Denali

The national park around Denali (6,190 m), North America's highest peak; ride the park bus deep into the tundra to spot grizzlies, caribou and moose.

Denali National Park and Preserve lies in Interior Alaska and covers about 24,000 square kilometers. At its heart is Denali (6,190 m), North America's highest peak, and the park is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Visitor activity centers on two areas. The entrance area on the east side (near Mile 237 of the Parks Highway) has visitor centers, the sled dog kennels, several trails, and hotels and restaurants, with cheaper lodging in the town of Healy to the north. Inside the park there is just one road, the roughly 148 km Park Road; beyond Mile 15 it is open only to park buses, which venture into the tundra to look for grizzlies, caribou, moose, Dall sheep and wolves. The best time is the bus season from early June to mid-September: wildflowers peak in July, and late August brings fall colors and the first northern lights. In winter most facilities close, but you can go snowshoeing or dog sledding. Plan on 3–4 days: one day for entrance-area trails and the kennels, one for a bus trip deep into the park, and one for a flightseeing tour or rafting. Getting there: about 4 hours' drive from Anchorage or about 8 hours on the Alaska Railroad; Fairbanks is about 2 hours by road. Good to know: the Park Road beyond Mile 43 has been closed since 2021 due to a landslide — check NPS announcements for reopening; book buses and lodging in advance; carry bear spray and stay at least 300 m from bears; mosquitoes are plentiful in summer.

Top sights

• Denali (Mount McKinley) – North America's highest peak at 6,190 meters, rising about 5,500 meters from its base. On clear days it can be seen from the Park Road and…
• Denali Sled Dog Kennels – The only kennel in the United States where the National Park Service raises working dogs. In summer, visitors can watch sled dog demonstrat…
• Denali Flightseeing – Circling North America's highest peak by small plane or helicopter, with an optional glacier landing, is the most reliable way to see all o…
• Denali Visitor Center – The main visitor centre at the park entrance, with exhibits, films and ranger talks. It is the starting point for trip planning and hiking.
• Savage River Loop Trail – A valley loop trail at mile 15 of the park road, the farthest point private cars can reach in summer. Marmots and Dall sheep are often seen…
• Eielson Visitor Center – A viewpoint visitor centre at mile 66 of the park road, facing Denali directly. On a clear day, it is one of the best places to see the mou…
• Wonder Lake – A lake at mile 85 of the park road, its still surface mirroring Denali. It is the park's most classic postcard view.
• Polychrome Overlook – A cliffside viewpoint at mile 46 of the park road, where volcanic mountains show bands of red, yellow and purple above a braided river vall…
• Teklanika River – A wide braided river around mile 30 of the park road, where buses stop to rest. Moose and bears often wander the riverbanks.
• Sable Pass – A high alpine tundra zone between miles 38 and 43 of the Park Road, a dense brown bear habitat where getting out to hike is not allowed.
• Toklat River – A wide braided river valley at mile 53 of the Park Road, with a rest stop and ranger station. Bears and caribou are often seen here.
• Horseshoe Lake Trail – An easy trail near the entrance area overlooking an oxbow lake and the Nenana River, where beavers and moose are often spotted.
• Mount Healy Overlook Trail – The most challenging trail in the entrance area, climbing about 520 m, with a summit view over the Nenana River valley and the Alaska Range.
• Triple Lakes Trail – The longest maintained trail in the park, about 15 km connecting the entrance area with McKinley Village and passing three alpine lakes.
• Murie Science and Learning Center – A science and education center named after the biologist Murie brothers, serving as the park's only open visitor center in winter.
• Primrose Ridge (Mount Margaret) – An off-trail ridge hike near the Savage River, with alpine tundra covered in wildflowers and views of Denali on clear days.
• Kantishna – A former gold-rush town at the end of the Park Road, with several wilderness lodges offering overnight stays, serving as a base deep in the…
• Nenana River Canyon Rafting – A glacial river canyon north of the park entrance, offering whitewater or flatwater rafting past steep canyon walls.
• Healy & Into the Wild Bus Replica – A small service town about 18 km north of the park, where a replica of the 'Magic Bus' from the film Into the Wild stands in the courtyard…

Where to eat

• Moose-AKa's Serbian Restaurant – A family-run Serbian restaurant that started as a food truck. It has a 4.9 TripAdvisor rating and often ranks at the to…
• Prospector's Pizzeria & Alehouse – A wood-fired pizzeria in a former movie theater, with Alaskan toppings such as reindeer, salmon, and king crab, and mor…
• 49th State Brewing (Healy) – A popular brewpub in the town of Healy, known for its yak burger and the bus from the film Into the Wild.
• McKinley Creekside Cafe – A small creekside café in Carlo Creek that opens at 6:00 AM. Its giant cinnamon rolls and smoked salmon dip are popular.

Itineraries

• Alaska Southcentral Highlights 7-Day Self-Drive – A self-drive from Anchorage, connecting Kenai Fjords cruises, Talkeetna flights, and Denali buses.
• Alaska Railroad North-South Traverse – Travel entirely by train from Seward to Fairbanks, including fjords, Denali, and an Arctic Circle day tour.
• Alaska Grand Loop 13-Day Self-Drive – An in-depth loop connecting Denali, Kennecott, Valdez, Seward, and Homer.
• Yukon Gold Rush Trail to Denali – Cross the White Pass from Skagway, travel through Dawson City, and enter the Alaskan interior via the Top of the World…