Crown of the Continent

Denali National Park & Preserve is located in interior Alaska. The third-largest national park in the country, it’s one of the few national parks in Alaska you can get to by road.

It was the first national park established to protect wildlife rather than scenery. Denali is known for its big five – the bear, the wolf, the caribou, the moose, and the Dall sheep.

It is also home to Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley – the highest peak in North America.

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IMPORTANT: As of August 2021, Denali Park Road is partially closed due to a massive landslide. It’s expected to reopen in 2026. Learn more here.

Explore Denali National Park

Denali National Park Information

Park Size: 6.2 million acres

Established: February 26, 1917 (as Mount McKinley National Park)

Entrance Fee: $10 per person (valid for 7 days; included with the purchase of a camping reservation or bus ticket)

Nearby Communities: Healy and Talkeetna

Visitor Centers: Denali Visitor Center (Park Road Mile 3), Toklat Tent (Park Road Mile 58), Eielson Visitor Center (Park Road Mile 66), Wonder Lake Ranger Station (Park Road Mile 85), Walter Harper Ranger Station (Talkeetna)

Campgrounds: Riley Creek (Park Road Mile 1), Savage River (Park Road Mile 13), Teklanika River (Park Road Mile 30), Wonder Lake (Park Road Mile 85)

How to Get There: Denali is located on the George Parks Highway between Anchorage and Fairbanks. It is accessible by rental car, bus, or the Alaska Railroad.

Best Time to Visit: The summer season is the best time to go to see some of the park’s most popular wildlife. This is also the busiest season.

Need to Know: Private vehicles are not permitted beyond Mile 15, where the pavement on the park’s only road comes to an end. Beyond this point, visitors are required to purchase bus tickets to see the park.

Unique Things to Do: Visit the Sled Dog Kennel to see the only working dogs in the National Park system.

An image of Denali reflected in a lake below it. The text on the image is encouraging you to download a checklist of what to do while visiting Denali National Park by signing up for e-mail notifications.

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