Igloo Creek

• Reservations are recommended. Five sites can be reserved in advance and two sites can only be booked in person at the Riley Creek Mercantile or Denali Bus Depot. Group campsites are not available at Igloo; larger groups of 9–20 people should consider staying at Riley Creek or Savage River Campgrounds.

Riley Creek

• Summer reservations are strongly recommended. In winter (mid-September through early May each year), reservations are not necessary. The winter season starts roughly 2 weeks and a day after the Labor Day holiday. Group campsites: Independent visitors and non-profit organizations may use group campsites by simply making a reservation. For-profit businesses must apply for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) from the NPS to use a group campsite at Savage River Campground (note: only private parties and non-profit organizations may use the group site at Riley Creek Campground). For-profits may make a group site reservation while simultaneously acquiring a permit/CUA from the NPS. To make group campsite reservations, please call 800-622-7275. Please note, the only first-come/first-serve sites in this campground are for tent camping.

Sanctuary River

• Reservations are recommended. Five sites can be reserved in advance and two sites can only be booked in person at the Riley Creek Mercantile or Denali Bus Depot. Group campsites are not available at Sanctuary Campground; larger groups of 9–20 people should consider staying at Riley Creek or Savage River Campgrounds.

Savage River

• Reservations are strongly recommended. Group campsites: Independent visitors and non-profit groups may use group campsites by simply making a reservation. For-profit businesses must apply for a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) from the NPS to use a group campsite at Savage River (note: only private parties and non-profit organizations may use the group site at Riley Creek Campground). For-profits may make a group site reservation while simultaneously acquiring a permit/CUA from the NPS. For more information about group camping permits and CUAs, please call (907) 683-5752. To make group campsite reservations, please call 800-622-7275.

Teklanika River

• Reservations are strongly recommended. Group campsites are not available at Teklanika; larger groups of 9–20 people should consider staying at Riley Creek or Savage River Campgrounds.

Wonder Lake

• The National Park Service does not handle campground reservations in Denali. Please use our concessionaire, Doyon / ARAMARK Joint Venture.

"The Hole" of McKinley Station

Not far downstream from the confluence of Hines and Riley Creek is an area once known as "the hole." An area off limits to the station's children, the illicit traits of the "Roaring 20s"—bootlegging, alcohol manufacturing, gambling, violence, and prostitution—were centered here.

• A creek flows nearby, with the land rising sharply on either side. A steel railroad bridge spans the creek high overhead. The land surrounding the creek is thickly forested with spruce, birch and aspen trees, and no signs remain of old roadhouses or cabins.

Alaska Railroad Trestle Over Riley Creek

The Riley Creek Bridge, manufactured in Pennsylvania and shipped north on 24 rail cars loaded with 600 tons of steel via the Panama Canal, consisted of seven steel towers decked with 30-foot and 60-foot steel plate girders. When finished, the creek crossing would measure 900 feet in length.

Alaska Railroad's Denali Depot

• A largely open-air depot surrounded by spruce trees. A single railroad track runs from right to left as you approach the railroad depot from the parking lot. Ramps and stairs lead down to open-sided shelters. one roofed building exists with a sign indicating that ticketing is done there. Benches are scattered throughout the area for passengers to sit while waiting on a train.

Confluence of Riley & Hines Creeks

• two shallow creeks flow together amid forested hills. a black iron railroad trestle spans the creek, over 100 feet above the water.

Denali Park Road, Mile 11 Pullout

At Mile 11 is a pullout with a great view of Denali. This stretch of the Denali Park Road is the first area where visitors can drive to where they can see North America's highest peak. 

Denali Park Store & Morino Grill

Generally open in summer (mid-May to mid-September), the Denali Visitor Center campus is more than just the park's primary visitor center. The Morino Grill and Alaska Geographic Park Store are nearby, as is the Alaska Railroad Depot, which is where passengers can embark on / disembark from the train on its route between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

• The visitor center campus is a paved area between three large buildings, all surrounded by skinny spruce trees. The largest building is the Denali Visitor Center, spanning two stories. About fifty yards away is a similarly designed building featuring a gift shop and restaurant. In the distance, mountains are visible.

Denali's Historic Headquarters

Between 1926 and 1941, the expansion of the Headquarters District occurred with the development of master plans designed by Thomas Vint (chief landscape architect of the NPS Western Office of Planning and Design). The area covers a little under 12 acres, and includes fourteen historical buildings, as well as the sled dog kennels. From 1942 through the 1990s, the Headquarters District evolved with the addition of some new buildings as well as landscape modifications.

• Among bushes and a few small trees, a roughly ovoid, 4-foot diameter rock sits next to a flag pole painted white. A large wooden sign reads Denali Headquarters, Mile 3.1, Elevation 2,100 feet. Next to this is a parking lot which stretches downhill and away from the flag pole, with spots marked for visitor parking. Just below the parking lot, accessible via steps and a foot path, are numerous brown-painted buildings. Each building has a hand-routered sign over the door, providing it a (sometimes whimsical) name. Most are one-story, although one, signed as the Denali Headquarters office, is two-story. A small amount of employee parking can be found amid the buildings. To the north, a thick forest covers the lower reaches of a large mountain. The mountain itself can be seen stretching for miles to the east and west, forming a large ridgeline. To the south, beyond the buildings, the land is also forested, and drops away into a creek drainage, though the creek itself is too far downhill to be seen. On the far side of the drainage, the land rises again steeply to a forested hill that also stretches east to west for several miles.

Denali's Mountain Vista

13 miles inside Denali National Park, along the park's sole road, is Mountain Vista. It is accessible from late winter through fall for private vehicles, and by a free bus from the visitor center in summer. The area offers picnic tables, trail access, and—when skies are clear—a great view of Denali, even though the mountain is over 80 miles away. In summer, it's often far less crowded than nearby Savage River (Mile 15).

• A paved parking area sits in a sparse spruce forest. Nearby are several timber-framed structures—a covered picnic shelter, and several restrooms. To the north, a line of mountains called the Outer Range run from east to west. To the south, the forest thickens, and the land slopes gently downward for several miles. Far to the south, the sharp peaks of the Alaska Range can be seen, including Denali—a massive snow-white mountain that stands out above all others. A trail leads from the parking area in two directions; south, to a loop trail through the spruce forest, and north, across the Denali Park Road, and up-hill toward the Outer Range. A bulletin board stands between the picnic area and the restrooms, with informational panels that are swapped out seasonally. The panels all say "Welcome to Mountain Vista," and provide a map of trails in the area, as well as a few regulations such as the fact that drones are prohibited; pets must be leashed at all times, and cannot walk on trails (only the park road or in the parking lot); and that, when encountering wildlife, visitors must know how to behave. Around moose, visitors should stay at least 25 yards away and be prepared to run if the moose charges. Around wolves, visitors should stay at least 25 yards away, and be prepared to scare away a wolf that approaches too closely, by shouting or throwing (non-food) objects at it. Around bears, visitors should stay at least 300 yards away, and be prepared to assess its behavior to know how to react. If the bear appears agitated or angry, visitors should cautiously back away while calmly speaking at the bear and avoiding eye contact. Around a bear that is paying no attention to humans, visitors should slowly and quietly back away. At no time should visitors run away from a bear, which is far faster than a person. If a bear contacts a person, the person should curl into a ball, protecting their neck and head with their arms, and play dead; most bear attacks are defensive, and the bear simply wants to ensure you're not a threat to it. Though it is very rare, if the bear had stalked the visitor, or if the bear attack lasts more than a few moments, the visitor must fight back, as the bear may be predatory.

Early Entrance to Denali National Park

There is only one road in Denali, now stretching about 92 miles from the entrance (it's eastern end) to Kantishna (its western end). Construction began on the road in the 1920s, finishing by the late 1930s. Upon its initial completion, the entrance to the park stood near the Alaska Railroad Depot, which was the only real way for visitors to reach the park, short of a long overland or river journey by horse, foot, or boat.

• A small clearing within a spruce forest.

East Fork River

Highway Pass

Highway Pass is the highest point along the Denali Park Road. This area of alpine tundra offers open views and frequent wildlife sightings.

Kantishna

A few miles beyond the iconic Wonder Lake, the Kantishna area was once outside the boundaries of the park. In 1980, the boundaries of Denali expanded dramatically, and encompassed privately-owned lands in the area. Some private lands have been purchased over time by the federal government, while other inholdings remain. A few of the inholders now run wilderness lodges or other accommodations for travelers.

McKinley Station

McKinley Station was typical of Alaska towns of the gold-rush era, booming overnight before fading into obscurity. The community lasted close to 20 years, boosted by the railroad and the creation of Mount McKinley National Park, but was eventually absorbed by a small expansion to the park in 1932.

• A hillside, overlooking the confluence of two small creeks, thickly covered in spruce, birch, and aspen trees. A large railroad trestle spans the creeks just downstream from their confluence, connecting two benches of land that sit about 100 feet above the creeks. A well-maintained walking trail leads down hill toward the creeks, or off into the forest toward the visitor center.

Mount Healy

The park entrance area is dominated by Mount Healy, which looms just north of the park road. The ridgeline extends for 15 miles (24 km) from the George Parks Highway to the Savage River.

Original McKinley Park Headquarters

The park’s first ranger, Harry Karstens, arrived in 1921. After a summer of meeting people, and a long patrol through the park, Karstens began clearing land for his headquarters on the northwest bank of Riley Creek. The location offered an ideal place to monitor people using the trail leading west to the park, but proved to be incredibly cold in winter—which led to its move in 1925, to a hillside offering much milder winter temps!

• a small bluff overlooking two streams flowing from west to east, where they join near a railroad bridge that towers high overhead.

Pearson Cabin

The historic Pearson Cabin in Denali National Park and Preserve

Polychrome Overlook

Polychrome Overlook is a popular scenic view from the Denali Park Road. Far below the overlook is the Plains of Murie, which is crossed by numerous braided river channels and dotted with kettle ponds and glacial erratics. In the distance, the Polychrome Glaciers and numerous peaks of the Alaska Range add to the scenery.

Pretty Rocks Landslide

High on the side of Polychrome Mountain, the Denali Park Road passes through the Pretty Rocks Landslide at Mile 45.5.

Primrose Pass

Primrose Pass is a relatively accessible area of brushy tundra, with expansive views of the Alaska Range and, in the fall, brilliant yellow, red and orange foliage.

Resting Grizzly

The life-size bear sculpture outside the entrance to the Denali Visitor Center is an enlargement of an original eight-inch bronze entitled “Resting Grizzly” (1974) by William D. “Bill” Berry (1926-1979), an Alaskan wildlife artist who worked extensively in Denali from 1954 to 1979.

• A gently-inclining, paved path leads up from the parking area nearby to a life-sized sculpture of a grizzly bear lying on the ground. The sculpture is large enough for at least two adults to sit next to each other on its back. The sculpture is situated on a paved patio area outside of a large visitor center. Doors into the visitor center are off to one side, and a railing extends around the other side of the area in which the bear is situated. Thick spruce trees surround most of the facility.

Riley Creek Picnic Area

Sitting near the entrance to Denali, this is one of the only picnic areas in the park. It rests amid a spruce forest, and features several covered tables, as well as restrooms. Accessible year-round, two trails lead away from the picnic area; one cuts through the forest to the nearby park entrance sign. The other leads upstream along Riley Creek, eventually connecting hikers either to the Triple Lakes Trail or to trails that lead to the Denali Visitor Center.

• a large gravel parking lot slopes gently downhill toward restrooms and two covered picnic shelters. Farther downhill, a shallow, rapid creek flows from south to north. All around the area is a thick spruce forest. A trail leads upriver along the creek in one direction, while another trail cuts into the forest on the opposite side of the area. A bulletin board stands between the picnic area and the restrooms, with informational panels that are swapped out seasonally. The panels all say "Welcome to Riley Creek," and provide a map of trails in the area, as well as a few regulations such as the fact that drones are prohibited; pets must be leashed at all times, and cannot walk on trails (only the park road or in the parking lot); and that, when encountering wildlife, visitors must know how to behave. Around moose, visitors should stay at least 25 yards away and be prepared to run if the moose charges. Around wolves, visitors should stay at least 25 yards away, and be prepared to scare away a wolf that approaches too closely, by shouting or throwing (non-food) objects at it. Around bears, visitors should stay at least 300 yards away, and be prepared to assess its behavior to know how to react. If the bear appears agitated or angry, visitors should cautiously back away while calmly speaking at the bear and avoiding eye contact. Around a bear that is paying no attention to humans, visitors should slowly and quietly back away. At no time should visitors run away from a bear, which is far faster than a person. If a bear contacts a person, the person should curl into a ball, protecting their neck and head with their arms, and play dead; most bear attacks are defensive, and the bear simply wants to ensure you're not a threat to it. Though it is very rare, if the bear had stalked the visitor, or if the bear attack lasts more than a few moments, the visitor must fight back, as the bear may be predatory.

Sable Pass

The 5-mile-long Sable Pass closure, in effect continuously since 1956, provides a limited area along the park road where visitors have an opportunity to view wildlife undisturbed, in a natural setting.

Sanctuary River

The Denali Park Road crosses the Sanctuary River at Mile 22.8. This modest river cuts through the Outer Range as it flows north.

Savage River

Savage River is a beautiful spot along the Denali Park Road, and marks the farthest point into Denali that a visitor may drive their own vehicle in summer.

Site of the Mount McKinley Park Hotel

Built by an enterprising man named Maurice Morino in 1921, the Mount Mckinley Park Hotel was optimally situated near the Alaska Railroad Depot, and business boomed through the 1920s. When park boundaries came east and absorbed McKinley Station in 1932, Morino kept his homestead as a park in-holding. The title passed to the National Park Service in 1947. Three years later in 1950, the dilapidated remains of his hotel were destroyed in a fire started by a transient.

• Thick spruce and birch forest encompassing an area that once was clear-cut and featured numerous buildings.

Sled Dog Kennels

Explore the only working sled dog kennels in the National Park System.

• In the center is the historic kennels building. It is a brown, wooden, two story building. There are two entrances to the building on the front side. The door to the west has the words Sled Room above it. On the western side of the building is the dog yard where about 30 dogs live. A gravel path leads visitors through the yard. To the north side are two rows of dog houses made out of wood logs. Each dog is tethered to their housing area. On the south side of the dog yard is a row of pens made of wire fencing. There is one dog in each pen and they also each have a log dog house. The dogs can be on their log house, in it, or next to it. The dogs are all different colors, mixes of brown, white, black, and gray. On the eastern side of the kennels building are the stands for the sled dog demonstration. Steps lead up to different rows where people can stand and watch the presentation. In the first row of most of the sections there is bench seating. In the demonstration area, there is a rectangular gravel pit with a pair of antlers, pile of wood, and sound equipment to be used as props in the demonstration.

Stony Hill Overlook

Stony is a scenic stop on most Denali transit buses (except for Toklat-bound buses, which turn around before Stony) and on some Denali tour buses. It is the first base-to-summit view of North America's tallest peak, and is an iconic view for visitors to Denali. 

Teklanika Dikes

Teklanika River Rest Area

Teklanika is the first significant glacially-fed river visitors encounter on a journey into Denali. The river is cloudy and gray, and is filled with pulverized rock—a product of the glacier feeding it from the nearby Alaska Range. At Mile 30 of the Denali Park Road is the Teklanika Rest Area, affording a great view of the river below.

Toklat River

The Toklat River flows out of the Alaska Range and under the Denali Park Road at Mile 53. A rest area for bus passengers makes this a great place from which to explore the largest braided river that is crossed by the Park Road.

View of the Muldrow Glacier

Look south of the Denali Park Road at Mile 69 for a view of the Muldrow Glacier, the longest glacier on the north side of the Alaska Range. Don’t look for shiny blue glacial ice, though, because here at the terminus of the glacier the ice is stagnant—unmoving—and covered in tundra. Yes, believe it or not that lumpy, hummocky, shrubby tundra less than a mile away to the south is underlain by ice!

Wonder Lake "Y"

The Wonder Lake "Y" is a fork in the road where travelers can choose to turn towards the Wonder Lake Campground or continue on to the end of the Denali Park Road.

Denali Bus Depot

• Denali Bus Depot
• This summer facility is operated by our concessionaire rather than by the National Park Service. It is the primary place to buy bus tickets, arrange for stays in park campgrounds, or to check in for an existing reservation. Coffee and grab-and-go food is also available for purchase. Only credit cards are accepted here.

Denali Visitor Center

• Denali Visitor Center
• Open in summer only, this is the main visitor center near the park entrance. During the summer, you can explore exhibits, watch the park film, pay the park entrance fee, and talk with a ranger. In fall, winter, and spring, the Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) acts as the park's Winter Visitor Center.

Eielson Visitor Center

• Eielson Visitor Center
• The Eielson Visitor Center is located at Mile 66 of the Denali Park Road. Due to the ongoing Pretty Rocks landslide and the closure of the park road at Mile 42, Eielson is currently closed.

Indoor Picnic Area

• Indoor Picnic Area
• A heated building, called the Indoor Picnic Area, is located next door to the Murie Science and Learning Center. Open in winter only, mid-October to mid-April. Restrooms and a water bottle filling station are available. Food service is not provided, so bring your own food to eat.

Murie Science and Learning Center

• Murie Science and Learning Center
• The Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) is located at Mile 1.3 of the Denali Park Road at the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve. In winter, the MSLC is Denali’s Winter Visitor Center. The MSLC is closed to the public in summer, when it serves as an operations base for registration-based educational programs. A 24-hour Automated Fee Machine is located outside the building. You can purchase the park entrance fee and Denali Annual Pass here by credit card only.

Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station

• Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
• Located in the town of Talkeetna, about 100 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, this ranger station serves as the center of mountaineering operations. Climbers wishing to attempt Mount McKinley or other peaks in the Alaska Range stop here first, for an orientation to the mountain and to acquire their climbing permit. This ranger station also offers some visitor services, particularly in summer. It is open year-round.

• Sightsee on a Denali Tour Bus
• Summer sight-seeing in Denali is mainly done by bus, and there are several trips to choose from. Narrated tour bus trips are more expensive than non-narrated transit buses. From high up in a bus, it becomes possible to look over roadside brush, allowing you to enjoy the incredible scenery (and wildlife sightings, too!).

• Explore Mountain Vista & Savage River
• While most of Denali’s sole road is restricted just to bus traffic, anybody can drive out to Mountain Vista and Savage River. Located about 15 miles inside the park, the area is scenic, featuring several trails (some short, one long) and a picnic area.

• Hike a Short Trail From the Denali Visitor Center
• At 6 million acres in size, Denali is incredibly vast, and hiking is possible almost anywhere in the park. However, there are only a handful of established trails in the park, and here you'll find a few suggestions for one or more short hikes from the Denali Visitor Center.

• Explore Denali's Winter Trails
• Whether on foot, skis or snowshoes, winter is a great time for you to explore Denali! Snow starts falling as early as September, although in some years the conditions aren't good for skiing until December, and it sticks around until April or May.

• Bike the Denali Park Road
• Biking the Denali Park Road is a rewarding way to explore the park at a slower speed than vehicles allow. Experience a variety of terrain over the course of just a few hours as you pedal from forested areas up to expansive views of the tundra, then coast back downhill towards a river.

• Discover the Boreal Forest: Identify Plants While Hiking in Denali
• Denali is home to a beautiful variety of plant species, from tall Aspen trees to short Moss campion. With a diversity of habitat types that support water-loving to drought-tolerant plants, Denali is an excellent place to immerse yourself in the subarctic flora. The DenaliFlora App is the perfect companion for your botanical explorations.

• Berry Picking in Denali
• Alaska is well known for it’s amazing and abundant berries in August and September—just ask any of the grizzly bears in Denali! A family friendly activity would be to strike off into the tundra and search for berries. Bring your bucket (or empty water bottle) to fill, or simply snack on the go.

• Sightsee on a Denali Transit Bus
• Summer sight-seeing in Denali is mainly done by bus, and there are several trips to choose from. Transit bus trips are the cheapest and most flexible option, although they aren't narrated. From high up in a bus, it becomes possible to look over roadside brush, allowing you to enjoy the incredible scenery (and wildlife sightings, too!).

• Viewing Wildlife in Denali
• Denali provides habitat for 39 species of mammals, 169 species of birds, 14 species of fish, and one species of amphibian The large animals that are often the most sought after can be surprisingly elusive. The so called “Big Five”—moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, and wolves, receive the most attention, but the is a great place to see a wide variety of wildlife. The longer you spend in the area, the better your chances to see wild animals!

• Hiking Off Trail in Denali
• Denali National Park and Preserve has very few formal trails for a park of its size, but hiking off trail offers limitless opportunities for recreation and exploration. The terrain and bus system in Denali make hiking off trail less intimidating and more approachable than it may seem at first.

• Backpacking in Denali
• A backpacking trip in Denali is unlike backpacking in most other national parks. Denali is about the size of Vermont, with only a handful of trails—most of which are near the entrance of the park for day-hiking, rather than overnight backpacking. This opportunity to set your own route and hike through a trail-less landscape amid wild animals and wilderness is rare in the 21st century.

• Early Morning Hike to Horseshoe Lake
• Horseshoe Lake is a lovely destination about 2 miles from the Denali Visitor Center. A trail loops around the entire lake, which is occasionally home to moose, beavers and a variety of bird-life. An early-morning visit to the lake is particularly pleasant, though any time of day is great to hike to the lake.

• Look for the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
• Aurora is like any weather phenomenon, where a forecast is issued each day. Unlike rain, though, aurora viewing can only occur when the far north is dark enough; and forecasts aren't nearly as precise as weather forecasts. Despite these challenges, any dark night in Alaska is a great time to look outside and hope for some signs of the Northern Lights!

• Walk on a Glacier in the Alaska Range
• The rugged Alaska Range is home to Denali, the highest point in North America. For some visitors, a flight-seeing trip over or around "the Mountain" can be one of the most memorable parts of a visit to Alaska. Some companies are also authorized to land on a glacier in the park, letting passengers disembark for a short while.

• Dog Mushing in Denali
• Though Denali's dogs are not available for visitor sled rides, there are opportunities for visitors to arrange for day trips or multi-night trips through a privately owned sled dog kennel in the area.

Denali Highlights: From the Park Entrance to Savage River

This self-guided tour combines driving and walking, and calls out the main sights to see within the first 15 miles of the Denali Park Road. The best time of year to do this tour is summer (roughly May 20 to mid-September), although many of the sights are worthwhile before or after those dates. In winter, however, most of the park's sole road is closed, so the sled dog kennels are the farthest point you can easily reach.

Walk Through Time on the McKinley Station Trail

Take a hike and learn about the early pioneer history of the area. The McKinley Station Trail is 1.6 miles long. It descends from the visitor center to Hines Creek, then travels alongside Riley Creek, under the Alaska Railroad trestle, and meanders up and down small hills til it reaches Riley Creek Campground and picnic area. Much of the material presented here first appeared in the book "McKinley Station: People of the Pioneer Park," by Tom Walker.