Explore Denali National Park in Alaska

During the summer vacation months of May through September, Denali National Park (NP) in Alaska becomes a mecca for over 400,000 visitors seeking what only Denali NP offers—a glimpse of an Alaskan brown bear, a climb up Mt. McKinley, or even a hike along glaciers or thick forested areas. Denali NP offers Alaska’s guests a true taste of what this great state has to offer. In this post, we will describe some of the outdoor adventure opportunities that await you at Denali NP, so you can determine whether Denali needs to be on your list of future vacation destinations.

We recommend that upon entering Denali NP that you first stop at the Denali Visitor Center, located at mile 1.5 on the Park Road. The Visitor Center has all the park information you will need to plan your visit as well as unique exhibits, displays, an educational film, restaurant, bookstore, baggage claim, and more. A visit to the Denali Visitor Center will be sure to educate, inform, and excited you about your trip to Denali NP in AK.

Here  are some additional activity suggestions within Denali NP:

• Take a bus trip along the entire 92-mile Denali Park Road. You will be able to see beautiful mountain scenery, many views of Mt. McKinley, and even some wildlife along the way. Buses typically run tours and shuttle services during the summer months.
• Plan a backcountry backpacking trip through the Denali NP wilderness areas. We recommend that you check out the Denali NP website to get full guidelines and safety information before heading out on your backpacking trip.
• If you have always dreamt of climbing Mt. McKinley, then now is your chance! Mountaineers are invited to take the challenge of climbing the United States’ tallest peak, but not without the proper training and gear. Less-experience mountain climbers can try to tackle some of the smaller summits in the park, and we recommend that you solicit the guidance of an experience ranger or guide.
• Bicycle along the Park Road, taking in the sights and sounds of Denali NP. Cycling is one of visitors’ favorite pastime activities at the park; you can see and explore the park in a completely different way than if you were to take a bus tour or stick to the paved roads.
• Take a day hike along one of the park’s trails. The most accessible marked trails are located near the park entrance. Visitors will want to note that the majority of trails are considered moderate to difficult.
• Other activities you might enjoy include: hunting, fishing, photography, wildlife viewing, and much more. Check out the National Park Service’s Denali National Park web page for more details.

Vacationers will want to note prior to heading to Denali NP that there is only one road leading into and going through the national park. If you are traveling in your Alaska RV rental from the Anchorage area, the drive is about 240 miles north on Alaska Route 3, also known as the George Parks Highway. The Denali NP road is aptly named “Park Road” and is 92 miles long (only the first 15 miles are paved). Note that public use of the non-paved portion of the road is closed to private vehicle use, even during summer months. However, visitors may utilize park tours or bicycle the unpaved portion of the road to enjoy all that the park has to offer.

We recommend that if you are traveling with a motorhome rental in Alaska that you stay at the Riley Creek Campground, which is the largest campground in Denali and is located right within the park entrance. This camping facility can accommodate Alaska RVs up to 40 feet in length; however, none of Denali’s campgrounds have water or electric hookup. A nearby general store does have a laundry facility, shower house, dump station, and supply center. Many visitors may decide that staying within Denali outweighs the benefits of having the modern conveniences, but you can find other campgrounds outside the park that offer water and electric hookups.

Denali NP offers fun, excitement, and a true AK wilderness experience for all vacationers. You can easily spend your entire vacation within the park, exploring all it has to offer.

Tagged as: Alaska national parks, backpacking, bicycling, bus tours, day hiking, Denali camping, mountaineering, Mt. McKinley, outdoor recreation, places to go Alaska, RV camping, wilderness experience