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Activities

The park is an outdoor paradise, and offers activities for visitors of all ages and experience levels.
 • Bus tour. Since the park road is closed to private vehicle traffic, bus tours are the easiest way to see the park interior. Note that the park service and Denali Park Resorts both offer bus tours, but the Denali Park Resort tours are more expensive and do not allow passengers to disembark and walk around. See the Shuttle bus section for more information.
 • Hiking. There are a handful of trails within the park, but the majority of visitors will eventually find themselves picking out their own path. When hiking off trail it is best if groups spread out and avoid hiking single-file in order to minimize damage to the vegetation.
 • Backpacking. It is not only possible but likely that a backpacker can travel for days without seeing another human. Permits are required for all overnight stays and can be acquired at the visitor center. Strict limits are placed on how many people may camp in any park 'zone' at a given time, so permits for popular areas should be reserved in advance. See www.nps.gov/dena/home/visitorinfo/backcountry/map.htm for a description of all backcountry zones in the park.
 • Photography. Just about every famous nature photographer will at some point make a visit to Denali for its tremendous landscapes and abundance of wildlife.
 • Mountaineering. Denali (Mt. McKinley) is one of the most challenging climbs in the world, but climbers from all over are drawn to it, as well as to the other peaks of the Alaska Range. Climbers on Denali and Mt. Foraker must register with the park service and pay a $200 fee. Registration must be done at least sixty days prior to climbing. Contact the Talkeetna Ranger Station (Tel: 907-733-2231 for additional information.
 • Sled Dog Demonstrations. The park service keeps sled dogs for use in the winter, and during the summer offers daily demonstrations for visitors. Demonstrations are at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM and last for thirty minutes.
 • Whitewater rafting. Whitewater rafting is available on the freezing waters of the Nenana River, which parallels the Parks Highway. Two different two hour trips are available for $70 each, or they can be combined into a four hour trip for $95. Contact Denali Raft Adventures or the Denali Outdoor Center for information.