Things to Do in Denali National Park

Denali, Alaska’s best-known national park, is big. We mean, really BIG. At a whopping 6,045,153 acres, Denali National Park is bigger than Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, and Glacier combined. 

Just like the park, everything in it is massive. We are talking about Alaska’s “Big Five” (grizzlies, wolves, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep), the “Great One” (North America’s highest peak), boreal forests, rolling tundras, and massive glaciers.

Denali National Park visitors come to hike, see its wildlife, go whitewater rafting, and gaze at the northern lights. The adventurous type also traverses the vast, unspoiled wilderness on a helicopter or two wheels. And that’s just the beginning of all the magical things to do in Denali National Park. 

If Denali National Park, Alaska, is next on your list, read on for information on how to get there, accommodation, what to pack, and, of course, Denali things to do!

Key Takeaways

• The best places to stay when visiting Denali are in the towns near the park entrance: Denali Canyon, Healy, Denali Park Village, and Talkeetna.
• There are four privately owned lodges 90 miles inside Denali National Park.
• Denali National Park has six campgrounds. Only Riley Creek is open year-round, and the others are open only in summer. 
• You need at least three days to soak in the majesty of Denali National Park. 

Things to Consider Before Visiting Denali National Park

Denali is Alaska's third-largest national park after Wrangell-St. Elias (13.2 million acres) and Gates of the Arctic (8.5 million acres).

Denali National Park is named after Mt. Denali, the “tall one” in Koyukon Athabaskan language. But that has not always been its name. 

Congress established this park as McKinley National Park in 1917 to protect the Dall sheep and their habitat. In 1980, it was renamed Denali National Park and Preserve. However, the mountain maintained its original name, Mt. McKinley, until 2015, when President Obama restored it to Denali.

Location and How to Get to Denali National Park

Denali National Park is in south-central Alaska. It is 237 miles (380 km) north of Anchorage and 120 miles (193 km) south of Fairbanks.

Fairbanks Airport (FAI) is the best airport to fly into for Denali National Park because of its proximity. If you have more time and would love to squeeze a road trip into your itinerary, fly into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), rent a car, and enjoy the drive to the park’s entrance. The journey is approximately 4.5 hours non-stop. But there are so many things to do along the way. You could easily make a day out of it! 

If you don’t want to drive, take the bus. It's the cheapest way to get to Denali from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Bus tickets range from $52.50 to $105. 

Visitors looking for greater comfort and relaxation will prefer the train. Alaska Railroad connects Anchorage and Fairbanks with a brief stop near Denali Visitor Center. The journey by train is a bit long, at around eight hours from Anchorage. But we bet this will be among the most scenic train rides you’ve ever taken! Train fares to Denali National Park start at $190. 

You can also get to Denali National Park by plane. Air taxi operators like Regal Air and Alaska Air Service offer flights from Anchorage and Fairbanks to Healy River Airport (HRR). Healy has a car rental company 11 miles north of the park. 

How Many Days Do You Need to Spend in Denali National Park?

Denali is a vast expanse of nature and a playground for hikers, wildlife lovers, and landscape photography enthusiasts. If you’re into all these, we suggest a minimum of three days and four nights. 

You will be able to see a lot, but not all, of the things to do in Denali. Typically, three days give you enough time to explore the three main areas of the park—Denali Visitor Center, Eielson Visitor Center, and Savage River Area. You’ll be able to do the full-day bus park tour, hike a decent amount, and enjoy adventure activities like packrafting trips and Jeep excursion tours in the neighboring communities. 

Denali National Park is open all year round. Visitors aged 16 and older pay an entrance fee of $15 per person, while visitors 15 years of age and below are free.

Where to Stay in Denali National Park

Lodges

There are four lodges within Denali National Park borders:

• Kantishna Lodge
• Denali Backcountry Lodge
• Camp Denali
• Skyline Lodge

They are deep inside the park, about 90 miles from the Denali Visitor Center. With rates starting at $2900 a night, accommodation in these all-inclusive lodges is significantly expensive. But this is partly because they are privately owned (not National Park Service-operated). Plus, since 2021, the only access to these remote lodges is by air due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide. 

Camping in Denali National Park 

Camping is the best way to experience the tundra world in Denali. Denali National Park has six campgrounds along Park Road, which is the only road in the park. The location of these campgrounds is given as a mile number, indicating how far they are from the park entrance. 

• Riley Creek Campground- mile 0.25
• Savage River Campground- mile 14
• Sanctuary River Campground- mile 22
• Teklanika River Campground- mile 29
• Igloo Creek Campground- mile 35
• Wonder Lake Campground- mile 85 (closed due to road improvements)

All other Denali National Park campgrounds are open only in summer except for Riley Creek Campground, which opens year-round. Access to campgrounds past mile 14 is by a camper shuttle bus that must be reserved. The only exception is Teklanika River Campground (mile 29), which you can drive your vehicle/RV to. But there’s a catch: you must stay at least three nights. This rule does not apply to tent campers.

Car camping sites in Denali National Park are available at Savage River, Riley Creek, and Teklanika campgrounds. All others are tent-only. 

Where to Stay Near Denali National Park

If you’re not camping and want easy access to top Denali National Park things to do, we suggest staying in the nearby towns and communities. The best towns to stay near Denali National Park are:

• Denali Canyon (3 miles north)
• Healy (11 miles north)
• Denali Village Park (8 miles south)
• Carlo Creek Area (17 miles south)
• Talkeetna (2 hours 40 minutes south)

What to Wear When Visiting Denali National Park

As the locals say, there’s no such thing as bad weather in Alaska, just bad gear. And that includes clothing. Summer in Alaska is typically mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from the low 50s to mid-70s during the day and dipping into the lower 40s at night.

Another thing to keep in mind when planning a camping checklist for Denali is that Alaska is wet even in summer. It is likely to rain during your trip to this wonderland. 

That said, layers will be an incredible ally in combating Alaska's weather swings. This allows you to adjust as weather conditions change. At the very least, your Denali backpacking checklist should include:

Base layer

• Lightweight sweat-wicking shirt (short and long-sleeved)
• Hiking pants

Mid layer

• Midweight sweatshirt, sweater, or fleece to take the chill off on cooler days
• A puffy jacket. Ideal for cooler mornings.

Top layer

• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• Gaiters

Importantly, these items should be wool or synthetic, not cotton. Also, remember to add other outdoor accessories, such as sturdy, waterproof hiking boots or shoes and wool/synthetic socks. And because this is bear country, be sure to bring bear spray alongside emergency gear, such as signaling devices and a first aid kit (see our downloadable first aid checklist). 

If you’d like clothing designed specifically for Alaska wilderness adventures and expeditions, check out these women’s hiking clothing and men’s outdoor wear. 

What to Do and See in Denali National Park

Ride the Alaska Railroad

Alaska’s railroad experience is one of Denali National Park’s attractions. The railroad stretches 470 miles, connecting towns and communities from Seward to Fairbanks in interior Alaska. 

The Denali Star Train, as it’s called, is a popular option for getting to the park from Fairbanks and Anchorage. But even if you plan to drive, this train ride through the ever-changing landscapes of Alaska is among the best things to do in and around Denali National Park.

The best part about this ride is chilling and doing nothing else other than savoring the fantastic views. Plus, the train slows down to allow for picturesque scenery and wildlife viewing photo opportunities. 

The Adventure Class is typically what the locals use. It’s casual, fun, roomy, and you can move around. It has a shared dome car that rarely gets congested and costs half the price of Gold Star. However, if your budget allows, consider upgrading to the Gold Star service. It has a large outdoor viewing platform and a glass roof, adding to the railroad experience. Its premium ticket includes a meal, two alcoholic drinks, and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. 

Tour Denali Park Road

Denali is big but has only one road in and out—Park Road. This 92.5-mile road cuts through the park from the east to the west, running parallel to the Alaska Range. The road starts at the park entrance and ends at Kantishna, a remote community deep inside the park. 

Park Road is famous because it offers a wide range of Denali National Park activities, such as hiking, mountaineering, and camping. As the road meanders deeper into the heart of the park, you get a better chance to see Alaska’s Big Five: bears, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, and wolves. Plus, the road has strategic pullouts that let you see the famous Mt. Denali on a clear day. 

Visitors can only drive up to mile 15. The road is not paved beyond this point and can be treacherous for inexperienced drivers. If you want to venture beyond mile 15, you have two options: a narrated bus tour and park shuttles. Read on. 

Enjoy a Full Day Bus Tour

Denali’s Narrated Bus Tour is an adventurous way to see the real Alaska. This safari takes you deep into the wilderness, allowing you to see various wild animals in their natural habitat.

Depending on your booking, the tour can be 4, 5, 8, or 11 hours long. But don't worry—the bus makes numerous stops, allowing you to move around and stretch your legs. A guide narrates the park's natural history, and snacks are provided. 

Narrated bus tours on the Denali Park Road are offered from mid-May through September. Prices start at around $116 for adults and $50 for children. 

Park Shuttle Buses

Denali National Park shuttle buses are a transportation service. They take you from the visitor center and drop you off wherever you want along Park Road. Unlike the bus tour, these are non-narrated, although drivers stop to view wildlife. When you’re done hiking, return to the road and wave down the next shuttle bus. Ticket prices for non-narrated shuttle buses in Denali cost $33.25 for adults (16 and older). Children (15 and below) ride free.

See the Park on Two-Wheels! 

If you’d love to explore Denali with more independence than the tour buses allow, how about biking? Cycling is one of the best things to do at Denali National Park, and there are several options. 

You could cycle around your campground loop or take the Roadside Bike Trail. The latter is a paved 1.7-mile trail that heads to the Nenana River Canyon commercial area. A spur to the Riley Creek Campground allows a longer ride while connecting you to a day-use picnic area.

If you want something more challenging, you can cycle part or all 92 miles of Denali Park Road. 

Driving the entire road length requires planning an overnight bike camping trip. Otherwise, you can drive (or grab the free Savage River Shuttle) to mile 15, then cycle up to mile 22. Expect exhausting climbs and thrilling downhill rides to and from. 

You can bring your bike or rent one at Bike Denali, just a mile north of the park entrance. 

Note: Always have bear spray accessible on your body while cycling in Denali National Park. You can also flag down a bus for a lift past a bear. 

Meet (and Greet) with Denali’s Canine Rangers!

Dog sledding has been a mode of travel in the Alaskan wilderness for thousands of years. In fact, long before Denali was a national park, the natives relied on huskies to traverse this landscape.

Today, most of Denali National Park is considered a wilderness area. This means hiking and skijoring with dogs are the only options for hauling supplies and ferrying scientists into the park's interior. 

Summer is usually a sort of “vacation” for these dogs. Meeting them in their kennels is one of the top free things to do in Denali National Park. Denali’s kennel holds 2-3 demonstrations daily during the summer season.  You’ll learn the history of the Alaskan huskies and how they breed and train them. You also get to pet and interact with young husky puppies, the future stars of dog sled travels! 

Denali Sled Dog Kennels are located at Park Headquarters, about three miles from the Denali Visitor Center. We recommend hopping on the free bus since parking at the kennels is limited. The buses leave at 9:20 am, 1:20 pm, 3:20 pm. 

Go Hiking

Hiking is an excellent way to immerse yourself in Denali’s spectacular wilderness and see things you’d otherwise miss on a bus tour. Denali has few developed hiking trails, which helps preserve its wilderness status. But there’s enough for everybody.

The best part about hiking in Denali is that most hiking trails are near the visitor center. This means you can access a hiking trail without driving or catching the park shuttle. 

Here are our favorite hiking trails in Denali National Park:

Horseshoe Lake Trail 

A beautiful, moderately challenging, 2.1-mile loop trail along the edge of Horseshoe Lake. It starts at the Denali Visitor Center and takes roughly 90 minutes. 

Mount Healy Overlook Trail

It is one of the best hiking trails in Denali if you want something strenuous. It’s 2.7 miles one way and will definitely get your legs working. However, the 360-degree views of the park’s front country are worth the effort. On a clear day, you can see the peak of Mount Denali, which is far away from this overlook. 

Savage River Loop Trail

Consider adding this trail to your itinerary of what to do in Denali National Park with your family. The Savage River Loop Trail is a 2-mile path looping around a section of the river. It’s easy and popular with little hikers as they see herds of dall sheep, hares, and marmots, among other critters. Savage River Loop Trail is on mile 15 on Denali Park Road. You can take the park shuttle or drive. Beware that parking at mile 15 is usually limited. 

Thorofare Ridge Trail

This is one of the best hiking trails in the park, offering views of Mount Denali. It’s short—two miles out and back—but its steep ascent (1000 feet) makes it very strenuous. 

See Mount Denali 

Of course, the star of any Denali sightseeing tour is the famous Mount Denali. Also known as Mount McKinley, Denali is famous for being the tallest mountain in North America. But despite its sheer size, most visitors never see its peak, as it’s usually hidden in the clouds. 

When the Tall One is out, you can see it at Wonder Lake, Eielson Visitor Center, and Stony Pass. You can also see the mountain at the pulloff at Mile 9 on Park Road. Hiking enthusiasts can also see the mountain from several trails, including Thorofare Ridge Trail, McKinley River Bar Trail, Savage Alpine Trail, and the Mount Healy Overlook Trail. 

Enjoy a Bird’s Eye View of Denali

An up-close view of Mount Denali from the air is often the highlight of most visitors’ trips to this park. These flight tours take one hour or 1.5 hours if you choose the glacier landing option. They are among the top things to do in Denali National Park if you don’t have much time in Alaska and want to cover as much ground as possible. 

A Denali National Park scenic flight tour gives you an extraordinary view of the Alaska Ranges. You’ll see the elusive Mount Denali peaks, multiple glaciers, ice falls, and mile-high towers of granite walls. 

Many companies offer Denali flightseeing tours from Denali Park, Talkeetna, Kantishna, and Healy. You’ll also find others in Anchorage and Fairbanks. If your budget allows, we recommend taking a Denali flight tour with a glacier landing. It costs at least $100 more per person, but it feels like landing on another planet. Totally worth it! For recommendations of the best Denali flight tour companies in Talkeetna, consider K2 Aviation, Talkeetna Air Service, and Sheldon Air Service.

Final Thoughts

Denali National Park is among the best US destinations for a fantastic wilderness adventure. With a zillion acres before you boasting rolling tundras and scattered with wildlife and giant mountain peaks in the background, this beautiful landscape offers far more than you seek. If you find inspiration in the splendor of the great outdoors, don’t miss Denali National Park in your Alaska 10-day itinerary!

Featured image by: Martin Capek.