Denali
National Park & Preserve
Visit Denali's Expanded Website for information about shuttle
and campground reservations, backcountry permits, day hikes, mountaineering, press
releases and news about planning for the park's future.
Denali National Park & Preserve features North America's highest mountain,
20,320' Mount McKinley. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular
mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a
complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall
sheep, and moose.
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.
VISITATION:
- The primary visitation season runs from May 1 to September 15.
- Visitation is lowest in winter months.
-
- 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. If you are flying your own
airplane to Denali visit our "Flight Site."
-
- ADDRESS:
- Denali National Park & Preserve
- P.O. Box 9
- Denali Park, AK 99755
-
- TELEPHONE:
- 1-907-683-2294
-
- OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
- Daily, 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.
-
- 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.
-
- 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.
-
- FEES, COSTS, RATES:
-
- 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 by calling
1-800-622-7275 (nationwide) or 907-272-7275 (locally, in Anchorage, or international) or
by FAX 1-907-264-4684.
-
- FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
-
Visitor Centers/Exhibits:
- Visitor Center, Eielson Visitor Center, Talkeetna Ranger Station.
-
Trails, Roadways:
- Denali Park Road, Entrance Area Trails. 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. TheHealy-Denali
Chamber of Commerce has a complete listing of member businesses in the area.
-
- 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 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 starting February 23, 1998 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 starting December 1,
1997. 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. The Healy-Denali
Chamber of Commerce has a complete listing of member businesses in the area.
-
-
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).
-
- RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
-
- 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.
-
- on the web!! Take time to read "Mountaineering:
Denali National Park and Preserve" a reference booklet written by the
Mountaineering Rangers of Denali National Park and designed to help climbers plan
technical or expeditionary climbs in the park. This is a must read for expeditions,
and includes mandatory requirements, general information, equipment suggestions and
medical information.
- 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. The road is open for travel this year September 17
through 20.
-
- 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. We recommend using the shuttle
and campground reservation system when planning your trip.
-
- SPECIAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS:
-
- The park offers a wide range of interpretive programs. Weekly
schedules will be posted to this site again next summer
-
- 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.
-
Last Updated:Wednesday, 14-Jul-99 20:55:30
http://www.nps.gov/dena/