Hi travel fam! So I’m sure you saw, but after just one visit I am obsessed with Denali National Park! But it can be confusing, so I put all your must need information in one place. Enjoy! And as always drop your questions in the comments and subscribe to my blog for all the latest adventure updates.
Getting There:
There are a few routes into Denali National Park. We took the road up directly north from Anchorage, about 4.5 hours one way. Another option is to fly into Fairbanks and drive south from there. If you go at a time of year where you can see the northern lights, flying into Fairbanks definitely provides the best opportunity for that!
Getting Around:
In Denali National Park, you can drive your private vehicle the first fifteen miles of the Denali Park Road. Those first fifteen miles are beautiful and there is a lot to do, but really it only shows you a very small piece of this park. To go deeper in there are a few options:
1. Take the transit buses. This is what we did and it was amazing! These are basically school buses that make varied stops throughout the park. Depending on the time of year you visit, certain areas may be closed. For example, until the end of May, the buses only go to Toklat at Mile 53 of the road. We went in June and the road was open to Mile 66 at the Eielson Visitor Center.
*In 2021, the buses are only going to Mile 66 unless you have a campground reservation at Wonder Lake. In previous years the buses go all the way into the park at Kantishna (mile 92). Things are always changing, so if you want to get farther in keep checking!
For these buses, book as far in advance as you can! These sell out fast! The price tag seems like a lot ($60), but trust me when I say it is so worth it. And when you think about it, the bus trip to Mile 66 takes 8-9 hours round trip so it really is fairly cheap for the timeline! These bus drivers are not obligated to narrate and give history about the park, but ours did and it was great to learn more about this amazing place! Thanks Tim😊
*Pro Tip: Sometimes they release additional bus tickets 2 days prior to the scheduled departure online between 6-8am Alaska time. Call the Denali Bus Depot to check if this is something they will be doing if you cannot book a bus ticket in advance! As you can see from the picture on the right, the views from the Eielson Visitor Center make it worth the effort!
2. Another option is a guided tour bus. This option is a bit more expensive, a bit more comfortable, but a bit less flexible. You have to stick with the same tour bus all day. They will make stops, but you cannot get out and hike like you can with the transit buses. These buses also do not go all the way to Mile 66 to the Eielson Visitor Center. However, these are audio guided tours, so you are guaranteed to learn a lot about the park and wildlife! The buses are more comfortable and provide a lunch as well.
So basically, if you want a flexible and slightly more adventurous experience, try out the transit buses. If you want a guided tour like experience, do the tour bus!
3. Camping is another way to guarantee you get to go deeper into the park. For more information about camping, check the camp section below.
4. The last option is the lottery. Once a year the park releases a lottery. You can enter it for the chance to drive your own car into the park. The date of the lottery changes, so check the official national park website for updates!
*Take note that even if you win the lottery, you can still only drive your car to mile 30. This is a dirt road and beyond this point the road does get pretty narrow and very steep/sketchy in parts, so for safety that is as far as you will be able to go.
My favorite stretch of the road (and where we saw several grizzly bears) was the stretch between Toklat and Eielson (Mile 53-66). If you can get onto that Eielson transit bus, DO IT!
Hiking:
Denali is a very unique national park in that it is an off trail park. In Denali you are allowed to wander off trail anywhere you like! So long as there are no signs stating an unpermitted area, you can go wherever!
Literally, if you are on a transit bus, you can ask them to just stop and drop you off on the side of the road at any point. To get back onto a bus, just find the road and flag one down. Wild, right?
That all being said, there are twenty developed trails to enjoy. I will tell you all my favorites!
*Key Info: In past years there have been free shuttles that would run and connect areas around the first fifteen miles of the park. In 2021 these are NOT running! So plan on knowing where to drive and park to make the most of your time.
See below for full descriptions then further below for the trail shortlist!
1. Savage Alpine: This is a beautiful but very challenging trail. You can take this as a one way between the Savage River parking area and the Mountain Vista parking, but you will have to hike back to your car along the road. We went halfway up, saw gorgeous views and then hiked back down.
2. Savage River Loop: A beautiful two mile flat loop along Savage River. This is not for you if you are looking for mountain views, but it is a relaxing walk and Dall Sheep and bears are known to wander around this area.
3. Mountain Vista Loop: A very short narrated pathway which provides nice views. Take this from the Mountain Vista Parking Lot. Usually this is one of the quieter hikes so you may get some extra solitude.
4. Horseshoe Lake Trail: One of my new favorites! Park by the railroad crossing just a little ways past Riley Creek Campground. This is then a 3 mile loop taking you along a river and to Horseshoe Lake. Pro tip: do this hike in the evening for your best chance at beaver spotting! We went around 5:30 pm and there were several beavers swimming in the lake! Be patient and keep looking for them😊
5. Eielson Visitor Center Trails: There are 3 trails from the Eielson Visitor Center. The Thorofare Ridge Trail is 1 mile each way but gains over 1000 feet, providing great views of Denali. The Gorge Creek Trail is 2.5 miles with a 550 foot elevation gain, taking you down along the river that makes this beautiful valley. Finally, the Tundra Loop is a very short, flat path that takes you to a little field with great views. You can also get incredible views just sitting at the Visitor Center.
Trail Quick Details:
1. Savage Alpine: 4 miles one way, moderate difficulty, 1500 ft elevation gain, great views!
2. Savage River Loop (this is in the picture below): 2 mile loop, easy, no elevation gain, chance to see Dall Sheep
3. Mountain Vista Loop: 0.6 mile informative loop, 50 ft elevation gain, quiet easy trail
4. Horseshoe Lake Trail: 3 mile loop, 250 ft elevation gain, chance to see beavers! Beautiful lake and river views
5. Eielson Trails: Thorofare Ridge (steep 1 mile/way, gorgeous views), Gorge Creek (2.5 miles with river walking), Tundra Loop (short and flat with views!)
Camping:
There are six campgrounds in Denali. Two lie within the first fifteen miles, the others are past the paved section of the road. Some support only tents and are only accessible by bus (aka you cannot drive your car to them). Others are car/RV accessible.
1. Riley Creek Campground: At the entrance of the park, tents and RVs allowed. Usually has availability as it’s a large campground!
2. Savage River Campground: Mile 14, tents and RVs allowed.
3. Sanctuary River Campground: Mile 22, tents only, only bus accessible.
4. Teklanika Campground: Mile 29, tents or RVs welcome. This campground is unique because you can drive your private car to it! But there is a three night minimum stay, and your vehicle must remain at the campground the entire time (so you cannot just drive Denali Park Road during your stay here!) If you choose this campground there is a special bus pass you can purchase as well. Details can be found on the Denali National Park website.
5. Igloo Creek: Mile 35, tents only, only accessible by bus.
6. Wonder Lake: Mile 89, tents only, only accessible by bus. This is the only way you can get this far into the park this year (2021) since the transit buses are only going to Mile 66, so basically if you want to go past Mile 66 you have to stay here. There aren’t many sites, and these are very hard to score. If you are lucky enough, beware: this is the buggiest area of the park. Bring that mosquito spray!
I stayed at the first two on the list, each for one night and enjoyed them both. Be very smart, especially near Savage River. Grizzly bears frequent this area! We have a video of one overnight walking literally right next to our car, so lock up your food and if you can camp elevated or in an RV, I would.
To reserve camping or buses, click here.
Other Information you need to know:
First, this is a wildlife park. Be animal safe! Grizzly bears are common here, so if you plan to do any camping or hiking, bring bear spray with you. And as always, keep a safe distance from all animals! That means at least 300 yards from those bears (unless you see ‘em next to your bus like I did!).
Another question everyone asks: How do I actually see Denali? As the tallest peak in North America, most people think Denali would be very easy to see but it is not! As such a tall mountain, it basically makes its own weather and is covered with clouds about 70% of the time.
That being said, you can see it if you get lucky! South of the park there are two pull offs for great viewing, appropriately named Denali View North and South (the picture below is at South). In the park itself, see above for some of my favorite hikes, and if you are lucky enough to get on the shuttle buses, the Eielson Visitor Center has some of the best viewing of it. The best chance you have is to be in the Denali area for multiple days to increase the chance that one of them is a clear one!
Cell Service: There is zero cell service past approximately mile 4 of the paved portion of the road. If you are backpacking or camping at one of the campgrounds past mile 15 I highly recommend bringing a satellite phone with you for safety!
*Pro Tip: For the more adventurous people out there, backpacking is allowed in Denali National Park. The Park is divided into zones and you need to get a permit for each particular zone you want to stay in. Check the official website for details how.
Denali is my new favorite national park, and I’m sure from these pictures you can see why. A lot of people only spend a day here, but if you are a nature lover like me or very outdoorsy this is the perfect place for you. I recommend spending at least two days here to see as much as you can.
If there is anything I missed or if you have any questions about Denali feel free to comment below! Also, click here for my other Alaska related blog posts. Happy travels, fam!
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