Established
1917
Size
4,740,912 acres
Visitors / yr
591K
Entrance
$15
Best season
June through mid-September
Nearest airport
FAI Fairbanks International
01
Why Denali is worth the trip
Alaska · Established 1917
Denali runs on a different scale. One 92-mile road crosses the park, most of it closed to private cars, so you ride a bus while grizzlies, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep go about their business across open tundra with no fences and no guarantees. That honesty is the appeal. Wildlife here appears on its own terms, and it usually appears.
The mountain itself is a lottery ticket. North America's highest peak at 20,310 feet makes its own weather and shows itself on only about 30 percent of days, standing so far above everything nearby that first-timers mistake it for cloud. Ride the transit bus deep into the park, get off wherever looks promising, and walk. Trail-less hiking is not just allowed here. It is the tradition.
Start with our full Denali guide, then use the planning below.
02
Top things to do in Denali
Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.
Start here
20 Things to Do in Denali National Park
Read the guide
01
Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour · nps.gov
Sightsee on a Denali Tour Bus
Summer sight-seeing in Denali is mainly done by bus, and there are several trips to choose from. Narrated tour bus trips are more expensive...
02
Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov
Explore Mountain Vista & Savage River
While most of Denali’s sole road is restricted just to bus traffic, anybody can drive out to Mountain Vista and Savage River. Located about...
03
Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov
Hike a Short Trail From the Denali Visitor Center
At 6 million acres in size, Denali is incredibly vast, and hiking is possible almost anywhere in the park. However, there are only a...
04
Cross-Country Skiing · nps.gov
Explore Denali's Winter Trails
Whether on foot, skis or snowshoes, winter is a great time for you to explore Denali! Snow starts falling as early as September, although...
Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour · nps.gov
Sightsee on a Denali Tour Bus
Summer sight-seeing in Denali is mainly done by bus, and there are several trips to choose from. Narrated tour bus trips are more expensive...
02
Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov
Explore Mountain Vista & Savage River
While most of Denali’s sole road is restricted just to bus traffic, anybody can drive out to Mountain Vista and Savage River. Located about...
03
Front-Country Hiking · nps.gov
Hike a Short Trail From the Denali Visitor Center
At 6 million acres in size, Denali is incredibly vast, and hiking is possible almost anywhere in the park. However, there are only a...
04
Cross-Country Skiing · nps.gov
Explore Denali's Winter Trails
Whether on foot, skis or snowshoes, winter is a great time for you to explore Denali! Snow starts falling as early as September, although...
Before you go
Get the Denali heads-up
Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Denali guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.
03
Plan your trip
Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Denali.
Where to stay
Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.
Maps & guides
Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass
What to bring
Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.
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Bear SprayRequired carry in grizzly country. Practice the quick-draw before you need it. View on REI
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Trekking PolesSave your knees on steep descents and river crossings. View on REI
-
Rain JacketMountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
-
Fleece JacketMid-layer warmth for alpine mornings and evening campfires. View on REI
Getting there
- FAI Fairbanks International 125 mi
- ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International 240 mi
Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.
Denali map
VC Visitor Center
CG Campground
Nearby Park
04
When to go
Loading weather...
Live Webcams
Month-by-Month Conditions
Tap any month for details
Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
13°
-4°
Low
Closed
Feb
16°
-2°
Low
Closed
Mar
24°
2°
Low
Closed
Apr
37°
18°
Low
Closed
May Best
52°
33°
Moderate
Partial
Jun Best
63°
43°
Peak
Open
Jul Best
66°
47°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
62°
44°
Peak
Open
Sep Best
51°
34°
Heavy
Partial
Oct Best
31°
16°
Low
Closed
Nov
17°
2°
Low
Closed
Dec
13°
-3°
Low
Closed
Best months to visit
Crowd level (low to peak)
06
Parks near Denali
Within reach if you are building a longer trip.
Worth protecting
Denali belongs to all of us
Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.
Stay in the Loop
Free dispatches on the parks and the policy fights around them, almost every day. Threats tracked, wins celebrated, no fluff.
Threatened Lands Map
Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.
View the Tracker