Denali
National Park
Denali National Park is home to the tallest mountain in North America—Denali, standing at a jaw-dropping 20,310 feet! The park was established in 1917 and originally named Mount McKinley National Park, but in 1980, it was renamed Denali National Park and Preserve. The mountain officially got its rightful name, Denali, in 2015—a Koyukon Athabascan word meaning “The Great One.”
Beyond the iconic peak, the park spans 6 million acres of untouched wilderness, filled with rugged mountains, taiga forests, tundra, glaciers, and incredible wildlife like grizzlies, moose, wolves, caribou, and Dall sheep.
Quick note on pronunciation: it’s Den-alley, not Den-ollie (sorry, GMC). We double-checked with sources like Chief Mitch Demientieff and the Denali Borough mayor, and yep—it’s “Den-alley.”
Denali At a Glance
$15 per person for 7 days. Or FREE with the America the Beautiful Pass. There are no entrance stations to pay your entrance fee, however, you can either buy your pass online in advance, get it at the visitor center, or use an automated pay station at the Murie Science and Learning Center.
Located in Alaska, between two of the largest cities sits Denali National Park. You can fly into Fairbanks (2 hours) or Anchorage (4 hours) and then drive to the park from there.
Reservations are not required to enter the park. However, it is recommended to purchase bus tickets in advance if you wish to travel past mile 15 on Park Road.
We recommend going to Denali between mid May and mid September, which is when the 43 open miles of the park road is accessible and the buses will be operating. The trails will be mostly snow-free during those months.
Different Areas of the Park
Although the park is 6 million acres, only a small portion is accessible by visitors along the park’s 92 mile long Park Road. But most of this 92 mile road is not accessible by private vehicle. The sections of the park are typically broken out by the different areas along the road.
Miles 0-15 are open to private vehicles. Miles 15-43 are accessible via the park bus. Miles 43-beyond are currently completely closed due to a landslide.
The ULTIMATE Guide to Visiting Denali
In this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know before visiting Denali National Park, including important road closures, how to navigate the park, the best things to do in Denali, itinerary options, and more!
DENALI HIKING GUIDES
Hiking the Horseshoe Lake Trail in Denali National Park
Read the Travel Guide: Hiking the Horseshoe Lake Trail in Denali National ParkHow to hike the Savage Alpine Trail (+ Savage River Loop Trail) in Denali National Park
Read the Travel Guide: How to hike the Savage Alpine Trail (+ Savage River Loop Trail) in Denali National ParkHiking the Mount Healy Overlook Trail at Denali National Park
Read the Travel Guide: Hiking the Mount Healy Overlook Trail at Denali National Park
How to Camp at the Teklanika River Campground
Wanting to camp at the Teklanika River Campground in Denali National Park? In this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know to camp at the Teklanika River Campground.
