anywhere in the United States or: 907-272-7275 locally, in Anchorage, or outside the United States.
Reservations may be mailed or faxed to Denali Park Resorts. Faxes must be received two days before the date of travel. Reservations that are mailed in must be received 30 days prior to departure. See the Camping Page for details.
Entrance Fees
| Individual Entry (bike, foot) | $ 10.00 (Seven Day Pass) |
| Family Entry | $ 20.00 (Seven Day Pass) |
| Annual Pass | $ 20.00 (Season) |
| Gold Access Pass (Blind or permanently disabled individuals) | Free (Lifetime - good in all natl parks) |
| Golden Age Pass (1 time fee - for those 62+ years young) | $ 10.00 (Lifetime - good in all natl parks) |
| National Park Pass (good 1 year from date of purchase) | $ 50.00 (good in all natl parks) |
National Park Pass Information
National Parks Pass
The National Parks Pass is an annual pass that provides admission to any national park charging an entrance fee. The Pass costs $ 50.00 and is valid for 12 months (ending the last day of the purchase month, one year later). More than 80% of the proceeds from the sales of National Park Passes go directly into supporting priority projects in national parks.
Where a "Per Vehicle" entrance fee is charged, the Pass admits the Pass signee and accompanying passengers in a single, private*, non-commercial vehicle. Where a "Per Person" entrance fee is charged, the Pass admits the Pass signee, spouse, children and parents. The Pass is nontransferable and does not cover or reduce use fees such as charges for camping, parking, tours and concessions.
Golden Eagle Pass
For an additional $ 15.00, a Golden Eagle hologram may be purchased and affixed to a National Parks Pass to cover entrance fees at not only national parks, but also at sites managed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U. S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. The Golden Eagle holograms are available at National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management fee stations. The Golden Eagle admits the pass signee and any accompanying passengers in a private* vehicle if a park has a per vehicle entrance fee. Where a per person entrance fee is charged, the Golden Eagle admits the pass signee, spouse, children and parents. The Golden Eagle is nontransferable and does NOT cover or reduce use fees such as charges for camping, parking, tours, and concessions. It is valid for entrance fees only. The Golden Eagle hologram is valid until the expiration of the National Parks Pass to which it is affixed.
Golden Age Pass
If you are age 62 or older, you qualify for a Golden Age Passport. The Golden Age Pass is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are age 62 or older. The Golden Age Pass is a lifetime entrance pass to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges that charge an entrance fee. The Golden Age Pass admits the pass signee and any accompanying passengers in a private* vehicle if a park has a per vehicle entrance fee. Where a per person entrance fee is charged, the Golden Age Pass admits the pass signee, spouse, and children.
The Golden Age Pass also provides a 50% discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours. In some cases where use fees are charged, only the pass signee will be given the 50% price reduction. The Pass is nontransferable and does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners. A Golden Age Pass must be obtained in person at a federal area where an entrance fee is charged. There is a one-time $ 10.00 processing charge to obtain the Golden Age Pass. It is available only to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are 62 years of age or older. You must show proof of age, such as a state driver's license, birth certificate, or similar document.
Golden Access Pass
If you have a permanent disability, you may qualify for a Golden Access Passport. The Golden Access Pass is a lifetime entrance pass to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges that charge an entrance fee. The Golden Access Pass admits the pass signee and any accompanying passengers in a private* vehicle if a park has a per vehicle entrance fee. Where a per person entrance fee is charged, the Golden Access Pass admits the pass signee, spouse, and children.
The Golden Access Pass also provides a 50% discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, and tours. In some cases where use fees are charged, only the pass signee will be given the 50% price reduction. The Pass is nontransferable and does NOT cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessioners. A Golden Access Pass must be obtained in person at a federal area where an entrance fee is charged. It is available only to citizens or permanent residents of the United States who are medically determined to be blind or permanently disabled. You may obtain a Golden Access Pass by showing proof of medically determined permanent disability, or eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law.
* A private vehicle is defined as any noncommercial vehicle that is being used for private recreational purposes.
The National Parks Pass may be purchased at any National Park office or entry station.
To purchase a pass Online, click on this Link, or to purchase via phone, call: 1-888-467-2757.
Fishing
Fishing is not great in Denali National Park. The fish cannot tolerate the conditions of most of the rivers inside of the park because of too much glacial silt. there are a few clear, mountain streams where arctic grayling may be caught. Lake trout (Mackinaw) may be found in Wonder Lake. No license is required in the original national park lands.
Food and Supplies
A small convenience store, The McKinley Mercantile, is located near the entrance of Denali. Several other restaurants and convenience stores are located within a few miles of the park entrance. Most food services are available only in summer. Restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations are open year round in Healy, AK - 12 miles north of the park entrance and Cantwell, 29 miles south.
Hiking
To help choose a location to hike read the following information about the different habitats found within the park. You may want to base your decision on where to hike on what type of terrain you want to hike in. The most common types of terrain in the park are taiga, tundra and gravel bar. See the Hiking Page for details.
| Activity | Original Park Land | 1980 Park Land Additions | Denali Preserve |
| Aircraft Access | No | Yes | Yes |
| Backcountry Permit Required | Yes | Yes | No |
| Campfires | No | Yes | Yes |
| Firearms | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pets | No | Yes | Yes |
| Snow Machine Access | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sport Fishing | Yes | With State License | With State License |
| Sport Hunting | No | No | With State License |
| Subsistence - Hunting / Fishing | No | By Permit | By Permit |
Lodging
In Denali National Park, there is lodging available at the Camp Denali, Denali Backcountry Lodge, Kantishna Roadhouse and Northface Lodge. Many other accommodations are available within a short distance of the park. Most lodging is only open in summer. Year round lodging is available in Healy, AK - 12 miles north of the park entrance and Cantwell, 29 miles south. See the Lodging Page for details.
Permits and Fees
Fees are charged for shuttle and tour bus services. These fees vary according to length of trip.
Forty percent of all shuttle bus seats and campground permits are available by advanced reservations. The spaces available for advanced reservation do sell out. When they are sold out the remainder of shuttle bus seats and campground sites are available only at the Visitor Center, up to two days in advance.
Reservations are required for all west-bound boardings except as noted below.
Passengers may get off along the park road and re-board later buses (west of mile 20) on a space available basis with a ticket valid for that day.
Advanced phone reservations are available by calling: 1-800-622-7275. From Anchorage call locally: 272-7275. From outside the U.S. dial: 1-907-272-7275. Reservation requests can also be faxed to: 1-907-264-4684 or mailed to:
Denali Park Resorts
Visitor Transportation System
241 West Ship Creek Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone reservations can be made every day up to the day before travel. Faxes must be received two days before the date of travel. Reservations that are mailed in must be received 30 days prior to departure. Approximately 65% of the seats are released for sale via the reservation system. The remaining tickets are released for sale two days prior to the date of travel. Tickets are also available, by walk-in, at the Denali National Park and Preserve Visitor Center two days before the day of travel.
Wheelchair accessible shuttle buses are available - please advise when making reservation.
Visitors with current backcountry permits may board buses west of mile 20 on a space available basis with a camper pass. Visitors may board eastbound on a space available basis. Please keep your ticket stub for the driver's inspection. Expect a one hour wait before reboarding buses along the park.
Mountaineering Permits and Registration Packets must be submitted at least 60 days in advance and a $ 150.00 fee is charged.
Backcountry camping permits are free and can be obtained only at the Visitor Center, no more than 1 day in advance. A camper bus pass must be purchased in order to reach most backcountry camping units.
Professional photographer permits are available to qualified applicants.
Contact the Chief Ranger at: 907-683-2294.
Pet Information
Pets must be leashed at all times. They are not allowed on trails or buses. Please dispose of feces in garbage cans. Secure pet food inside vehicle or food locker.
Programs and Activities
Join a ranger for a guided walk or educational talk! See the Calendar Page for details. National Park Rangers and Naturalists offer visitors a variety of programs, including:
Campground Programs - Learn about anything from grizzlies to glaciers during informal 30 - 45 minute programs. Topics are listed on bulletin boards. Programs are presented at the following campgrounds:
Riley Creek
Savage River
Teklanika River
Wonder Lake
Discovery Hike - Moderate to moderately strenuous three to four hour hikes in the backcountry wilderness of Denali. Expect uneven terrain, no trails and small stream crossings. Hikers must wear sturdy hiking boots and carry rain gear, food, and water. Locations change daily and their descriptions are posted at the Visitor Center. Sign-up is required one to two days in advance at the main Visitor Center.
Evening Auditorium Programs: Rangers interpret a wide variety of park- related themes in a 45 minute program. Many programs are illustrated with slides. Programs are offered at the Auditorium and the Visitor Center Theater.
Sled Dog Demonstration: Rangers and dogs work together to demonstrate a traditional Alaskan mode of travel. These unique 30 minute programs include an opportunity to tour the park kennels and visit Denali's Alaskan Huskies. Free buses leave the Visitor Center and the bus shelter at Riley Creek Campground for the kennels approximately 30 minutes before each demonstration. No parking is available near the kennels. Begins Memorial Day weekend!
Short Guided Hikes: Depart daily from the Visitor Center and Eielson Visitor Center. Explore taiga and tundra on these 30 - 90 minute walks. Begins mid-June.
Visitor Center: Open daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm during the summer months, the Visitor Center offers information and a bookstore to orient visitors. A 20 minute slide program is also presented throughout the day. Additional ranger programs are presented at the Visitor Center Theater.
Summer Hours: 7:00 am to 8:00 pm - Daily - late May to mid-Sep. Winter Hours: 8:00 am. to 4:30 pm - Daily - mid Sep to early May - Headquarters Building.
Road Lottery
Road Lottery applications are accepted by mail during the month of July. To apply for a road travel permit, you need to submit your name, address, choice of dates in preferential order and include a self addressed stamped envelope. Mail between 01 Jul and 31 Jul. Only one entry per person will be accepted.
Road lottery takes place each fall. 400 private cars per day are allowed to drive the park road over a four day period. The road is open for travel in Sep.
Tour Buses
Tour buses feature a narrated bus tour and wildlife viewing. Visitors cannot get on and off to switch buses. Snack or box lunch provided.
Advanced reservations are available, call: 1-800-276-7234. From Anchorage call locally: 276-7234. From outside the U.S. dial: 1-907-276-7234. Reservations can be made until 2 days in advance of travel. Within two days of departure call: 1-907-683-2215 for advance purchase.
Wheelchair accessible buses are available - please advise when making reservation.
Weather Page
Climate, Recommended Clothing
Summers are generally cool and damp with average high temperatures in the mid 60s. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures falling to -40° F and below. Layers of clothing, including good rain gear and hiking boots are recommended for summer.
Specialized cold-weather gear is necessary for mountaineering and winter visits.
See the Weather Page for current weather and other weather data.
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