If you plan a trip to Alaska, you likely dream of spotting the massive peak of Denali (also known as Mt. McKinley). While you can see the mountain from Anchorage or Fairbanks on a clear day, many travelers want a close-up experience of Denali National Park and its famous wildlife.
Denali National Park holds many surprises for visitors. From hiking scenic trails to watching for bears, moose, and wolves, the park offers endless adventures. Read on to find the must-see attractions and hidden gems of this stunning wilderness.
Important Update: The Pretty Rocks Landslide
Before you pack your bags, you need to know about current road conditions. A landslide at Mile 43 (Pretty Rocks) caused significant damage to the Denali Park Road. As a result, the National Park Service has closed the road to vehicle traffic past this point while crews work on repairs.
How Denali is Building a Way Forward
To fix the landslide at Pretty Rocks and restore road access, the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) are building an impressive bridge. This bridge will be a 475-foot-long, 50-foot-tall steel truss design built to span the unstable ground. Construction started in the summer of 2023. This amazing project will let the park road safely bypass the sliding area, allowing visitors to travel deep into Denali again in the future!
You Can Still See Amazing Things Now!
However, the first 43 miles of the road remain open. This section still offers excellent opportunities to spot wildlife, hike, and take in the views, especially panoramic views of Polychrome Pass at the overlook near the turnaround point.
Here are just a few of the hottest spots within Denali National Park, possibly Alaska’s coolest natural wonderland.
The Denali Park Visitor Center
Overlook, Denali National Park
Even if you research your trip for months, conditions in the park change often. Make the Denali Visitor Center your first stop. Located just inside the park entrance, it serves as the main hub for information.
When you arrive, you can collect park maps, get safety tips for wildlife viewing, and check the latest updates on weather and hiking trails. The center also features inspiring exhibits and a short film about the park.
If you have questions, chat with the staff or follow a Ranger into the park on one of the many guided excursions.
The Denali Park Bus
Since private vehicles can only drive to Mile 15 (Savage River), most visitors use a bus to travel deeper into the park. You generally have two choices: the Tour Bus for a narrated, educational trip, or the Transit Bus if you prefer to explore on your own without a guide.
Denali National Park bus tours, NPS Photo
Current bus tours travel as far as the East Fork River (near Mile 43). Even with the shortened route, this remains a top activity. The drive takes you through prime habitat for Alaska’s “Big Five”—bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and Dall sheep. Keep your camera ready, as the landscape changes around every turn.
Flightseeing: A Bird’s Eye View
If you want the closest possible view of the summit, buckle up for a flightseeing trip. These tours usually depart from the park entrance area or nearby towns like Talkeetna.
The thrill of circling the mountain is unmatched. You fly close enough to see the colorful tents of climbers and the rugged details of the ridgelines. Many flightseeing companies also offer glacier landings. This allows you to step out of the plane onto the ice, surrounded by towering peaks. It provides a sense of scale you just cannot get from the ground.
Soaring above Denali, flightseeing from Talkeetna.
Explore Around the Park Entrance
The area right outside and just inside the Denali National Park entrance is also packed with ways to have fun and connect with the wilderness. You don’t have to go deep into the park to have an adventure! These activities give you great views and the chance to spot animals in addition to riding the park bus route.
Adventure on Land and Water
Get on the River: The Nenana River flows right by the park entrance, and it’s the perfect place for rafting. You can choose a mild Wilderness Run float trip, where you simply glide downstream, watching the riverbanks for wildlife like moose and caribou. Or, if you want a thrill, choose the Canyon Run Whitewater Rafting trip to tackle exciting rapids! Some tours, like the Healy Express, let you try both the scenic float and the whitewater on the same day.
Ride the Trails: For an exciting ride through the wilderness, try an ATV Adventure. These tours let you ride All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) or side-by-side vehicles along trails outside the park boundary. It’s a fun and scenic way to cover ground, see the Alaska Range, and splash through rocky creek beds.
Go Hiking: The front country has many trails for all skill levels. You can join a Naturalist Walking Tour to take an easy stroll through the forest with an expert guide who can teach you about the local plants, animals, and history. For a deeper experience, you can join a guided, off-trail Interpretive Hike to sink your feet into the thick moss and even try picking and eating wild forest berries.
These guided tours let you experience Denali’s landscape in an active, hands-on way, making memories right near the park entrance before you even set foot on a bus!
Historic Kantishna and the Reflection Pond
The remote area of Kantishna and Wonder Lake sits at the far end of the Denali Park Road, about 90 miles into the wilderness. It is known for offering some of the best, most up-close views of Denali. Right now, because of the Pretty Rocks Landslide closure at Mile 43, the road is closed, and you cannot drive or take a bus all the way here.
Highlights:
- A Place of History: Kantishna was once a busy mining district during the Gold Rush days. Today, it is home to a few well-known private lodges (inholdings) that operate deep inside the park’s boundaries, such as Camp Denali, North Face Lodge, and the Denali Backcountry Lodge.
- The Classic View: This is also where you find the famous Reflection Pond. On a calm, clear day, this pond perfectly mirrors the massive Denali mountain, giving you one of the most classic and powerful images of Alaska.
This far side of the park offers truly peaceful wilderness and unblocked views of the Alaska Range. The hope is that Alaska Tours will start offering trips to these historic lodges in 2027.
Shop for Keepsakes
Just outside the park entrance along the Parks Highway, you will find a boardwalk area often called “Glitter Gulch.” It is a lively spot to unwind after a long day of exploring.
Everything from hotels and gift shops to restaurants and rafting companies lines the street here. You can grab a Denali T-shirt or hat as a keepsake, enjoy a hearty Alaska meal, and sample local brews. It is also a great place to swap stories with other travelers about the wildlife you spotted earlier in the day.
How Many Days Do You Need in Denali?
The park is huge, so you should plan your time based on what you want to accomplish.
- 1-2 Days: If you are short on time, allocate a day to explore the Denali Park Road by bus to Mile 43. If time allows, hike a short trail near the Visitor Center, like the Horseshoe Lake trail.
- 3-4 Days: A medium stay allows you to mix bus touring with deeper exploration. You can hike the Savage River area or join a Ranger-led program to learn about the park’s history and ecology.
- 5 Days or More: With five days, you have the luxury of time. You could fly into Kantishna for a few nights of backcountry solitude, go fishing, or focus on photography without the crowds.
What is the Best Way to See Denali?
Most visitors find that a mix of methods works best. Panoramic views of a Denali flightseeing tour are often visitors’ best memories of their trip. Meanwhile, exploring on wheels keeps you at ground level, which is the best way to spot wildlife hiding in the brush.
Ready to Visit?
Denali National Park offers adventures for every type of traveler. Whether you fly to Kantishna for solitude or ride the bus to search for grizzlies, this place leaves a mark on you.
Ready to start planning? Alaska Tours is here to help you build the perfect itinerary. Contact us today to book your Alaska adventure!
Hikers in the shadow of Denali (c) Jeff Schultz/Schultzphoto.com/ALL RIGHTS RESERVED