Congress originally created Denali National Park (called Mount McKinley National Park, at the time) to protect wildlife, particularly Dall sheep
Photo: NPS Photo / Nathan Kostegian
About
Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,310' Mount McKinley. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await.
Location
Mile 237 Highway 3
Denali Park, AK 99755
Entrance Fees
Entrance - Per Person$15.00
Hours
wednesdayAll Day
mondayAll Day
thursdayAll Day
sundayAll Day
tuesdayAll Day
fridayAll Day
saturdayAll Day
Activities
Arts and CultureAstronomyStargazingBikingCampingBackcountry CampingCar or Front Country CampingGroup CampingRV CampingClimbingMountain ClimbingDog SleddingFishingFoodFlyingGuided ToursBus/Shuttle Guided Tour
Directions
You can drive to Denali from Anchorage or Fairbanks, along Highway 3, which is known as the "George Parks Highway." Fairbanks is about 2 hours north, while Anchorage is 5 hours south of the Denali entrance. You can also reach Denali from either city via the Alaska Railroad, which is operated by the State of Alaska.
Get directions →Weather
Summer is typically cool and wet, with highs typically in the upper 50s to low 60s, and lows in the 40s. On occasion, summer highs reach the low 80s, though this is rare. Snow can fall any month of the year, so be prepared for chilly weather even in summer. Fall colors emerge on the alpine tundra in August and in the low valleys in early September. Winter generally starts in mid-September, with temps often getting down to -40 by January. Spring is a short season in April / May, with highs above freezing.