Park Details
Maps!
Trails Illustrated Map2 - Denali NP/Preserve
The park was established as Mt. McKinley National Park on Feb. 26, 1917. The original park was designated a wilderness area and incorporated into Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The Park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976.
Today the park accommodates a wide variety of visitor use including wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking. It continues to provide a laboratory for research in the natural sciences.
Park Details
Location Information
Location:
Denali Borough, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, south-central
Alaska. Located along Alaska Route 3, the George Parks
Highway, approximately 240 miles north of Anchorage, AK,
125 miles south of Fairbanks, AK, and 12 miles south of
Healy, AK.
Address:
Denali National Park & Preserve
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755
Telephone:
1-907-683-2294
Directions:
Denali Park's headquarters is located along Alaska Route
3, the George Parks Highway, approximately 240 miles
north of Anchorage, AK, 125 miles south of Fairbanks, AK,
and 12 miles south of Healy, AK.
Denali Park's mountaineering headquarters is located in
Talkeetna, AK, approximately 100 miles north of
Anchorage, AK.
Transportation:
To Park: Denali is accessible by car or via the
Alaska Railroad from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. In
summer a variety of private bus and van services and the
railroad operate daily from Anchorage and Fairbanks.
In Park: The Denali Park Road is accessible by private vehicle for 14.8 miles to the Savage River bridge. To travel to destinations farther into the park, including Eielson Visitor Center, shuttle and tour bus services are available. Bicycles are permitted along the Park Road.
Operating Hours/Seasons
Summer (late May to mid-September): Visitor Center hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.
Winter (mid-September to early May): Headquarters Building, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Reservations/Permits/Fees
Park entrance fees are $10.00 per family and $5.00 per person good for seven consecutive days. An annual pass is available for $15.00. Golden Age ($10.00), Golden Access (no cost), and Golden Eagle Passes ($50.00) honored.
Fees are charged for shuttle and tour bus services. These fees vary according to length of trip. Advanced reservations are available after February 24, 1997 by calling 1-800-622-7275 (nationwide) or 907-272-7275 (locally, in Anchorage, or international) or by FAX 1-907-264-4684. Forty percent of all shuttle bus seats and campground permits are available by advanced reservation via phone or fax. The spaces available for advanced reservation do sell out. When they are sold out the remainder of shuttle bus seats and campground sites are available only at the Visitor Center, up to two days in advance.
Mountaineering permit registration packets must be submitted at least 60 days in advance and a $150 fee is charged.
Backcountry camping permits are free and can be obtained only at the Visitor Center, no more than 1 day in advance. A camper bus pass ($15) must be purchased in order to reach most backcountry camping units.
Professional photographer permits are available to qualified applicants. Contact the Chief Ranger at 1-907-683-2294. Road lottery takes place each fall. 400 private cars per day are allowed to drive the park road over a four day period.
Climate, Recommended Clothing
Summers are generally cool and damp with average high temperatures in the mid-60s. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures falling to -40F and below. Layers of clothing, including good rain gear and hiking boots are recommended for summer. Specialized cold-weather gear is necessary for mountaineering and winter visits.
Facilities and Opportunities
Visitor Centers/Exhibits:
Visitor Center, Eielson Visitor Center, Talkeetna Ranger
Station.
Trails, Roadways:
Entrance Area
Trails and Denali Park Road. Trails do not exist throughout most of the
park but there are numerous day hiking and backpacking
possibilities.
Programs, Activities:
A wide variety of ranger-naturalist programs are offered
throughout the summer. Elderhostel programs are sponsored
by the Denali Foundation.
Lodging and Camping Facilities:
The Denali Park Hotel is the only lodging within the
park. Many other accommodations are available within a
short distance of the park. Most lodging is only open in
summer. Year-round lodging is available in Healy, AK - 12
miles north of the park entrance and Cantwell, 29 miles
south.
Seven National Park Service campgrounds are available in the park. Three campgrounds, Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River, are open to private vehicles. Morino, near the railroad depot, is for those traveling without vehicles. The other three campgrounds, Sanctuary River, Igloo Creek, and Wonder Lake, are shuttle bus accessible only. Fees are charged for all campgrounds and advanced reservations are available for most. Riley Creek is the only campground open year-round. For reservation information call 1-800-622-7275 from anywhere in the United States or (907) 272-7275 locally, in Anchorage, or outside the United States.
Reservations may be mailed or faxed to Denali Park Resorts. Faxes must be received two days before the date of travel. Reservations that are mailed in must be received 30 days prior to departure.
*Letters may be mailed to Denali Park Resorts Visitor Transportation System at 241 West Ship Creek Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501. Include either a check or credit card number with expiration date. Mail in requests must be received by Denali Park Resorts 30 days prior to your scheduled departure.
*Faxes may be sent to (907) 264-4684. Fax reservations must include a credit card number with expiration date.
Food, Supplies:
A restaurant and snack shop are located within the Denali
Park Hotel. A small convenience store, The McKinley
Mercantile, is located near the entrance to the Denali
Park Hotel. Several other restaurants and convenience
stores are located within a few miles of the park
entrance. Most food services are available only in
summer. Restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations
are open year- round in Healy, AK - 12 miles north of the
park entrance and Cantwell, 29 miles south.
Other Concessions, and Opportunities:
Bookstores, operated by the Alaska
Natural History Association, are located in the main
park Visitor Center, Eielson Visitor Center, and the
Talkeetna Ranger Station. A wide range of titles are
available with emphasis on the natural and cultural
history of Denali and Alaska. A complete selection of
maps and park guides are also offered. The bookstores
also carry videos and NPS handbooks. For further
information call 1-907-683-1258.
Accessibility:
Many park shuttle buses have wheelchair lifts. The
Visitor Center, most campgrounds, and Park Headquarters
are accessible.
Recommended Activities/Park Use
Touring the Park Road by bus, attending ranger-naturalist programs, mountaineering (advanced registration required), day hiking, backcountry camping (permit required), skiing and dog mushing (winter only).
Visitation
The primary visitation season runs from May 1 to September 15. Visitation is lowest in winter months.
Basic Visit Recommendations:
At least one full day is required to tour the park road
by shuttle or tour bus. Visitors wishing to dayhike,
backcountry hike, or attend ranger-naturalist programs,
should allow several days.
Those visitors arriving without reservations for shuttle or tour bus reservations may experience one to two day waits for an available bus. This is especially true during peak season and visitors should plan accordingly.
Visitor Impacts:
Information on park closures due to weather or road
conditions are available by calling the park at (907)
683-2294.
Adjacent Visitor Attractions
Denali State Park
Additional Information
Write Denali National Park & Preserve, P.O. Box 9, Denali Park, AK 99755 or call 907-683-2294.
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