Denali National Park & Preserve features North America's highest mountain, the 20,320-foot-high Mount McKinley. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete subarctic ecosystem with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose.

The park was established as Mount McKinley National Park on Feb. 26, 1917. After its name was changed to Denali, the park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976.

Today, the park accommodates a variety of visitor uses including wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking. It continues to provide a laboratory for research in the natural sciences.

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General Information

Visitation

The primary visitation season runs from May 1 to September 15. Visitation is lowest in winter.

Location

Denali National Park sprawls across Denali Borough and Matanuska-Susitna Borough in south-central Alaska.

Address

Denali National Park & Preserve
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, Alaska 99755

Telephone

1-907-683-2294

Operating Hours & Seasons

From late-May to mid-September, visitor center hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. From mid-September to early May, the headquarters building is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Directions

Denali National Park's headquarters is located along Alaska Route 3, the George Parks Highway, approximately 240 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska, 125 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska, and 12 miles south of Healy, Alaska. Denali Park's mountaineering headquarters is located in Talkeetna, Alaska, approximately 100 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska.

Fees, Costs & Rates

Park entrance fees are $10 per family and $5 per person, good for seven consecutive days. Fees are charged for shuttle and tour bus services. These fees vary according to length of trip. Advanced reservations are available by calling 1-800-622-7275 (nationwide) or 907-272-7275 (locally, in Anchorage, or international) or by FAX 1-907-264-4684.

Golden Eagle Passport

The Golden Eagle Passport is an entrance pass to any national park, monument, historical site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee. It is a great convenience for those who plan on visiting several different areas that charge special fees. It is valid for one year from the purchase date. A Golden Eagle Passport may be purchased for $50 at any National Park Service entrance fee area or by mail. To order by mail, send check or money order (no cash, please) to:

National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Room 138
Washington, DC 20242
Attention: Golden Eagle Passport

Where entry is by private vehicle, the Golden Eagle Passport will admit the passholder as well as any passengers. Where entry by private vehicle is not possible, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Eagle Passport will not reduce use fees, such as those for camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or cave tours. It covers entrance fees only.

Golden Age Passport

The Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for those United States residents 62 years or older. These may be purchased at any National Park Service entrance fee area for a one-time processing fee of $10. The Golden Age Passport cannot be purchased by mail or telephone. Proof of age and citizenship or permanent residence must be shown at the time of purchase.

The Golden Age Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. When entrance is not via private vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder as well as children, spouse, and parents.

The Golden Age Pass grants a 50 percent discount to the holder on any federal use fees charged for things such as camping, swimming, parking, boat launching, or tours. It does not, however, reduce the price of special recreation permit fees or fees for concessions.

Golden Access Passport

The Golden Access Passport is a free entrance pass to any national park, monument, historic site, recreation area, and national wildlife refuge for those who are blind or permanently disabled. The Golden Access passport may be obtained at any National Park Service entrance fee area. Proof of a medically determined disability and eligibility for receiving benefits under federal law is necessary at purchase.

The Golden Access Passport will admit the passholder and any passengers in a private vehicle. Where entrance is not by vehicle, the pass will admit the passholder, spouse, children and parents.

The Golden Access Passport also provides a 50 percent discount on any federal use fees charged for services and facilities. It does not cover special recreation permit fees or fees charged for concessions.

All passes described above are non-transferable.

Climate & Recommended Clothing

Summers are generally cool and damp with average high temperatures in the mid-60s. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures falling to -40¡F and below. Layers of clothing, including quality rain gear and hiking boots are recommended for summer, and specialized cold-weather gear is necessary for mountaineering and winter visits.

Transportation

To Park: Denali is accessible by car or via the Alaska Railroad from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. In summer, a variety of private bus and van services and the railroad operate daily from Anchorage and Fairbanks.

In Park: The Denali Park Road is accessible by private vehicle for 14.8 miles to the Savage River bridge. To travel to destinations farther into the park, including Eielson Visitor Center, shuttle and tour bus services are available. Bicycles are permitted along the Park Road.

Basic Visit Recommendations

At least one full day is required to tour the park road by shuttle or tour bus. Visitors wishing to day hike, backcountry hike or attend ranger-naturalist programs should allow several days. Those arriving without reservations for shuttle or tour bus reservations may experience one- to two-day waits for an available bus. This is especially true during peak season, so plan accordingly.

Lodging & Camping Facilities

Denali National Park & Preserve has seven campgrounds with a total of 291 sites. You may camp a total of 14 days in Park Service campgrounds per year. Seven National Park Service campgrounds are available in the park. Three campgrounds, Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River, are open to private vehicles. Morino, near the railroad depot, is for those traveling without vehicles. The other three campgrounds, Sanctuary River, Igloo Creek, and Wonder Lake, are shuttle bus accessible only. Fees are charged for all campgrounds and advanced reservations are available for most. Riley Creek is the only campground open year-round. For reservation information call 1-800-622-7275 from anywhere in the United States, or (907) 272-7275 locally, in Anchorage, or outside the United States.

Reservation letters may be mailed to Denali Park Resorts Visitor Transportation System at 241 West Ship Creek Ave., Anchorage, Alaska 99501, and must be received 30 days before date of travel. Include either a check or credit card number with expiration date. Mail-in requests must be received by Denali Park Resorts 30 days prior to your scheduled departure.

Faxes may be sent to (907) 264-4684. Fax reservations must include a credit card number with expiration date.

• Reservations can be made in person at the visitor center, up to two days in advance. Sanctuary and Igloo Campground sites are available only at the visitor center and not via phone, fax or mail-in. In addition to camping and entrance fees, there is a one-time $4 service fee for both phone and in-person reservations.
• The Morino backpacker campground is available for those campers who arrive without a vehicle. This 60-site campground is located 0.25 mile west of the Alaska Railroad Depot.
• If you do not have advance reservations, plan to camp outside of the park when you first arrive; there may be a two night wait for park campsites.
• There is a $6 cancellation fee for each bus seat and/or campground site. This fee will also apply to any changes made to existing reservations, but will not apply to cancellations of reservations for children 12 and under.

Camper Buses

Since Sanctuary, Igloo, and Wonder Lake campgrounds are accessible only by bus, camper buses are provided to take campers and their gear into the park. Teklanika (Tek) campers may drive their vehicles to that campground (see info below); however, those without cars or who wish to leave their cars behind, may take a camper bus in order to camp at Tek.

When you make your campsite reservations, reserve your seat on a camper bus ($15 adult).

Return reservations are not necessary for camper buses. Campers may board any shuttle bus with available seats to exit the park. Be sure to pick up a bus schedule before leaving the visitors center. This is especially important for those visitors wishing to catch a train or other transportation.

Boarding the Bus: Park your vehicle in the Riley Creek Campground overflow parking lot where the camper bus will pick you up. You may also board at the visitor center. Although the camper bus can accommodate more luggage than regular shuttle buses, for your own convenience, pack efficiently.

Teklanika Campground

For Teklanika campers who wish to drive their vehicles to the campground there is a three-night stay minimum. To reduce road traffic, your road pass is good only for one trip into the campground and one trip out. Make sure you use the RV dump station at Riley Creek Campground and get all necessary items before going to Teklanika. There are no gas stations or services west of the Denali Park Hotel, and no telephones west of Park Headquarters. Once at the campground, you may not return temporarily to headquarters, since transportation back to the campground is unavailable unless you have purchased a camper bus ticket. Please leave towed vehicles in the Riley Creek overflow parking lot.

Group Campgrounds

Group sites are located at Savage Campground (mile 13), where you'll find three tent-only sites for nine to 20 people each. Advance reservations are available after October 1, 1997. For further information or to reserve a group site, write to Denali National Park, Box 9, Denali National Park, Alaska, 99755 or call (907) 683-2294.

Campground Regulations

Fires are allowed only in established grates. Firewood may be purchased at the store near the Denali Park Hotel. Cutting live vegetation or standing deadwood is prohibited, as is the use of power saws. Pets must be leashed at all times and are not allowed on trails or buses. Please dispose of feces in garbage cans. Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This includes generators. Keep in mind that even with "long" days and little darkness, people still need their sleep. Checkout time is 11 a.m.

Wildlife and Food Storage

For the safety of visitors and animals alike, observe the following:

• Keep a clean camp.
• Wash dishes immediately.
• Discuss the matter of "gray" water disposal with a ranger or your campground host.
• Do not cook directly on fire grates; use foil. Store and cook food away from sleeping areas.
• All food and ice chests must be stored in hard-sided vehicles or in the food lockers provided.
• Do not feed any animal or bird. Not only will they become a nuisance, but they will grow to depend on an unnatural food supply.

Programs & Activities

A variety of ranger-naturalist programs are offered throughout the summer. Elder hostel programs are sponsored by the Denali Foundation.

Call the visitor centers for the schedule of interpretive programs. You'll also be able to find out when you can join a ranger for a guided walk or inspirational talk. Most programs are free of charge and reservations are not required.

Discovery Hikes

Discovery Hikes require the purchase of $21 shuttle bus tickets and can be reserved up to two days in advance at the Denali Visitor Center. A description of programs is available. Schedules are available for the following programs during the summer season:

Park Hotel Auditorium Programs
Visitor Center Theater
Riley Creek Campground
Savage River Campground
Teklanika Campground
Wonder Lake Campground

Lodging

The Denali Park Hotel is the only lodging within the park, but many other accommodations are available within a short distance of the park. Most lodging is only open in summer. Year-round lodging is available in Healy, Alaska - about 12 miles north of the park entrance - and Cantwell, 29 miles south. The Healy-Denali Chamber of Commerce has a complete listing of member businesses in the area.

Food & Supplies

A restaurant and snack shop is located within the Denali Park Hotel, and a small convenience store, The McKinley Mercantile, is located at the hotel's entrance. Several other restaurants and convenience stores are located within a few miles of the park entrance. Most food services are available only in summer. Restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations are open year-round in Healy, Alaska, and Cantwell, 29 miles south. The Healy-Denali Chamber of Commerce has a complete listing of member businesses in the area.

Other Concessions & Opportunities

Bookstores, operated by the Alaska Natural History Association, are located in the main park Visitor Center, Eielson Visitor Center, and the Talkeetna Ranger Station. A variety of titles are available with emphasis on the natural and cultural history of Denali and Alaska. A complete selection of maps and park guides are also offered. The bookstores also carry videos and NPS handbooks. For further information call (907) 683-1258.

Denali Bus Tour Information

Beyond mile 14 of the park road you need to travel via a bus, a bicycle, or your own two feet (most folks opt for a bus). Riding a bus enhances your chances of spotting wildlife. There are primarily two bus systems operating in the park, both provided by Denali Park Resorts. There are businesses at Kantishna, an inholding north of Wonder Lake, which offer bus transportation for guests staying or dining at their private facilities.

Shuttle Bus

Shuttle buses feature wildlife and scenic viewing. Visitors wishing to day hike, camp, backpack, or picnic in the park should use the shuttle buses. Shuttle buses allow passengers to get off and on different shuttle or camper buses on a space available basis. Bring snacks, lunch, and beverages that fit underneath the seat or overhead rack.

Advanced reservations are available by calling 1-800-622-7275 (PARK). From Anchorage call locally at 272-7275. From outside the U.S. dial 1-907-272-7275. Reservation requests can also be faxed between December 1, 1997 and September 1, 1998 to (907) 264-4684 or mailed to:

Denali Park Resorts
Visitor Transportation System
241 West Ship Creek Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone reservations can be made every day up to the day before travel. Faxes must be received two days before the date of travel. Reservations that are mailed in must be received 30 days prior to departure. Approximately 50 percent of the seats are released for sale via the reservation system. The remaining 50 percent are released for sale two days prior to the date of travel. Tickets are also available, by walk-in, at the Denali National Park and Preserve Visitor Center two days before the day of travel.

Tour Bus

Tour buses feature a narrated bus tour and wildlife viewing. Visitors cannot get on and off to switch buses. Snack or box lunches are provided.

Advanced reservations are available, call 1-800-276-7234. From Anchorage call locally at 276-7234. From outside the U.S. dial 1-907-276-7234. Reservations can be made until 2 days in advance of travel. Within two days of departure call Denali Park Hotel at 1-907-683-2215, for advance purchase.

Tour buses are wheelchair accessible -- please advise when making reservation.

Hiking

Trails do not exist throughout most of the park but there are numerous day hiking and backpacking possibilities. Even in the populated areas around the park entrance you may find moose and bears. As you hike, be alert and make a lot of noise so that you do not inadvertently surprise these animals. If you encounter a grizzly bear, do not run. Identify yourself to the bear by waving your arms over your head and speaking in a low, calm voice. If you encounter a moose, do not approach it. Run if a moose charges you.

What to Wear

Be prepared for hiking in cool, wet, and windy weather. Wear sturdy shoes with firm ankle support, thick socks, and warm, layered clothing.

What to Bring

• Water
• Snacks
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Warm Hat
• Rain Gear
• Field Guides
• Binoculars
• Insect Repellent
• Camera
• Backcountry Travel

Denali's Trailless Wilderness is all about choices: yours and those of the NPS. Where should you hike? How can you get there from here? What, if anything, lies ahead for you? The myriad of choices can be intimidating. Years ago a conscious decision was made to not develop trails in Denali. Wilderness in Alaska by its very nature should be void of manmade trails, providing a contrast to other wilderness units elsewhere. Realizing trails become travel corridors that bring hikers and concentrate their impacts, the lack of trails helps the park disperse use and lessen impacts on the landscape.

Overnight stays in the backcountry of Denali National Park require a free backcountry permit. Permits are available at the Visitor Center during the summer months and at Headquarters during the winter months. Permits are issued only one day in advance, and reservations are not accepted.

All areas require the use of bear-resistant food containers, which are distributed free of charge with your backcountry permit. Please return your container(s) promptly at the end of your trip. To purchase your own container, stop by the visitor center bookstore. You do not need a special permit to day hike.

Follow the steps below to obtain your backcountry permit

• Watch the backcountry simulator program that describes bear safety, minimum impact camping, river crossing techniques, wildlife ethics, and backcountry safety and emergencies.
• Check the quota board on the wall behind the Backcountry Desk for unit availability. Denali's backcountry is divided into 43 units; only a limited number of backpackers are allowed per night in most units. During peak season, many units may be full for several days, and other units may be closed due to wildlife activity. Large hiking groups should be prepared to split up and go into different units.
• Read backcountry description guides, located at the Backcountry Desk. The "Backcountry Companion", for sale at the bookstore in the visitor center, is also recommended reading. Please read through one or both of these references before choosing a unit.
• Consult a topographic map while planning your route through the backcountry. Keep in mind the immense scale of this country where even a 5-mile hike can mean an exhausting day. Map reading skills are essential and invaluable.
• Obtain a permit at the Backcountry Desk and reserve a seat on a camper bus ($15). Finalize your plans with the backcountry staff when obtaining your permit. Rangers can help you with your initial planning, but in the end, the success of your trip rests with you.
• Consult the backcountry gear checklist.

Reservations & Permits

Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-622-7275 from anywhere in the United States or (907) 622-7275 locally, in Anchorage, or from outside the United States. Reservations may also be mailed or faxed to Denali Park Resorts. When faxing or mailing reservation requests, please remember to include the names and ages of each passenger. Youth discounts do apply. It is helpful to include alternative dates and times for your trip (in case your first choice is booked). Credit card numbers, along with expiration dates, should be included with a fax request. Either a credit card number or check can be included with a mail-in reservation request. Letters should be mailed to:

Denali Park Resorts
Visitor Transportation System
241 Ship Creek Ave.
Anchorage, Alaska 99501

Mail in requests must be received by Denali Park Resorts 30 days prior to your scheduled departure. Faxes may be sent to Denali Park Resorts (907) 264-4684.

Mountaineering

Mountaineering permit registration packets must be submitted at least 60 days in advance and a $150 fee is charged. Backcountry camping permits are free and can be obtained only at the visitor center no more than 1 day in advance. A camper bus pass ($15) must be purchased in order to reach most backcountry camping units. Professional photographer permits are available to qualified applicants. Contact the chief ranger at 1-907-683-2294.

Additional Park Information

Destinations in Travel
P.O. Box 76, Milepost 238.8 Parks Highway
Denali National Park, AK 99755
907-683-1422 FAX: 907-683-2877 / 800-354-6020

This is your reservation hotline for lodging, activities, tours and custom itineraries in Denali, Kenai Fjords, Glacier Bay and throughout Alaska. It operates year-round.

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History

Mount McKinley

Mount McKinley is the tallest mountain in North America and one of the most impressive in the world. With its base at nearly sea level, the mountain rises to 20,320 feet, making it one of earth's steepest vertical rises.

W.A. Dickey named the mountain after President William McKinley in 1897. Prior to that time, the Athabaskan Indians of interior Alaska called it Denali, meaning "The High One." Its name changes from region to region: Doleyka, Traleika, Bulshia, Gora and Tenada. It was called "Dunsmore's Mountain" by the English speakers. Efforts over the years to officially rename the mountain Denali, the Athabaskan name, have been unsuccessful.

The Sourdough Party made the first successful climb of Mount McKinley in 1910. Prior to the Sourdough climb, people believed that the North Peak was the higher peak. Via the Muldrow Glacier, the Sourdough Party hauled a 40-foot spruce pole and flag to the top of the North Peak. They discovered at the summit, however, that the South Peak is in fact higher by 850 feet. The party placed a flag on the North Peak, but it was not visible from Fairbanks, thereby leaving the climbers with only their word as proof of their feat.

On June 7, 1913, the Karstens-Stuck expedition conquered the true peak of Mount McKinley. Harry Karstens and Rev. Hudson Stuck were joined by Robert Tatum and Walter Harper on this ascent. From their vantage point atop the South Peak they could look across to the North Peak and see the flag pole left by the Sourdough Party. Harry Karstens went on to become the first superintendent of Mount McKinley National Park in 1917.

Climbing Mount McKinley

Each year the mountain attracts hundreds of climbers. In 1995, 1,220 mountaineers registered to climb Mount McKinley - this is the second highest number ever to attempt the climb. The mountain is challenging because of unpredictable, extreme weather conditions, high altitude, and avalanche conditions. A total of 523 climbers reached the summit in 1995, representing a 43 percent success rate. The 1995 season concluded with a total of six fatalities and involved 12 separate major mountaineering rescues in the Alaska Range.

The National Park Service implemented a program designed to both enhance the educational outreach for Denali mountaineers and to defray the costs associated with managing mountaineering activities on Mount McKinley and Mount Foraker. This program includes a 60-day preregistration requirement and a Mountaineering Special Use Fee. Climbers are charged $150 per person to climb Mount McKinley or Mount Foraker. For an updated mountaineering summary from the National Park Service or additional information to prepare for a climb, contact the NPS Ranger Station at Talkeetna, P.O. Box 588, Talkeetna, Alaska 99676 907-733-2231 or fax 907-733-1465.

The Mountain's Name

Mount McKinley is within the mountain chain known as the Alaska Range. Denali was renamed Mount McKinley for William McKinley, a nominee for president, by the Princeton graduate and gold prospector, William Dickey. Dickey was one of the hundreds of prospectors seeking gold in the 1896 Cook Inlet stampede.

In 1914, following his historic first ascent of the mountain in 1913, Hudson Stuck wrote in the preface of his book, The Ascent of Denali: "Forefront in this book, because forefront in the author's heart and desire, must stand a plea for the restoration to the greatest mountain in North America of its immemorial native name."

In 1980, the name Mount McKinley National Park was officially changed to Denali National Park and Preserve. The State of Alaska Board of Geographic Names has also officially changed the mountain's name back to Denali. Negotiations continue today to officially return the original native name to this magnificent mountain. This guide uses the names Mt. McKinley and Denali interchangeably throughout.

Many generations of native Athabascans wandered over this region before Caucasians began to discover and explore it. Nomadic bands hunted lowland hills of Denali's northern reaches spring through fall for caribou, sheep, and moose. They preserved berries for winter, netted fish, and gathered edible plants. As snows began to fall, they migrated to lower elevations, closer to the river valleys' better protection from winter's severe weather. Much of the Alaska Range formed a mighty barrier between interior Athabascans and Cook Inlet Athabascans to the south.

The park was originally established to protect its large mammals, not because of majestic Mount McKinley. Naturalist, hunter, and conservationist Charles Sheldon conceived the plan to conserve the region as a national park. Sheldon first traveled here in 1906 and again in 1907 with a packer and guide named Harry Karstens. Karstens later made the first ascent of Mount McKinley's south peak and would serve as the park's first superintendent. Sheldon devoted much of his 1907 travels to studying boundaries for the proposed national park that would include territories suitable for a game refuge. When Sheldon returned to the east in 1908, the Game Committee of the Boone and Crockett Club, of which he was chairman, launched the campaign to establish a national park. Largely due to these efforts, Mount McKinley National Park was established in 1917. Its populations of Dall sheep and other wildlife were now legislatively protected. However, Mount McKinley itself was not wholly included within the boundaries.

Sheldon wanted to call the park Denali, but his suggestion would not be followed until 1980. That year the boundary was expanded to include both the Denali caribou herd's wintering and calving grounds, and the entire Mount McKinley massif. More than tripled in size, the park became Denali National Park and Preserve. It was also designated an International Biosphere Reserve significant for its potential for subarctic ecosystems research. Denali National Park and Preserve remains a subarctic wilderness of wildlife and glaciated mountains.

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Reservation Information

Shuttle Bus Reservations

Reservations for the shuttle bus system or campground sites are strongly recommended prior to your visit. However, approximately 50 percent of the seats on the transportation system into the park are available two days before the travel date and can be reserved in person at the park visitor center, or by phone and fax. Please don't hesitate to come to Denali National Park if you do not have your bus tickets reserved.

Mountaineering Permits

Mountaineering permit registration packets must be submitted at least 60 days in advance and a $150 fee is charged. Backcountry camping permits are free and can be obtained only at the Visitor Center, no more than one day in advance. A camper bus pass ($15) must be purchased in order to reach most backcountry camping units. Professional photographer permits are available to qualified applicants. Contact the chief ranger at 1-907-683-2294.

Additional Information

Destinations in Travel
P.O. Box 76, Milepost 238.8 Parks Highway
Denali National Park, Alaska 99755
907-683-1422 FAX: 907-683-2877 / 800-354-6020

This is your reservation hotline for lodging, activities, tours and custom itineraries in Denali, Kenai Fjords, Glacier Bay and throughout Alaska. Operates year-round.

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