Denali National Park
Spanning over six million acres in Alaska, Denali National Park and Preserve is a vast wilderness of unspoiled landscapes and diverse wildlife. At its heart stands Denali, the tallest peak in North America, soaring to 20,310 feet (6,190 meters).
Catching a view of Denali is a must-have for visitors to this park, but also on the list is spotting Alaskaโs Big Five, exploring the 92-mile Denali Park Road, hiking the trails at the front of the park, or venturing into the remote backcountry. Denali National Park offers adventures for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts.
Letโs get started planning your unforgettable trip to Denali.
Denali National Park Stats
Founded: February 26, 1917
Annual Visitors: 470,000 in 2024
Size: 6,045,000 acres
Location: Alaska
Top Experiences in Denali
16 Best Things to Do in Denali National Park
Ride the park shuttle or cycle to end of Denali Park Road, hike one of many trails throughout the park, see Alaskaโs Big Five, take a flightseeing tour, or leave the trails behind and venture into the vast wilderness. Here are the best things to do in Denali National Park & Reserve.
Get a View of Denali. There is a statistic that only 30% of people who visit the park actually get to see Denali. Denali is frequently hidden behind the clouds, so plan on spending a few days at the park, to increase your chances of seeing the mountain. Our favorite viewpoints of Denali are Stony Hill Overlook, the Eielson Visitor Center and nearby trails, and Wonder Lake.
Spot Alaskaโs Big Five. Dall sheep, grizzly bears, caribou, moose, and wolves can all be spotted along Denali Park Road and throughout the park.
Denali Park Road. There is only one road that runs through the park and that is the 92.5-mile-long Denali Park Road. Visitors can drive the first 15 miles of this road but beyond this, you either need to be on a bicycle or a park bus. This road closed at mile 43 in 2021, due to a landslide. It is undergoing a massive construction project, with 2026 being the earliest the entire road will reopen.
Visit the Savage River Area. Located in the front section of the park, there are some thrilling hiking trails that lead to viewpoints of Denali. Hiking the Savage Alpine Trail is your best way to get a view of Denali without riding a park bus or taking a flightseeing tour.
Go Hiking. There is a long list of trails to choose from, ranging from short, easy trails at the front of the park to more remote trails at the end of Denali Park Road. Our favorite hikes in Denali are the Savage Alpine Trail, the Thorofare Ridge Trail, and the Horseshoe Lake Trail.
Visit Eielson. Eielson is located at mile 66 of Denali Park Road. The views of Denali from this part of the park are unbeatable and well worth the journey out this way (once Denali Park Road reopens).
Wonder Lake. Located at mile 85 of Denali Park Road, this is about as close as you can get to Denali, plus it is a great photography location in the park.
Visit Kantishna. Kantishna is a small grouping of lodges and campgrounds at the very end of Denali Park Road. You can get here by park bus or fly into Kantishna Airport. Itโs a great home base for getting to Wonder Lake and the remote trails in this part of Denali National Park.
Take a Flightseeing Tour. Many flightseeing tours circle around Denali, making this a great way to see this mighty mountain, if clouds happen to obscure your view from land. Some flightseeing tours also include a glacier landing.
Visit the Dog Sled Kennels. Sled dogs have been used for 100 years to patrol Denali National Park. Once the park becomes snow covered, these sled dogs are used by park rangers to travel through and patrol the park. Visitors to the park can attend sled dog demonstrations at the kennels.
Did You Know?
At 20,310 feet (6,190 meters), Denali is the tallest mountain in North America. Itโs vertical relief, which is the visible difference from base to peak, is 18,000 feet (5,500 meters), the highest of any mountain in the world.
The word โDenaliโ means โThe High Oneโ in the native Athabaskan language. In 1897, the mountain was named Mount McKinley by local prospector William A. Dickey, when William McKinley was elected president. This was the official name of the mountain until 2015, when it was renamed to Denali.
Best Hikes in Denali
16 Best Things to Do in Denali National Park
Ranging from short, easy hikes at the front section of the park to more remote trails with big views of Denali, there are quite a few hikes to choose from. We cover the full list in our article Best Hikes in Denali.
How to Hike the Savage Alpine Trail in Denali National Park
If you want sweeping views of Denali National Park, and a great view of Denali without venturing too far into the park, put the Savage Alpine Trail on your to-do list. This is one of our favorite hikes in Denali National Park & Preserve. On a clear day, you can see Denali from the high […]
How to Hike the Triple Lakes Trail in Denali National Park
The Triple Lakes Trail is a 9.25-mile point-to-point hike in Denali National Park. This well-maintained and well-traveled trail runs along the eastern border of the park just south of the parkโs only entrance. As you hike the Triple Lakes Trail, you can enjoy the beauty and peacefulness of three separate lakes, right from their shorelines. […]
Mount Healy Overlook Trail | Step-By-Step Guide, Stats, Photos
Hiking to the Mount Healy Overlook is one of the most popular hikes in Denali National Park & Preserve. The main reason to do this hike is for the view. From the overlook, you have 360ยฐ views of the front country of the park and, on a clear day, you will be able to see […]
How to Hike the McKinley Bar Trail in Denali National Park
The McKinley Bar Trail is a great add-on to a Denali Park Road backcountry adventure. Hiking through a beautiful landscape of streams, marshes, and spruce trees makes this hike enjoyable even on a cloudy day. And on a clear day you will also be treated with specular views of Denali and the Alaskan Range. The […]
How to Hike the Horseshoe Lake Trail | Denali National Park
Horseshoe Lake is a beautiful lake near the front entrance of Denali National Park. Named after its shape, Horseshoe Lake can be reached from the Horseshoe Lake Trail. This trail is a short and easy hike that first takes you to an aerial overlook of the lake and then down to its shoreline, where you […]
Denali Park Road
Denali Park Road is the only road that leads into the park. Stretching 92 miles, this road leads to stunning viewpoints, scenic lakes, and numerous hiking trails and campsites.
For most of its length, Denali Park Road is only open to the transit and tour buses that are run by the National Park Service or the backcountry lodges. Private cars are only permitted to drive to mile 15, unless you have a special permit.
The farther down Denali Park Road you go, the better the experience. Not only do the views of Denali get better, but you also have the chance to spot all of Alaskaโs Big 5, go on some of the best hikes in the park, and journey deeper into the heart of this park.
We have several detailed guides on Denali Park Road, which you can see below. We visited Denali one month before the road closed at mile 42, so we know what it is like to travel the full length of the road, including amazing Eielson and what it is like to spend a night or two in Kantishna.
Denali Park Road Travel Guide: Things to Do, Map, Photos, Itineraries
There is only one road that leads into Denali National Park and that would be Denali Park Road. Stretching 92 miles, this road leads to stunning viewpoints, scenic lakes, and numerous hiking trails and campsites. Along the drive, you have the chance to spot all of Alaskaโs Big 5, not to mention big views of […]
What to Do in Denali while Denali Park Road is Closed (& Is It Worth It?)
Only one road leads into Denali (Denali Park Road) and currently it is closed at mile 43, which is about the halfway point. This road closure cuts off access into the backcountry of the park, which is unfortunate, since some of Denaliโs best experiences lie beyond this road closure. However, even with the road closure, […]
5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Eielson Visitor Center on Denali Park Road
Eielson, which is located at mile 66 on Denali Park Road, is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Denali National Park & Preserve. On a clear day, the views of Denali are unbeatable. The drive to get here is gorgeous, there are several short hikes to choose from, and you get to […]
Denali Flightseeing Tours
Denali Flightseeing Tour: Photos, Tour Options, & is It Worth It?
On a Denali flightseeing tour, you get an up-close experience with this mighty mountain, and on some tours, you will even circle around Denali. Adding on a glacier landing is icing on the cake. In this guide, we cover the Denali flightseeing options, photos from the flightseeing tour that we took, and whether or not it is worth it.
When To Visit Denali National Park
The best time to visit Denali National Park is from June through early to mid-September. During this time, Denali Park Road is open, as are the campgrounds and lodges in Kantishna.
Snow starts to fall between mid-September and early October. Once the snow accumulates enough, Denali Park Road closes for the year. This can happen as early as mid-September.
In general, the earliest Denali Park Road reopens is sometime in April, although this really depends on snowfall amounts during the winter, and any spring snowstorms that might come along. The later you plan your trip, the more likely you can see more of the sights along Denali Park Road.
Denali National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in July and August.
15 Best National Parks to Visit in July 2025 (USA)
Which are the best national parks to visit in July? In this guide, we list 15 great parks to visit in the USA. Go hiking in Mount Rainier and Glacier National Parks, go whale watching in the Channel Islands, and venture into Alaska for some amazing adventures. About this National Park Series This article is […]
15 Best National Parks to Visit in August 2025 (USA)
Planning a trip to the US national parks in August and donโt know which ones to visit? August is a busy time to visit the national parks, but crowd levels arenโt quite at their peak (that typically happens in July for many parks). In this guide, we list some popular summertime parks to visit plus […]
How Many Days Should You Spend in Denali?
We recommend spending three days in Denali National Park, especially for those who want to do some hiking and travel along Denali Park Road. Three days makes it more likely you will see Denali, which is frequently hidden behind the clouds.
With three days in Denali, spend one day on Denali Park Road, one day hiking the trails in the front of the park, and one day on a flightseeing tour.
We spent 6 days here in July. Three days we had clear skies and could see Denali. On the other three days, the mountain was completely hidden behind the clouds.
Alaska Road Trip
10 Day Alaska Itinerary: 3 Ways to Plan an Epic Alaska Road Trip
In this Alaska Road Trip Itinerary, we lay out three different ways to plan a 10-day road trip through Alaska. Two of these itineraries include Denali National Park. The best time to do these itineraries is from June through early September, when Denali Park Road is open.
Denali National Park Map
Places to Visit Near Denali
9 Amazing Things to Do in Katmai National Park & Preserve
Katmai National Park & Preserve is a land of brown bears and volcanoes. It is wild, rugged, and remote and one of our favorite national parks. This national park is one of the best in the US for wildlife viewing. Every summer, brown bears head to the rivers, to feed on salmon. Brooks Falls is […]
9 Amazing Things to Do in Kenai Fjords National Park
Hike to one of the largest icefields in North America, spot humpback whales and orcas on a wildlife cruise, kayak in front of glaciers, go ice climbing or glacier hiking, and soar over the fjords in a helicopterโฆthese are all things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park. This is one of the few national […]
10 Epic Things to Do in Lake Clark National Park
Lake Clark National Park is a wild, rugged expanse of land that is home to two active volcanoes, icy glaciers, rocky, jagged mountains, several of the largest lakes in Alaska, and an abundance of wildlife. Located in Alaska, this national park is one of the least visited in the USA. There are no roads in […]
Complete Guide to Brooks Falls Trail & Viewing Platforms | Katmai National Park
Brooks Falls is one of the best places in Katmai National Park to view brown bears. Every July, when the salmon make their annual run, this part of the Brooks River is packed with bears, making it one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in the US national parks. In this guide, learn how to […]
10 Best Things to Do in Wrangell โ St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Wrangell – St. Elias National Park & Preserve is one of our favorite US National Parks. Its remote location, countless mountains and glaciers, and sheer beauty is simply astounding. It feels like an adventure to drive in on McCarthy Road, pull your belongings across the footbridge, and get shuttled to your lodge or campground. From […]
Driving from Anchorage to Valdez: Best Things to Do, Map, & Photos
The drive from Anchorage to Valdez is gorgeous and it is packed with lots of great things to do. Along the drive, you can visit historical sites, hike on a glacier, feed a reindeer, learn about Musk Ox, see Dall sheep, photograph waterfalls, and stop at numerous viewpoints. This was our introduction to Alaska. And […]
Denali National Park Photos
US National Parks List
In our US National Parks List, get information on all of the US national parks, including interesting facts, the most and least visited national parks, and a FREE printable national parks checklist with map.
Ultimate US National Parks List for 2025 (+ Printable Checklist)
