Denali Park: Sightseeing, Lodging and Transportation Tips
Home to North America’s highest mountain, the 20,320 foot tall Mount McKinley, Denali also includes countless other mountains and a host of large glaciers. Grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep freely roam the park, while countless species of birds fly through the sky. With all that Denali National Park has to offer, it’s not hard to see why those who visit fall immediately and completely in love, and vow to return again one day.
The 90-mile road into Denali Park is accessible by private vehicles for the first fourteen miles only, to the Savage River Bridge. You’ll almost certainly want to travel farther into the park on a shuttle bus or bicycle, or take a narrated bus tour. An ideal way to explore the many wonders of Denali, a narrated bus tour increases your chance of spotting wildlife because you sit higher up than in a car.
There are both short natural history tours and daylong tundra wildlife tours. One popular choice is the 12-hour Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour, which encompasses the full 90 miles of the Denali Park road with a stop at the historic mining town of Kantishna. Another good choice is the shorter Tundra Wildlife Tour, an eight-hour trip covering the first 50 miles of the park road.
A Backcountry Safari in a 4 x 4 vehicle is a great way to view the wildlife of Denali while getting away from the crowds. Guides narrate along the way and stop whenever wildlife is spotted. (Keep the camera ready, because you’ll need it often!). Some tours include an informative nature walk, where you can see spawning salmon, alpine flowers, small game such as waterfowls, hawks and owls, and much more.
A covered wagon ride is a relaxing, family-friendly way to learn about the area’s history and local folklore. This wilderness ride begins by van through the Nenana River canyon to Otto Lake, then a photographic adventure along Denali Park’s north boundary.
Getting to Denali
Denali National Park’s headquarters is located along Alaska Route 3, the George Parks Highway, is approximately 240 miles north of Anchorage and 125 miles south of Fairbanks. The park is accessible by car, motorcoach service and via the Alaska Railroad from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Since great views of Mt. McKinley are available, consider traveling one direction by rail and the other by bus. In the summertime, a variety of private bus and van services operate daily from Anchorage and Fairbanks. The park is open year round, but the road into Denali Park and most visitor facilities are only open from mid-May through mid-September.
Where to stay while discovering Denali
The lodging choices at Denali are as varied as the wildlife within the park-everything from rustic log cabins to amenity-laden hotels to budget motels. Regardless of the type of lodging you choose, you should plan at least a two-night stay, because there is just too much to see and do in Denali. You should also be aware that lodging in and near Denali tends to fill up quickly during the prime dates, so book your lodging as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
If a “real Alaskan Adventure” is what you’re hankering for, consider staying in one of the unique wilderness lodges like the Kantishna Roadhouse, the North Face Lodge or Camp Denali, located deep inside the park.
Denali Bluffs is the hotel recommended most by Alaska Tour and Travel. It is one of the newest in the area, and closest to the park entrance. Other good choices are Denali Cedars Lodge, seven miles south of the entrance; Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, overlooking the Nenana River; the affordable Denali Riverfront Cedar Cabins, seven miles south of the entrance; and the McKinley Chalet Resort, situated along the Nenana River minutes from the park.
For a slightly more rugged Alaskan experience that is also pocketbook friendly, Grizzly Campground is located eight miles from the entrance. It has both tent and RV spaces, plus the all-important showers (because even roughing it should have limits!).
A trip to Denali National Park is an unforgettable adventure. So now that you know how to get there and what to see, isn’t it time for you to pack your bags and go?
