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National Park & Preserve

Denali National Park & Preserve

InformationMay 20, 2026

Denali Park Road Information

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a white colored sheep standing on a mountainside overlooking a green valley

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.

Activities

Arts and CultureAstronomyStargazingBikingCampingBackcountry CampingCar or Front Country CampingGroup CampingRV CampingClimbingMountain ClimbingDog SleddingFishing
Food
Flying
Guided Tours
Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
Hiking
Backcountry Hiking
Front-Country Hiking
Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
Hunting and Gathering
Gathering and Foraging
Hunting
Junior Ranger Program
Skiing
Cross-Country Skiing
Snow Play
Snowmobiling
Snowshoeing
Wildlife Watching
Park Film
Shopping
Bookstore and Park Store

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.

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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.

News

Jun 11, 2026

Four Deceased Climbers Recovered and Identified

Mountaineering rangers on Mt. McKinley recovered the bodies of four deceased climbers from two different incidents.

Jun 5, 2026

National Park Service Employee Dies During Mountaineering Patrol on Mount McKinley

A National Park Service employee on a climbing patrol died around 2 p.m. Thursday after falling into a crevasse near 14,000 Foot Camp on Mount McKinley.

May 31, 2026

Medical Event Near High Camp on Mt. McKinley   

A climber experienced a medical event during a decent from the summit of Mt. McKinley at 18,700-feet around midnight on Sunday. The climber’s mountain guides alerted the National Park Service of the incident, and it remains under investigation. Recovery efforts are ongoing

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Per Person$15.00