DENALI NATIONAL PARK: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO By B A I L E Y B E R G
S
ure, Denali National Park and Preserve is named for the nation’s mightiest mountain, but the 6-million-acre park encompasses so much more. Denali has options for every type of visitor. Whether you’re an avid backpacker looking to forge new trails or a relaxed traveler content to watch for animals on a tour, you’re sure to experience jaw-dropping scenery.
A visit to Denali National Park includes the drama of nature taken to new heights.
GETTING THERE About a four hour-drive north of Anchorage and two hours south of Fairbanks on the George Parks Highway, it’s an easy trip to the heart of the state — after all, there’s only one road entrance to the park. If you don’t have your own wheels, here’s how to get there: BUS: One option is Alaska/Yukon Trails (907-452-3337), a passenger van company capable of transporting up to 16 passengers. They run from Anchorage to Talkeetna to Denali to Fairbanks and the same route in reverse. Expect to leave town early for either departure and to get in around lunchtime. For a ride in a deluxe motorcoach, another option is The Park Connection (800-266-8625), where travelers can either book tickets from Anchorage or Seward. TRAIN: Taking the train adds about three hours of travel time to your journey, but it goes through wilderness only accessible on the track (plus, there’s a dining and bar car, knowledgeable guides and viewing-dome cars with sweeping views of the mountains and valleys along the way). The train makes a stop on the nearly 1,000-foot-long railroad bridge over an enormous gorge known as Hurricane Gulch. On a clear day, you can see Denali from there. (A more economical option both in terms of funds and time is taking the rails one way and a motorcoach back. Bonus: You’ll see even more of the state.) Check out alaskarailroad.com for more information on riding the train.
GETTING AROUND The Park Service maintains the only road leading into the park. It’s
PHOTO BY BOB HALLINEN
a 92-mile, mostly gravel route running parallel to the Alaska Range to what was once the mining community of Kantishna. Normally, from late May to early September, visitors can drive the first 12.5 miles of the road to Savage River with just their park pass. Due to rock slides, during summer 2022 the road will only be open to mile 43. To go farther than the dozen-ish miles allowed to personal vehicles, travelers have to be on foot, bike or riding on one of the school-busstyle shuttles. You can hop on a cheaper, more flexible bus tour that allows you to get off and on and explore on your own, or you can take a narrated bus tour with a driver who crafts an itinerary for you. There are also courtesy buses that serve the portion of the park road that is publicly driveable, which includes stops at the sled dog kennel and visitors center.
‘WILL THE MOUNTAIN BE OUT?’: WHERE TO SEE DENALI Rising 20,310 feet, Denali can be seen from parts of Anchorage to Fairbanks on a clear day. But clear days can be hard to come by. National Park Service rangers stress to visitors that the mammoth mountain is only out one of every three days (a rule that isn’t hard and fast — it could be out for days at a time and then hidden for a month straight).
WE DO ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EVERY DAY!
WE DO
Denali National Park Flightseeing with glacier landing - 4 times a day!
TOURS EVERY DAY!
Visit our website for more information and to book a tour www.flydenali.com • 907-683-2359
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ALASKA —
VISITORS’ GUIDE • 2022
