Visiting Denali National Park rewards travelers with a beautiful park that is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in North America. The landscapes are so stunning, it’s hard to believe you’re not looking at them on a screen somewhere!
Here’s the link to see our full Alaska Road Trip Itinerary.
If you’re planning on a summer outdoor adventure, visiting Denali National Park is a must! This is one of the best places to go camping, hiking, and exploring in Alaska! And you can get additional support with our Alaska summer packing list.
If you’ve never been before and want to see what all the fuss is about, here are 8 things you can’t miss when visiting this amazing place for the first time.
Table of Contents
Sled Dog Kennels
About three miles into the park you can visit the sled dogs of Denali. These beautiful Alaskan Huskies are a working pack that rangers constantly care for, train, and work with to help maintain the park year-round. In the winter when most roads are closed these dogs still support rangers in getting out to some of the most remote areas of the park.
When visiting Denali National Park, you can get to the kennels by either hiking from the Denali Visitor Center on Rock Creek Trail, taking a free shuttle bus, or driving to Mile 3 on Park Road. There is a small parking lot at the entrance to the kennels but no space for RVs.
Get Your Travel Goals Newsletter & BONUS Workbook
These beautiful dogs are often up for adoption when they retire at age nine from working in the park. If you think this might be an option for you, an application can be submitted.
Savage River Area Trails
At just under two miles round trip, you and your group will be able to walk this family-friendly trail along both sides of the Savage River. The Savage River Loop trailhead can be found at Mile 15 of Park Road. This is the last stop at the end of the paved road.
The path takes you along the braided river and has almost no elevation gain. There is a small bridge that allows hikers to cross to the other side and loop back around.
There is a small parking lot and an overflow of cars parked along the road was the norm when we visited. This is a heavily trafficked part of the park. And you can see why from how gorgeous the area is.
From Savage River Loop Trail you can also access the much more challenging Savage Alpine Trail. This moderate trail crosses from Savage River over to the Mountain Vista parking area and the Savage River Campground. With an almost 1500-foot elevation gain, this is an exciting 4-mile hike. And was a great spot for us to see moose eating in the trees along the trail.
Get Your Travel Goals Newsletter & BONUS Workbook
There are two trailheads for this hike. If you have the energy to take it from Savage River after doing the loop trail then you’ll need to consider picking up a shuttle from Mountain Vista to get back to your car.
We parked at Mountain Vista and then hiked to the top of Savage Alpine and returned to the Mountain Vista parking lot. We then drove over to Savage River, parked, and completed the easier loop. It was a great way to wrap up the day!
Horseshoe Lake Trail
This is such a fantastic area to explore! It is easy to see why it is so popular with guests visiting Denali National Park. At about two miles and 250 feet of elevation change, this trail is relatively easy.
Go early in the morning and you not only avoid the crowds. You could spot a beaver here, or at least some of their handy work as this entire area has been created by their dam and the cutting down of trees.
You can access Horseshoe Lake Trail from the Denali Visitor Center, the Taiga Trail by the bus depot, or by parking in the dirt lot next to the railroad tracks. We parked at the Visitor Center and easily found the trail as there is clear signage behind the Visitor Center.
Camping or In-Park Lodging when Visiting Denali National Park
There are six campgrounds in the park and you’ll need to book far in advance to have a better chance of reserving the spot you want. The National Park Service website that we’ve linked for you here has a detailed list of things to consider as you prepare to camp in Denali.
You might also consider one of the four privately owned lodges inside the park. These lodges do give you access to the more remote areas of Denali National Park. This is a more expensive option so you will definitely have to determine the budget that is best for you and your group. We strongly recommend booking far in advance if you would like to have this experience.
Get Your Travel Goals Newsletter & BONUS Workbook
Outside of the park, there is lodging nearby and it is relatively less expensive than the in-park lodging options. We recommend McKinley Chalet as a fantastic place to stay if you choose to go with an out-of-park lodging option.
Mount Healy Overlook Trail
Ok, I’m not going to lie. This just over 5-mile round trip hike was my favorite! I loved the views and the challenge of approximately 1,700 elevation gain.
The views don’t stop as you hike. So you’re completely justified to pause and catch your breath (I mean take photos) on the way up.
It was a clear day for us and at the top, we rewarded ourselves with chocolate chip cookies and this great view of Denali in the distance!
McKinley Station Trail
By parking at the Denali Visitor Center, you have access to some of the park’s most enjoyable hikes. The McKinley Station Trail is one of those.
At just over a mile and a half and only 100 feet of elevation change, this trail is fun for everyone. This is a path into miner history and you’ll have the chance to see historic ruins of buildings as well as the beautiful Riley Creek.
Get Your Travel Goals Newsletter & BONUS Workbook
All of this recalls a time when miners dove pans into these cold waters in the hopes of flecks of gold.
Take a Bus or Shuttle When Visiting Denali National Park
Consider how you want to get around in Denali. The paved road that is open to all vehicles only travels 15 miles into the park and ends at the Savage River area.
The gravel road that goes deeper into the park is only accessible via permit or bus. The better you understand what each type of bus offers the more likely you are to make an informed decision regarding what you and your group would like to do.
There are free shuttles that take passengers along the public portion of the park road. This will let you park in one spot and then jump on and off a bus to access all the activities within those first 15 miles of Denali.
There are also narrated bus tours. These do not allow on-and-off privileges but do include very informative narration of each area your drive by. They make stops for wildlife viewing, restroom breaks, and scenery photo opportunities as well. These should be booked in advance and can be costly. Check to see if lunch or just a snack is included. You’ll want to bring your own food and drink with you to balance out the day since these tours can take anywhere from half to the better part of a day.
A third option is a transit shuttle. These reminded me a bit more of the shuttle like what is available at Zion National Park. You have on-and-off privileges but minimal to no narration. The bus will also make stops for scenery and wildlife viewing. Check out the website to determine which bus is best for you as the length of trips varies.
Get Your Travel Goals Newsletter & BONUS Workbook
To determine which bus type is best for what you want to do and your budget check out National Park Service’s detailed explanations here.
Also, be sure to check for the latest updates on the official Denali NPS website so you are up to date on road closures and access to all areas of the park you wish to visit.
Mountain Vista Trail
This is a good trail to walk to warm up for the more challenging Savage Alpine Trail. Parking is available at the Mountain Vista lot at Mile 13 of Park Road. There are also nice restrooms and a picnic area by the trailhead.
From the Mountain Vista parking lot, you can walk behind the seating area to begin the interpretive trail. Here you’ll learn about what it was like to visit the area when the park first opened to visitors. You’ll see beautiful scenery and learn about the impact of climate change on the area’s landscape and wildlife.
Bonus Tip for Visiting Denali National Park!
The options shared above are just a taste of what Denali National Park has to offer. If you have more time and access to the park beyond Mile 15 you may want to consider the following.
Wonder Lake at Mile 85 of Park Road is a gorgeous area of Denali. There is a campground or tour bus that can help you access this section of the park.
Eielson Visitor Center is located at Mile 66 of Park Road. Here you might be able to enjoy a ranger-led talk or hike. You’ll also be able to catch great views of Denali on a clear day.
Visiting Denali National Park can be complemented with a visit to Denali State Park. Denali State Park is its own not-to-be-missed site. This state park just south of the national park has multiple trails as well as picnic sites you and your group can enjoy. We stopped here for the additional chance to catch views of Denali.
You can stop at either the South or North Viewpoints along Highway 3 for another chance to view the highest peak in North America.
If you haven’t been to Denali National Park before, or if it’s been a while since your last visit, make sure that the 8 things above, along with those bonus spots, are on your checklist. They’re all worth seeing and experiencing for yourself!
Do you have any advice on what else we missed? We would love to hear from our readers in the comments below.