When visiting Alaska, oneās trip isnāt complete without a visit to the iconic Denali National Park. Not only a visit to the tallest peak in North America but Denali National Park is a place you can only really explore deeply on foot. Through shuttle rides, hikes, and stops at the few trailheads, hereās how you can best explore Denali National Park in the summer.
- About Denali National Park & Preserve
- Know Before You Go
- Park Shuttles & Tours
- Hiking
- Flightseeing
- Sled Dog Kennels
- Gallery
- Whatās Next?
About Denali National Park & Preserve
As the name calls it, Denali National Park is a preserve so a majority of the park grounds arenāt easily accessible. It spans nearly six million acres of glaciers, tundra, forest, and its main attraction: North Americaās tallest peak at 20,310 ft, Mt. Denali. The 92 mile Denali Park Road is the only one road goes through this wilderness. Whether youāre a hiker, wildlife enthusiast, or explorer, this means you can only explore the park by bus, on foot, or both (planes too, but Iāll talk about that later!).
It is also home to as many Alaskan land animals as you can think of. Our trip to Denali allowed us to complete the Denali Big Five wildlife sightings: bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, and wolves!
Know Before You Go
How do I get there?
Many visitors enter through Healy along the George Parks Highway, usually either from Anchorage (4-5 hours) or Fairbanks (2-3 hours). When you first enter the park, Denali Visitor Center will be your first stop.
Where do I stay?
Along the historic Stampede trail, one popular town to stay in is Healy, only about a 25 minute drive from the national park. There are numerous lodges and hotels to choose from, all situated at a great location near the park entrance.
To really get absorbed in the wilderness, you can stay at the campgrounds, booked through the national park. There are numerous to choose from: Riley Creek Campground, Savage River Campground, Sanctuary River Campground, Teklanika River Campground, and Igloo Creek Campground.
We stayed at Riley Creek Campground near the park entrance for our driving convenience and it was our first time car camping!
How much is the park entrance?
As of writing this in 2025, the standard entrance pass is $15 per visitor. The annual pass is $45 and the America the Beautiful Pass is $80. I highly recommend the America the Beautiful Pass if youāre planing on visiting multiple national parks in a yearāthis was a lifesaver to us during our National Park road trip in 2020 and 2021.
What animals can I see?
As said before, Denali is a great place for spotting the Denali Big Fiveā bear, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. Aside from these, you might also encounter arctic ground squirrels, foxes, bald eagles, and even ptarmigans. Remember to always keep a respectful distance and keep your binoculars on you, because you never know when or what youāll see!
What is the best time to visit?
You really shouldnāt visit Denali National Park any other time other than summer (around May-October) since the weather can make road conditions hazardous. We were lucky enough to go once during the summer and once during peak fall in mid-October when we were able to see all the leaves changing colors! This only happens for about a week per year so timing and luck is crucial. The leaves were already starting to change color when I visited in mid-August.
Do I need a car?
I think having a car makes flexibility and scheduling a lot easier, but the park shuttles and buses are fantastic, so a car is not entirely necessary.
Whatās the weather like?
With typical Alaska weather, always be prepared for rain or cold weather. Pack layers, especially waterproof ones!
What is the 30% Club?
Like I said, the weather in Alaska is unpredictable, so there are constantly clouds coming in and out. About 70% of visitors to Denali do not see the whole mountain, as often the peak of Denali is covered by clouds. The 30% Club are the lucky few who are able to witness the whole mountain!
Park Shuttles & Tours
Riding on the bus is half the fun: spotting animals in the distance (even more fun when the other passengers get excited and yell them out when someone sees one), watching the landscape shift from spruce forest to alpine tundra, and venture deeper into the remote parts of the park.
Since the Denali Park Road is only accessible by car to Savage River, taking the park shuttle to the end of the road (or at least to Mile 45) was our only option to seeing further into the park. Once you arrive to Savage River, the park road is closed to all private vehicles.
The road remains closed at Mile 45 due to the Pretty Rocks landslide, so the shuttle buses can only take you to Mile 43 (Eielson Visitor Center) and back.
There are two types of shuttles and tour buses to get to the parkās interior, with multiple hop-on, hop-off points:
- Shuttle Buses
- Non-narrated Transit Buses
- Narrated Tour Buses
I feel like I was confused when first researching the buses, so here is my best breakdown.
| Shuttle Bus | Non-Narrated Transit Bus | Narrated Tour Bus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furthest stop | Mile 15 (Savage River) | Mile 43 (East Fork Bridge) | Mile 43 (East Fork Bridge) |
| Price (Adults) | Free | $33.50 | $116-145 |
| Best for Wildlife Spotting | No | Yes | Yes |
| Includes Park Entrance Fee | No | No | Yes |
| Naturalist Tour Guide | No | No | Yes |
| Length | Up to 30 minutes | 5-6 hours | 4-6 hours |
My opinion is that the non-narrated transit bus is the exact same as the Tundra Wilderness Tour at over half the price. If your main focus is wildlife and donāt want to do the higher ticket, the non-narrated transit bus is your best friend!
Shuttle Buses
The shuttle buses are super convenient whether you donāt have a car or hiking a point-to-point trail. The shuttle buses are free.
There are three types of shuttle buses:
- Savage River Shuttle: Departs from Denali Visitor Center/Bus Depot to trailheads (Mountain Vista, Savage River)
- Riley Creek Loop Shuttle: Circuits the entrance area (Riley Creek Mercantile, Riley Creek Campground, Denali Bus Depot, Horseshoe Lake Trailhead, and Denali Visitor Center)
- Shed Dog Demonstration Shuttle: From Denali Visitor Center to the Sled Dog Kennels
Non-Narrated Transit Buses
These green buses were our haven. The transit bus is exactly as it soundsāa transit bus. It is designed to move people around through the park and makes regular restroom stops and wildlife viewing stops if you see an animal.
As mentioned, private vehicles are not allowed past Savage River, so the best way (in my opinion) to see more of the park road is by taking the non-narrated transit buses.
The East Fork Transit bus takes you to Mile 43 and back and costs $33.50 per adult/free for children 15 and under. The park entrance fee is not included in these ticket prices. These require reservations which can be made online.
The main difference between the non-narrated bus and the narrated bus is that for the non-narrated bus, you are not limited to staying on that bus. You can get off your initial bus and flag down any other non-narrated bus going in your desired direction.
These rides are informal. The bus driver will brief you on basic park information and safety, help spot wildlife, and answer any questionsāwhich honesty was well enough information for me!
Tips:
- Starting point is at Denali Bus Depot
- Bring enough food and water as there are no shops once you depart
- Rest stops are about every 90 minutes for about 15 minutes (might be longer or shorter depending on the scheduleāwe saw a bear at one of the rest stops!)
- Pack out your trash
- Plan for about 5-6 hours round trip
Narrated Bus Tours
This option is the more formal alternative to accessing more of the park road. A certified naturalist leads you by both driving the bus and narrating throughout your trip.
The main difference from the non-narrated transit bus is that you are on the same bus the whole way. This means that you will be getting back in and out on the same bus and canāt get on another if you decide to stop for a stroll.
There are two types of tours:
Natural History Tour
$116.75 for adults, $51 for children 15 & younger
This tour focuses on the natural and cultural history of the park and travels to Primrose Ridge at Mile 17. Youāll learn about the creation of the Denali Park Road through a film, visit the historic Savage Cabin, and stop at Primrose Ridge to learn more about how the cabin was used then and now. (About 4.5 – 5 hours round trip)
Tundra Wilderness Tour
($144.50 for adults, $64.75 for children 15 & younger)
This tour takes you to Mile 43 of the park road (as far as you can go) and guides you along, attempting to find wildlife. It travels to the Murie Cabin near Mile 43 where Adolf Murie lived while working on his research when the park was still known as Mount McKinley National Park. (About 5-5.5 hours)
*The park entrance fee will be included in these ticket prices.
While we did not take any of these toursātruthfully, mostly due to our budget and our focus on spotting wildlifeāthey are great for learning more about the park and its history!
Hiking
You would think a national park would have endless hiking options, but Denali National Park is a little different! While there are various trails to hit, Denali is actually a national park more for climbers than hikers. With that being said, here are some great recommendations for trails in the park (from easiest to hardest)!
Mountain Vista
0.7 miles, loop, 80 ft. elevation gain (15-20 minutes)
A very easy, accessible flat trail is the Mountain Visa trail, which provides views of the open field and mountains in the back. At Mile 13, it is the perfect quick stop before heading deeper into the park. As we were arriving, a fellow hike was leaving the trail and said he saw a bear which made us on alert on the whole hike, but we never saw one.
Savage River
2.1 miles, loop, 560 ft. elevation gain (1-2 hours)
This 2 mile loop trail is a great start to Denali! It was our first hike when we arrived to the park and provides you with a relaxing trickling river and mountain views. Moose tend to frequent here early in the morning. We hiked at sunset and the sky colors with the flowers were beautiful.
Horseshoe Lake Trail
2.1 miles, loop, 440 ft. elevation gain (1-2 hours)
Near the Denali Visitor Center, this hike is the perfect place for picturesque reflection shot in the water. Youāll pass beaver dams and stroll along the Nenanna River.
Savage Alpine
4.2 miles, point to point, 1,450 ft. elevation gain, (2.5-3 hours)
The best way to hike Savage Alpine includes taking the free park shuttle (Savage River shuttle) as this is a point-to-point trail and ends at two different parking lots. We technically did this hike backwards as we started at the Mountain Vista trailhead and ended at the Savage River trailhead. This made our hike a lot easier, since our incline was a lot more gradual whereas the opposite way starts with steep switchbacks. Since it is a pretty open area, it gets super windy up at the top. But youāll be seeing some stunning views of mountain range, especially if there are clear skies.
Mount Healy Overloook
4.9 miles, out & back, 1,700 ft. elevation gain (3-4 hours)
If youāre up for a challenge, this is a steady climb through spruce forest to stunning panoramic alpine views. There are great views of the river, Visitor Center, park head quarters, and of course, the mountain range. We actually did this in September when the fall colors were in full swing.
Flightseeing
If you have the budget for it and youāre looking for an unforgettable experience in Denali, going on a flightseeing tour is a must-do. Many visitors to Alaska may go on a flightseeing tour through the Denali range or Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to experience the sheer mountains of Alaska.
Many flightseeing tours leave from Talkeetna to fly towards the Denali range. It is a great option to seeing the mountains up close if you are willing to spend the money, but I truly think taking a flightseeing tour like this in Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can read more about our flightseeing tour and information here.
Sled Dog Kennels
Denali is home to the only sled dog kennel maintained by the National Park service. In the summer, park rangers give free demonstrations and talks about the heritage of dog sledding. These demonstrations are 30 minutes long and are offered three times a day in the peak season (June-September) at 10 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm. During the off-season (mid-May and mid-September), the demonstrations are reduced to once or twice a day. No reservation is required.
If you donāt have time for a formal demonstration, you can visit the kennels on your own, which is what we did. The kennels are generally open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm in the summer. You can just walk right in and meet the dogs!
Gallery
Here are a few images to inspire you on your next trip to Denali National Park!
Whatās Next?
While it was fun to chase the summit at Denali, the experience was much more than that. The land decides how much you see, the weather decides whatās visible, and the wildlife decides how close youāll get. Whether we were in a plane in the center of the mountains or trying to spot them at a distance on the trailhead, these unplanned moments are the times Iāll remember most in Alaska.
We will be visiting Denali again in September on our way to Fairbanks, so fingers crossed on seeing some fall foliage (spoiler alert, we do hehe)!
Thanks for reading my little blog! š Have you been to Denali National Park or planning a trip there? Send me your thoughts about what you loved the most or are most excited about! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
Pin it for next time! š
mir on mountains 
share your thoughts!