How to Visit Denali National Park as a First Time Visitor (A Local's Guide)

Denali National Park is one of the top attractions for visitors in Alaska. From the incredible, tallest peak in North America (which only 30% of visitors have the opportunity to see), to amazing wildlife - experiencing the park to it's fullest can be quite tricky for first time visitors. From visiting the Sled Dogs onsite to beautiful hikes, there's plenty to explore in these 6 million+ acres! Luckily, after many visits myself in almost every season, I've put together my best tips to help make your first visit to the National Park the best it can be!

*If you have any questions that aren't answered in this post, please leave them in the comments section where I do my best to answer all Alaska related questions directly!

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Getting to Denali & What to Expect

Depending where you're coming from, getting to Denali National Park can be a journey in and of itself. Located about 4 hours from Anchorage (or 2 hours from Fairbanks), driving is the best and most affordable way to get to the park. If you have money to spend, then I recommend flying in or taking the Alaska Railroad to the Denali Park Depot for a more unique experience!

If you're visiting the National Park and looking for an epic place to stay while you explore, these are my top recommendations : 

• Denali Fireside Cabins - these cozy cabins are perfect for couples or small families, and because they're located near downtown Talkeetna, you can walk to all the yummy places to eat in town!
• Denali Backcountry Lodge - accessible only by air, this is the most epic Alaska Wilderness Lodge experience - Nat Geo even considers this lodge one of the Top 10 Adventure Lodges in the entire world!
• ​Talkeetna Alaska Lodge - this lodge is the most recently updated lodge in the area, plus they offer an award winning menu and incredible views of Mount Denali!
• Camping - there are plenty of places to camp in and around the park, you can see more of my favorite spots below!​

As you may or may not know by now, a majority of Denali National Park is only accessible via the Park Bus. Although you can explore up to mile 15 via your own vehicle (and sometimes further in the shoulder seasons) the remaining 80ish miles can only be explored via park buses. If you choose to explore with your own vehicle, you'll have to pay the $15 per person for park entry unless you have the "America the Beautiful" National Parks Annual Pass. Contrary to what most people think, there are actually two types of buses that visitors can book to explore the park (both include the $15 park fee, which you can get refunded if you have one of the annual passes) :

• Narrated Bus Tours - these white/tan buses are the most common type of buses booked by tourists or first time visitors to the National Park, on these tours you'll have a bus driver that narrates and shares more about the park and you will have to take the same bus on the way there as you do on the way back (you must follow a schedule and can't transfer buses) - these cost $116.25 per adult and $50.75 for children

• Non-Narrated Transit Buses - these green colored buses are for those looking to go hiking or wish to explore more of the "backcountry" of Denali National Park, although they're considered non-narrated our bus driver still talked the entire time and we saw some epic wildlife on our drive, on these transit buses you'll have the option to get on and off (depending on space you might have to wait up to one hour at a time) and various stops throughout the park - these cost $33.25 per adult and are free for children​

I recommend booking your buses ahead of time at the Denali Reserve Website to ensure you get a seat and they won't be sold out during your visit.

PRO TIP : If one of your goals is so see the very tippy top peak of Mount Denali, then I recommend either heading to Talkeetna for the day or heading to Denali State Park - both of which offer incredible views of Mount Denali on a sunny day!

The best way to experience Denali :
- Denali Peak Flightseeing Tour

Exploring Denali National Park (Best Things to Do)

1. Hiking
​Before the mile 15 cut-off (where no private vehicles are allowed past and you can only venture further via the park's buses) there are a few trails in the park. My personal favorites is the Savage River Loop Trail (located near the cut-off point, parking here can be limited but the views are beautiful and the path starts flat and fairly wide).

After the mile 15 cut-off the park has no trails, and you're able to explore where you'd like in the "trail-less" wilderness - just make sure to be prepared for bears! If you want to do a bit more hiking, check out this list of all designated hiking trails in the National Park.

2. Visit the Sled Dogs
​Denali National Park is the only National Park in the U.S. that has sled dogs, so of course I recommend that you make sure to stop and visit with these cuties during your trip! The sled dog kennel is located before the mile 15 cut-off and after the Visitor Center on the right side of the road (around mile 3). The Kennels are open year round, but in the summer the kennel hours are 9:30am to 4:30pm everyday - if you visit during these hours you can walk through the dog yard, meet the pups, and talk with the rangers about any questions you have!

3. Star Gazing & Aurora Chasing
​The Denali area has some of the clearest skies we've ever seen, and if you're lucky enough to spend a night in the area then we highly recommend heading out to enjoy the night skies. In the winter months I recommend bundling up to enjoy some stargazing, and in the fall and spring I recommend heading out to chase the aurora!

It's important to note that in peak summer months (about June to August) the sky doesn't necessarily get dark enough to enjoy these experiences, but you might be able to enjoy the midnight sun!

4. Search for Wildlife
As one of my favorite places to photograph wildlife here in Alaska, it's essential to keep your eyes open during any of your park area tours and drives! I've previously seen moose, caribou, lynx, a wolf, and lots of grizzlies on my adventures here! Please remember to keep your distance, never feed them, and remember that they are wild animals - so you should NEVER approach them.​

5. Drive the Denali Highway
​Chances are you didn't know the Denali Highway isn't actually in the National Park. If you want to explore more of the area on your own, I highly recommend heading out on the Denali Highway, a 135 mile stretch of road which connects Cantwell to Paxson. Although the road can be quite difficult, you can experience some epic views and this also happens to be where I've seen the one and only wolf I've ever seen in Alaska. I booked a tour for this adventure through Denali Backcountry Adventures and we were even able to stop at a Gold Mine and meet some sled dogs and have lunch at the Alpine Creek Lodge!

6. Try Camping
One of the most incredible ways to experience Denali National Park is to go camping! Luckily there are multiple campgrounds in the area - both outside and inside the park. Whichever campground you decide to stay at, it's essential to stay bear aware and properly store any food you have with you. These are the easiest campgrounds to stay at :

• Denali Grizzly Bear Resort (camping & lodges - outside the NP)
• Riley Creek (inside the NP - before mile 15 cut-off)
• Savage River (inside the NP - before mile 15 cut-off)

There are also some additional campgrounds located further in the park past the mile 15 cut-off. I don't necessarily recommend camping at these unless you have a longer trip to enjoy the area as they're a bit difficult to get to, and most require a 3 night minimum. It's also important to note that Teklanika Campground is the only campground you can drive to, and once you make it to the campground you won't be able to leave again via your car until your check out date - if you do you won't be allowed to drive back in past mile 15 to your spot. Because of this, you'll need to utilize the Transit Buses in the Park. For all other campgrounds, you'll need to bring your gear with you via Transit Bus.

• Sanctuary River Campground (backpacking only)
• ​Teklanika Campground (backpacking/drive-in)
• Igloo Creek Campground (backpacking only)
• Wonderlake Campground (tent only - currently not accessible due to road closure)

You can book campgrounds (and park buses) on the Reserve Denali Website.

7. Zipling, ATVing, White Water Rafting, etc.,
​If you're looking to add a bit of adrenaline to your Denali National Park experience, then I've got you covered there too. Some of the best, adventurous activities in the area in my personal opinion are :

• Zip Lining - as the only zip lining course in this entire area, this course has six suspension bridges and eight zip lines that offer some incredibly exciting ways to enjoy the local views!
• ATV Tour - this 2.5 hour tour takes you through the wilderness of the Denali Area, you'll have the chance to see wildlife up close and some incredible lake views that others don't get to see
• White Water Rafting - this tour takes you out on the Nenana River, and offers views of the area that you don't get to see just from the road!
• Naturalist Walking Tour - if you're unsure about hiking through the area on your own, this is a great way to experience the natural landscapes and learn more about the area in a hands-on environment!

8. Head Out on a Flight Seeing Tour
Hands down one of the best ways to see the park (if you get a sunny day) is on a flight seeing tour. Even if you aren't one of the few that get to experience the peak of Mount Denali in all her wonder, you birds eye views will undoubtedly be some of the best of the entire park! Most flight seeing tours leave from Talkeetna, and although they can be a bit pricey I can guarantee they're worth it!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit
-> Where to Rent Bear Spray in Alaska
-> 7 Best Tours in Alaska

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