Denali: Park Road, wilderness, and winter

Denali National Park and Preserve encompasses six million acres of wild land; glaciers cover 16 percent of the park. When planning your trip, it’s worth choosing a focus: the Park Road and wildlife viewing, hiking, winter activities, or history and recreational opportunities. If you’re looking for a hotel, it helps to first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay. This way, you can choose a hotel base that suits your own itinerary.

Park Road and seasonal access

The 92-mile Denali Park Road crosses Denali National Park and Preserve. It runs parallel to the Alaska Range and passes through low valleys and high mountain passes. The road offers opportunities for scenic drives and wildlife viewing, as well as camping and backcountry hiking. A bus trip along the Denali Park Road generally offers the best chances of seeing wildlife; sightings remain unpredictable.

In summer, private vehicles may drive the first 15 miles as far as the Savage River. Most of the route is normally open only to buses in summer; specific dates vary by year. Check seasonal access information before planning so that your choice between the first miles of the road and a bus trip suits the time of your visit.

Hiking and trails

Denali offers the opportunity to explore a roadless wilderness away from marked trails. Discovery Hikes are ranger-led hikes that explore the heart of Denali. A 9.5-mile trail connects the Tsenesdghaas Na’ Trailhead near mile 231 of the George Parks Highway (Highway 3) with the Denali Visitor Center Campus.

Winter activities and visitor sites

Winter recreational activities include cross-country skiing, winter biking, and snowshoeing along sled-dog trails or the Denali Park Road. Sled-dog routes created during winter fieldwork are also used by recreational visitors, on skis, with snowshoes, or with their own dog teams. The Murie Science and Learning Center serves as Denali’s winter visitor center. The Eielson Visitor Center is located 66 miles inside the park and can be reached by shuttle bus.

The Denali Winterfest is an annual community-wide event supported by the National Park Service, the Denali Borough, and local partner organizations. Individual activities and dates vary. If you plan to attend, check the event dates for the relevant period.

History and sled dogs

Sled dogs and rangers have worked together in Denali since the 1920s to protect the park’s wilderness. Free summer sled-dog demonstrations at the Denali kennels are generally offered from May 15 through mid-September. Kantishna Roadhouse is the oldest surviving building in Denali National Park and Preserve and represents Kantishna’s mining history. On June 7, 1913, Walter Harper, Harry Karstens, Hudson Stuck, and Robert Tatum became the first to stand on the summit of Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America.

Getting around the Denali Borough

The George Parks Highway and the Alaska Railroad run through the Denali Borough. In the Healy area, recreational opportunities include boating, paddling, hiking, ATV tours, berry picking, biking, dog sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, horseback riding, and golf.

The Denali Highway is a 135-mile historic and scenic route from Paxson to Cantwell. It connects the Richardson Highway near Paxson with the Parks Highway near Cantwell. Before driving, check road conditions and seasonal maintenance. The City of Anderson Riverside Park is located on the Nenana River and offers campsites, restrooms, showers, RV hookups, and a covered pavilion. As facilities may change, check their current status before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Mckinley Park, Healy, Cantwell, Aleutian Islands, Bristol Bay, Petersburg Census Area, Kenai Peninsula, Aleutians West Census Area

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