If you’re coming to Alaska, you’re likely dreaming of getting a view of the infamous mountain of Denali. And while the mighty peak and most popular Alaska attraction can be seen from Anchorage to Fairbanks, many travelers set out for adventure seek a close-up view of Denali National Park and park wildlife. Denali National Park is chock full of many fun features and sweet surprises.
2022 Denali Park Update and Notice to Alaska Travelers: In Fall 2021, a landslide on the Denali Park Road caused significant road damage which is still being repaired at Mile 43. Access to some of the Denali National Park experiences listed below may be impacted. This has also resulted in the closure of specific Denali National Park campgrounds and popular stops located beyond the slide area. Check the National Park Service website for the latest alerts and status before planning your visit.
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 spend months doing research and prep before your Denali Park arrival, there’s always more to learn, and the activities within the park are constantly changing. That’s why your first stop on any Denali National Park tour should be the Denali Visitor Center, conveniently located a short drive just inside the park’s entrance. Once there, you’ll be able to collect park maps and get tips for wildlife viewing and safety, enjoy inspiring exhibits and a short film about the Park, and of course, get the latest weather, road and hiking trail conditions, and so much more. You can chat up staff on just about anything park-related and even follow a Ranger into the park on one of the many excursions offered to visitors. This is truly the hub of Denali Park information and activity, and it’s not unusual for visitors to pop into the Center numerous times over the course of a park trip.
The Reflection Pond – Kantishna – Wonder Lake
Arguably the best spot to see Denali at its most iconic is literally at the end of the Denali Park Road, 90-plus miles into the park, at the Reflection Pond near the humble housing and camping areas of Kantishna and Wonder Lake. As if seeing the massive peak standing as big as can be here isn’t breathtaking enough, the pond lives up to its name on a clear, calm day. That’s when an almost magical reflection of the peak is projected onto the pond surface. It doesn’t get better than this, which is why many people can stand or sit there for chunks of time simply enjoying it, some emotionally moved, some just smiling, and most snapping photos of a view that will instantly bring them back to the memory of being in that exact spot every time they see it.
The Reflection Pond is just one of the fabulous features that make the Kantishna/Wonder Lake areas hot spots in their own right. By bus, bike, or plane, however you get to the end of Denali Park Road, this area is an adventurer’s dream location. A stop at Kantishna or Wonder Lake offers visitors big-time payoffs of unblocked views of Denali as well as many other impressive Alaska Range peaks. There are also lodging and camping spots if you want to stick around to explore and enjoy the sights for a while, go lake canoeing and kayaking, hit the hiking trails, or take advantage of other adventure opportunities. While plenty has changed since Kantishna was a Gold Rush must-stop, so much hasn’t. It’s peaceful here, in the heart of the park, where it’s easy to find fresh air and peaceful surroundings. Enjoy every second.
A Prime Seat on a Denali Park Bus
Denali National Park bus tours, NPS Photo
Because Denali Park Road is closed to private vehicles after the Savage River Trailhead (at Mile 15), most people who travel into Denali Park get there on one of two bus types: tour bus or transit bus. If you want an educationally narrated trip, take the tour bus; if you can go without the narration, hop on a transit bus. No matter which Denali bus trip you choose, you’re in for a treat. You’ll see the occasional and always spectacular views of Denali and the Alaska Range at hot spot stops like Polychrome Overlook (Mile 46), Stony Hill Overlook (Mile 62), and Eielson Visitor Center (Mile 66). And you’re also likely to see some of Alaska’s big-name wildlife: bears, moose, caribou, eagles, and, if you’re lucky, even a wolf. And then there is the always changing (but never-ending) experience seeing the diverse wild Alaska landscapes and sub-Arctic ecosystems present in Denali.
A Birds Eye View While Flightseeing
If you want the park’s closest and most impressive views and its namesake peak, buckle up for a Denali flightseeing trip. Just imagine the thrill of circling so close to the mountain that you can see the colorful jackets of climbers on the mountain with their campsites set on glaciers below. Many flightseeing outfits land their planes on a glacier so visitors can grab incredible photo opportunities or even experience dogsledding with a yapping sled dog team. You’ll never forget a flightseeing ride over Denali!
Soaring above Denali, flightseeing from Talkeetna.
“Glitter Gulch”
A Denali Park trip will surely fill you with memories … but there’s always room for a few park keepsakes, too. On your return along the Parks Highway, just before you leave the Denali Park Road, is the urban “Glitter Gulch” area, where everything from hotels to gift shops to restaurants to adventure outfitters offer rafting, helicopter sightseeing, and more. Nothing says “I’ve been to Denali Park” than a Denali Park T-shirt. These shirts, hats, and magnets are instant conversation starters and longtime reminders of the best Alaska trip ever. Glitter Gulch is also a perfect place to enjoy a hearty Alaska-inspired meal, drink some of the state’s best brews, and share stories with fellow travelers worldwide about your incredible visit to world-renown Denali National Park.
Come join us in the ultimate American adventure destination – DENALI!
Hikers in the shadow of Denali (c) Jeff Schultz/Schultzphoto.com/ALL RIGHTS RESERVED