Denali National Park

Bear Viewing, Wildlife Viewing, Flightseeing, Kantishna

Alaska’s Denali National Park is 238 miles north of Anchorage and 120 miles south of Fairbanks and is more significant than Massachusetts.  This iconic U.S. national park is also one of the world’s last great frontiers for wilderness adventure.  Mountain Denali is North America’s highest peak at 20,320 feet.  Denali is an Athabascan name and stands for the “high one.” Its impressive vertical relief of 18,000 feet is even greater than Mount Everest’s and towers over the other mountains in the Alaska Range.

Many people discover more than they expected during their Denali National Park tour.  Denali National Park’s sub-arctic ecosystem supports abundant wildlife, including the “big 5”: Grizzly bears, Dall sheep, caribou, moose, and wolves.  Denali’s tundra landscape fills with wildflowers, and migrating birds visit the region throughout the summer.  The park’s 6 million acres of wilderness make Denali an explorer’s paradise, and with a wide variety of accommodations, it is a perfect addition to any Alaska vacation.

Denali National Park’s summer operating season is from mid-May to mid-September.  Besides a few lodges within the park, most of Denali’s hotels and activities are near the park entrance, including hiking, river rafting, and helicopter flightseeing tours.  The primary Denali Visitors Center at the park entrance is open daily from approximately 8 am to 6 pm during summer.  The visitor center has an enormous amount of information about the park, including displays, maps, and short films.  Ranger-guided hikes leave directly from the center and vary in length and activity level.  The Denali National Park rail depot is just a short walk from the visitor center.  There are two other information centers in the park, Eielson and Toklat, and a Ranger Station is located in the small town of Talkeetna, approximately 153 miles south of the Denali park entrance.

The park has only one road extending 91 miles from the park entrance to Kantishna. Only 15 miles of the road are open to private vehicles.  The park has scheduled shuttle bus transportation as well as guided road tours.  The tour buses depart from most of the Denali Park entrance hotels and the Wilderness Access Center.  For visitors interested in viewing wildlife, no trip to Denali would be complete without a bus tour into the park.

Several remote lodges are located within the park for those wishing to escape more profound into the wilderness of Denali.  These lodges offer all-inclusive overnight stays with comfortable accommodations in cabin or motel-style buildings.  They are less luxurious than some park-entrance hotels but have modern and tastefully decorated amenities.  All the lodges offer guided hikes and nature programs for their overnight guests, and a couple offer meals using produce grown on-site.  Kantishna Roadhouse and Denali Backcountry Lodge are located at the very end of the park road, while Camp Denali is on the rise with great views of Denali.  These lodges are a great way to get a more in-depth Denali wilderness experience.

Find out what you can discover on a visit to Denali National Park:

 

Choose from 46 vacations in Alaska related to Denali National Park

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Active Tour

“Active Alaska” Rail Package

Experience Alaska’s must do outdoor activities: raft, hike, kayak, even take a zipline tour! You start your trip in Fairbanks and travel to Denali where you raft and hike. Then continue south to Seward via Anchorage for a... Browse itinerary

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Grand Alaska Guided Bus Tour

Great option as a stand-alone touring program or as a comprehensive land tour before or after an Alaska cruise. There is spectacular mountain scenery every day, with local sightseeing insights from a professional guide the entire tour—first, journey... Browse itinerary

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Alaska by Rail Tour

Travel the entire Alaska Railroad in just nine days! Take the train from Anchorage to Seward, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks. Cruise to an active glacier, jet boat on the Talkeetna River, view wildlife in Denali National Park and... Browse itinerary

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Best Seller
two people on the deck of a tour boat looking at a tidewater glacier

Glaciers and Wildlife Tour

Combining Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, and Denali, this tour provides wildlife viewing opportunities and scenic touring throughout. You travel by the Alaska Railroad to Seward and cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park, well known for glacier scenery and viewing... Browse itinerary

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a GMC vehicle and a moose on a paved road in Alaska

All Alaska Classic Self Drive Tour

Explore three of Alaska's National Parks: Denali, Wrangell - St. Elias, and Kenai Fjords. Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout. Travel on four designated National Scenic Byways showcasing Alaska's natural beauty with its jagged mountain peaks, lush alpine meadows,... Browse itinerary

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Denali & Glacier Experience

By train, travel along the scenic Seward and Portage Glacier Highways before entering the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the second-longest tunnel in North America. On arrival in Whittier, embark on the 26 Glacier Cruise with lunch. Enjoy viewing... Browse itinerary

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Family Fun Vacation by Car

An excellent family itinerary designed to allow for a leisurely travel pace with plenty of time for family-oriented activities. Top destinations include Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks. Touring highlights include riding aboard a "whistle stop" train operated... Browse itinerary

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Great Alaskan Road Trip

Explore Denali, Seward, and the Matanuska Valley with the freedom of a rental car. These three destinations complement each other with natural beauty from mountains to valleys to coastlines. The bus tour into Denali National Park is a... Browse itinerary

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Alaska Highlights Self-Drive Tour

This independent Alaska self-drive tour features many of the state's most popular attractions and scenic roadways. Visit Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park and the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez, and Seward. The circular... Browse itinerary

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Circle Alaska Adventure Tour

Ride the Alaska Railroad, explore Denali National Park, search for gold, meet a sled dog team, and much more! Travel abroad on the Alaska Railroad to Denali and Fairbanks and by car to Valdez, Seward, and Anchorage. We... Browse itinerary

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Alaska by Rail and Car Tour

This rail and road trip takes you from Anchorage to Fairbanks on a classic Alaska train trip aboard the Alaska Railroad with an independent tour by car from Fairbanks to Valdez, driving the scenic Richardson and Glenn Highways.... Browse itinerary

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Unique Itinerary

Alaska’s National Parks Tour by Car

Visit 4 National Parks: Kenai Fjords, Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias and Katmai (or Lake Clark National Park for bear viewing). Plus, an add-on opportunity for a 5th national park with a visit to Gates of the Arctic National Park... Browse itinerary

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Active Tour
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Adventure Driving Tour

Enjoy an Alaska adventure vacation from Anchorage, exploring Alaska’s “playground” of the Kenai Peninsula and discovering Denali National Park by car. Raft, hike, and discover fantastic scenery and wildlife throughout your Alaska road trip. You’ll first leave Anchorage... Browse itinerary

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Alaska Railroad Adventure

Touring Alaska by train is a relaxing way to experience all that the Great Land has to offer. Designed for independent travelers and train enthusiasts this tour utilizes several segments of the Alaska Railroad. This round trip itinerary... Browse itinerary

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people on a train looking at Alaskan scenery through dome-car windows; one woman holds a map of Alaska

Relax Alaska

Great for travelers looking to explore Alaska at a relaxed pace. This tour starts in Anchorage and combines travel by train and motor coach between Seward and Fairbanks, ending with a scheduled flight from Fairbanks returning to Anchorage.... Browse itinerary

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Discover Denali Flightseeing

This scenic flight from Anchorage to Denali National Park takes you within six miles of the 20,320 ft—Denali summit, North America’s tallest mountain. Fly by float plane, plane on skis, or even wheels (depending on lake / ice... Browse itinerary

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UNIQUE Experiences
two canoes at a dock in Pederson Bay in Kenai Fjords National Park

Alaska Lodge Driving Tour

Travel to off-the-beaten-path locations, including overnights at wilderness lodges and inns that offer options for hiking, kayaking, and canoeing adventures. The touring route includes a spectacular flight into the expansive Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve and the... Browse itinerary

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Unique Itinerary
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An Alaskan Odyssey

This unique itinerary takes you from the North Pacific waters of Prince William Sound to the Arctic coast near Prudhoe Bay. This itinerary is for independent travelers seeking a chance to see the incredible diversity of Alaska, from... Browse itinerary

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Young Couple View Denali And The Alaska Range In Denali National Park Alaska Summer

Alaska Explorer Guided Bus Tour

The Alaska Explorer Tour is a one-way, guided group bus tour from Fairbanks to Anchorage with stops in Denali and Talkeetna. The Alaska Explorer tour is ideal for a pre-cruise land tour in Alaska. You’ll begin your fun... Browse itinerary

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the mountain of Denali; a dirt path in foreground

Alaska’s Gems Tour

This tour provides Alaska travelers with many key Alaska highlights, combining travel by train and by deluxe motorcoach. Enjoy opportunities to view towering glaciers up close and perhaps catch a glimpse of a glacier "calving" into the waters... Browse itinerary

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Caribou Lodge

This fly-in-only lodge is accessible just 15 minutes from Talkeetna with views of mountain Denali. A visit includes various hiking options to explore the area daily, kayaking, or canoeing on the lake. Enjoy home-cooked meals served in the... Browse itinerary

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Alaska’s Finest Self Driving Tour

This Alaska self drive tour is designed for independent traveler's seeking the best available accommodations Alaska has to offer while road touring. Enjoy spectacular mountain, glacial and coastal scenery while visiting several must-see locations such as Prince William... Browse itinerary

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Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure

This Alaska ATV day tour from Denali is fun, exciting, and scenic for both novices and experienced ATV riders. You will ride your All Terrain Vehicle along trails surrounded by Denali National Park at speeds up to 30... Browse itinerary

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Denali ATV Side-by-Side Adventure

This Denali National Park guided ATV day tour is fun for everybody, whether an experienced ATV rider or a novice. On this all-terrain vehicle tour, you will ride along trails near Denali National Park in a side-by-side ATV... Browse itinerary

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Best Seller
The Alaska Railroad rolls past forested mountains on it's way north out of Anchorage

Greatland Explorer Tour

Starting in Fairbanks, enjoy the scenic ride by train to Denali National Park and then to Anchorage. With two nights at Denali National Park, there is ample time to experience one of Alaska's most popular destinations. The Tundra... Browse itinerary

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Greatland Discoverer Tour

A perfect option for those with limited time or as a pre/post land touring option with an Alaskan cruise. Travel aboard the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Fairbanks with two nights at Denali National Park. Denali is world-renowned... Browse itinerary

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Denali Express Flightseeing

This 45-minute Denali flightseeing day tour via a small bush plane from the Denali Park Entrance lets you experience Denali National Park from a bird’s eye view and experience Mt. Denali from the air. Fly along the snow-capped... Browse itinerary

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Denali Heli-Hiking Tour

This Denali area heli-hiking day tour from the Denali National Park Entrance allows visitors to experience the backcountry of Alaska with a brief helicopter flight followed by a guided hike through Yanert Valley. A naturalist guide will lead... Browse itinerary

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Grand Denali Flightseeing from Talkeetna

Your day trip from Talkeetna transports you by bush plane on a flightseeing adventure circling Denali, North America’s tallest mountain. The Denali Flyer route explores the south side of Denali, including the Kahiltna Glacier, the famous west buttress,... Browse itinerary

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Denali Flyer Tour from Talkeetna

This Denali flightseeing tour from Talkeetna by bush plane is an extended version of the Denali Experience Tour. In addition to covering that entire flight route, you will fly to the remote western end of Denali National Park.... Browse itinerary

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Best Seller
a caribou stands in front of the Alaska Range and Denali mountain in Denali National Park

Visit Denali from Anchorage

Great opportunities to view wildlife and the incredible scenery Denali is so well known for. You'll travel by motor coach from Anchorage to the Denali park entrance and spend two nights there. There is enough free time built... Browse itinerary

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Alaska Winter Driving Tour

Designed for independent travelers, this SUV (all-wheel) self-drive tour features a few days to explore Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs. The Fairbanks area is among the best places to experience the amazing northern lights. At Chena Hot Springs,... Browse itinerary

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Denali Express Train Tour

After an overnight in Fairbanks, meet the train departing to Denali National Park. This afternoon take a guided excursion into Denali National Park and learn about the history and geology of the park, stopping when there is an... Browse itinerary

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