National Park · NPS · AK
Denali National Park & Preserve
Photo: NPS Photo / Nathan Kostegian, Dall Sheep
Alerts and conditions
Information Road Open To: Mile 3 (Park Headquarters)
The Denali Park Road is currently open to Mile 3, Park Headquarters. Snowy conditions beyond that point prevent vehicle travel, though pedestrian travel is permitted.
Overview
Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,310' Mount McKinley. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Dog Sledding
- Fishing
- Food
- Flying
- Guided Tours
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Gathering and Foraging
- Hunting
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snow Play
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Wildlife Watching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
All Park Hours: Denali is open 24-hours a day, although services are limited after-hours (generally after 4 pm in winter or 6 pm in summer). There is no gate at the park entrance. Please note that camping is only possible either in designated campgrounds (with a valid reservation) or in the rest of the park with a free backpacking permit.
Fees and passes
- Entrance - Per Person — $15.00
- Annual Entrance - Park — $45.00
The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.
Getting there
You can drive to Denali from Anchorage or Fairbanks, along Highway 3, which is known as the "George Parks Highway." Fairbanks is about 2 hours north, while Anchorage is 5 hours south of the Denali entrance. You can also reach Denali from either city via the Alaska Railroad, which is operated by the State of Alaska.
Visitor centers
- Denali Visitor Center
- Murie Science and Learning Center
- Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
- Denali Bus Depot
- Indoor Picnic Area
- Eielson Visitor Center
Campgrounds
- Riley Creek (144 sites) — reserve
- Savage River (32 sites) — reserve
- Sanctuary River (7 sites) — reserve
- Teklanika River (53 sites) — reserve
- Igloo Creek (7 sites)
- Wonder Lake (28 sites) — reserve
Weather
Summer is typically cool and wet, with highs typically in the upper 50s to low 60s, and lows in the 40s. On occasion, summer highs reach the low 80s, though this is rare. Snow can fall any month of the year, so be prepared for chilly weather even in summer. Fall colors emerge on the alpine tundra in August and in the low valleys in early September. Winter generally starts in mid-September, with temps often getting down to -40 by January. Spring is a short season in April / May, with highs above freezing.
Phone: 9076839532
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 128 miles
- Alaska Public Lands NPS · 148 miles