11 Best Things to Do in Denali National Park (Free & Paid)

Planning a trip to Denali National Park and wondering what’s actually worth doing? You’re in luck! After visiting Denali ourselves and spending over five days exploring this gorgeous Alaskan National Park, we’ve narrowed it down to the 11 best things to do in Denali.

This list pulls together Denali’s most iconic must-dos along with a few lesser-known experiences. We’ve also included a mix of free and paid things to do in Denali to help you make the most of both your time and budget. Let’s dive in!

1. Hike Denali’s First 15 Miles (Free)

Some of Denali’s best hiking is completely free and located within the park’s first 15 miles, where private vehicles and free shuttles are allowed. Past Mile 15, there are no marked trails, so any hiking you do will be completely self-guided. We were a bit hesitant to do so, which motivated us to book a Discovery Hike (more on that in this section).

Our top three favorite trails we hiked are the following:

1. Savage Alpine Trail: A higher-level 4.2-mile (6.9-km) trail with a huge payoff—epic head-on views of Denali.
2. Horseshoe Lake Trail: Moderate 2.2-mile (3.5-km) loop trail known for wildlife activity close to the park entrance.
3. Savage River Loop Trail: Easy 2.2-mile (3.5-km) loop trail at Mile 15 of Park Road that follows the Savage River, also known for wildlife activity.

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2. Go on a Narrated Bus Tour (Paid)

If you want to explore Denali’s backcountry (past Mile 15) without worrying about logistics, a narrated bus tour is one of the easiest ways to do it. These half-day tours are narrated by knowledgeable on-bus guides and cost roughly $115 to $145 per adult.

These are the two tours currently offered:

• Tundra Wilderness Tour: 5 to 5.5-hour tour that focuses on maximizing scenic views and wildlife spotting, taking you as far as Park Road allows. This tour costs $144.75 per adult and $65 per child under 16. You can book your ticket online here or call 1-800-622-7275.

• Denali Natural History Tour: 4.5 to 5-hour tour of Denali that focuses on the natural and cultural history of the park, taking you as far as Primrose Ridge (Mile 17). This tour costs $116.75 per adult and $51 per child under 16. You can book your ticket online here or call 1-800-622-7275.

If you’re more interested in history or visiting with kids, the Natural History Tour is a great experience. If you want to maximize your chances of spotting wildlife and to travel as far as possible into the backcountry, the Tundra Wilderness Tour is the clear winner.

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3. Hop on a Transit Bus (Paid)

If you’re looking to explore Denali’s backcountry more independently, or are trying to budget, do what we did and get the cheaper $33.50 transit bus ticket. These green buses operate on a hop-on, hop-off system, letting you get off for hikes, photography, or wildlife viewing and flag down another bus when you’re ready to continue.

While the ride isn’t fully narrated like the tour buses, we found that many drivers will still point out wildlife and major viewpoints along the way. This option is perfect if you value flexibility, want to move at your own pace, and don’t mind trading a guided experience for freedom and a lower price tag.

4. Sign up for a Discovery Hike (Free + Bus Ticket)

The Denali Discovery Hike was one of our favorite experiences in the park. Unlike most national parks, Denali’s backcountry has no established trails, and visitors are encouraged to explore off-trail. For those (like us) who aren’t 100% comfortable yet with navigating the wilderness alone, the park offers a daily ranger-led Discovery Hike on a backcountry route.

Expect this to be an all-day commitment, with several hours spent hiking, learning, and stopping for discussions and lunch. Even after we finished, we were pretty tired, so we spent most of the afternoon resting in our van.

Our hike with Ranger Ryan began around mile 28 of the Park Road. We spent roughly five hours off-trail, navigating brush, mossy tundra, kettle lakes, and a challenging hill summit before slogging through a final boggy section back to the road. Ranger Ryan guided us through Leave No Trace principles, taught us about plant identification, and even shared some poetry along the way.

And while the terrain was demanding and definitely not suitable for someone with mobility difficulties, the shared challenge quickly created a strong sense of camaraderie. Overall, this experience gave us a far deeper connection to Denali than any of the other trails we hiked by ourselves. If you want to truly understand what is so special about Denali’s backcountry, a Discovery Hike is hard to beat!

5. Visit Denali’s Sled Dog Kennels (Free)

Denali’s sled dog kennels are a must-see and completely free experience! Ranger-led demos run three times daily (10 AM, 2 PM, 4 PM), although you can visit the area at any time of day. These tours show how the dogs pull wheeled carts like they would sleds in winter.

Parking is limited to roughly 10 spots, so we recommend taking the free Sled Dog Tour shuttle from the Visitor Center or walking/biking there via the Roadside Hiking Trail.

We learned that these dogs aren’t like the Iditarod racing dogs; they’re freight dogs, bred for strength and endurance to move supplies and support research in Denali’s wilderness. These dogs have been crucial to Denali’s maintenance and, in many ways, are more adaptable to Denali’s winter conditions than snowmobiles!

Rangers explain how they’re raised, trained, and cared for, and it’s clear they receive plenty of attention and love from staff. You can get a chance to pet the dogs if they approach the rope, and in summer, there’s often a new litter of puppies you can meet. We recommend leaving about 20 minutes to explore the Information Center at the kennels as well.

6. Go to a Visitor Center (Free)

Denali National Park has 4 main visitor and learning centers (2 currently closed), each offering unique insights into the park’s history, wildlife, and culture. These centers are free to enter and are a great way to learn more before or after exploring the park.

• Denali Visitor Center: The main hub at the park entrance with exhibits on wildlife, geology, and park history. This is where you can watch the official park film, pay the entrance fee, and chat with rangers. Open in summer only.
  
• Murie Science and Learning Center: This center is located at Mile 1.3 of Denali Park Road and acts as the Winter Visitor Center when the Denali Visitor Center is closed for the season. During the summer, it holds registration-based educational programs like the Alaska Geographic Talk about Dall Sheep we went on.
  
• (CLOSED) Toklat River Contact Station: Located at Mile 53 of Park Road, this station is also closed due to the landslide.
  
• (CLOSED) Eielson Visitor Center: Located at Mile 66 of Park Road, this center is currently closed due to the Pretty Rocks landslide.

There is technically a fifth center, the Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station. Open year-round, this ranger station is located in Talkeetna, a small town roughly 100 miles south of the main Denali entrance. As it mainly serves as a point of contact for mountaineers looking to climb peaks like Mount McKinley, it’s not visited by the average Denali visitor.

7. Go Rafting in the Nenana River (Paid)

Rafting the Nenana River is a fantastic way to escape the crowds along Denali’s main road. You can opt for a calm float, taking in the scenery at a relaxed pace, or choose an adrenaline-filled adventure through sections of whitewater rapids.

We found this 3.5-hour rafting trip by New Wave Adventures that seems to land somewhere in the middle. With a mix of easy river floating and occasional rapids, this rafting adventure leads you down 11 miles of Denali’s glacially-carved river valley. Tickets start at $147 per person and include all gear and transportation.

8. Spot the Big 5 Animals (Free)

Denali National Park is a great place to see wildlife, but patience is key. Animals roam freely across the park’s massive landscape, so sightings aren’t as guaranteed as in other parks, but are still common. That being said, your best chances are near riverbeds, open tundra, and deeper into the backcountry via hiking or park buses.

Denali’s famous Big 5 includes:

• Moose: Moose are the most common of the big 5, visible even in the first 15 miles of Park Road.
• Caribou: Spotted most often in the backcountry from the transit bus or while backcountry hiking.
• Dall Sheep: Common on rocky slopes and ridgelines in the backcountry.
• Grizzly Bears: Present but less commonly seen.
• Wolves: Rare and extremely elusive.

Out of the Big 5, we saw Moose, Caribou, and Dall Sheep over the course of 5 days. We also spotted Ptarmigans and Arctic Ground Squirrels, which were some of our favorite wildlife encounters in the park.

9. Get Sworn in as a Junior Ranger (Free)

Denali’s Junior Ranger program is a fun, hands-on way for kids and adults alike to learn about the park. Pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Book at the Denali Visitor Center, complete the activities, and then return it to a ranger. They’ll review your work, lead you through the official Denali Junior Ranger Pledge (Jen always tears up at this part), and present you with a commemorative badge to take home!

We always make it a point to complete the Junior Ranger booklet at every park we visit, collecting the badges along the way. It’s one of the best ways to actually absorb what you’re learning, since you’re actively engaging with the park’s history, wildlife, and landscapes instead of just reading signs in passing. Ollie was even able to join in on the fun this time by becoming a B.A.R.K. Ranger!

10. Book a Flightseeing Tour (Paid)

Booking a flightseeing tour is one of the most unique ways to experience Denali National Park, offering a bird’s-eye view of this mountainous Alaskan landscape. We found small plane and helicopter flights departing from both the town of Talkeetna and near the main park entrance.

Along with the chance to soar over remote, roadless areas of the park, many tours also offer the option to land on a glacier. Prices range anywhere from $300 to $600 per person for a 1 to 2-hour experience.

11. Go Camping in Denali (Paid)

Camping in Denali is an incredible way to experience the park, but it does take some planning. Below, we’ve listed the 6 NPS-run campgrounds within the park. Their prices typically range from $25–$50 per night (Riley Creek is free outside of the summer!), and campgrounds are located both within the first 15 miles of Park Road, as well as further into the wilderness.

Keep in mind that these campgrounds become quite competitive during summer—our friends booked their spot at ReserveDenali.com six months in advance! That being said, tent campers often have more flexibility and may snag a last-minute site. The Denali Bus Depot has a live availability board if you’re searching for a spot day-of.

🗻 More Things to Do in Denali National Park

We didn’t have time to do everything Denali has to offer, but we don’t want you to miss out. Below are a few season-specific experiences and nearby stops worth adding to your itinerary, especially if you have extra time before or after your visit.

• Pick Berries: Starting in August and September, berry season is in full swing in Denali, and local varieties, like blueberries and lingonberries, can be picked for free. The one species of poisonous berries to look out for is the baneberry, which is red with a black spot.
  
• See the Northern Lights: If you’re visiting in the late fall, winter, or spring, you might get lucky enough to see them when they occur. More info on how to increase your chances of seeing the northern lights in Denali here.
  
• Visit Denali State Park: Located just an hour south of Denali National Park, Denali State Park offers views of Denali, easier roadside access, and quieter trails, making it a great add-on stop if you’re driving through the area.
  
• Book a Guided Experience: Beyond rafting, there are plenty of guided activities in and around the park, including guided hiking tours, ATV tours, and even zipline adventures!

ℹ️ About Denali National Park

Denali National Park and Preserve is located in central Alaska and spans over six million acres, making it the third-largest national park in the United States (after Gates of the Arctic and Wrangell-St. Elias). The park is best known for Denali (also known as Mount McKinley), the tallest peak in North America, as well as its vast tundra landscapes and iconic Alaskan wildlife like grizzly bears, caribou, and moose.

Denali is solely traversed by Park Road, a 92-mile (148-km) road that extends deep into the Alaskan wilderness. Private vehicles are cut off at Mile 15, so many visitors explore the rest of the park using park-run buses.

These buses currently provide access up to Mile 43 due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide and range from free shuttles to longer transit and narrated tour options. We break down all these options in further detail in our Denali bus guide.

🎫 Consider investing in the America the Beautiful pass for $80 like we did if you’re planning on travelling to several parks within the year.

🗺️ Map of Denali Park Road

How to use this map: We have saved the locations from this guide on this map. You can save this map to your Google Maps by pressing the star icon. In your Google Maps, click the menu icon and then Saved Maps, where this map will appear.

🌤️ When to Visit Denali National Park

Denali National Park is most popular during the summer months, when the park road is open, and bus services are running. Your experience can vary a lot depending on the season, from long daylight hours and wildlife sightings to quieter, more limited access.

• Summer (June to August): Peak season with the best weather, full bus service, abundant wildlife, and extremely long daylight hours.
• Late Spring (May to early June): Fewer crowds and lingering snow, with bus services starting to run mid-May.
• Fall (September): Cooler temperatures, fall colors, fewer bugs, and lighter crowds. Buses tend to stop running in the second half of the month.
• Winter (October to April): Very limited access, no park road buses, and extreme cold, best for experienced winter travelers. During this time, only the first 3 miles of the road are open for personal vehicles.

“Summer is an illusion. Winter is the reality.” -Denali National Park Ranger

🚗 How to Get to Denali National Park

Located in interior Alaska, Denali National Park is one of the most accessible national parks in the state, with easy access from Anchorage and Fairbanks. Most visitors arrive by car, public transportation, or small regional flights.

• Car: Drive via Parks Highway (AK-3)—about 4.5 hours from Anchorage or 2 hours from Fairbanks. The road is fully paved and well-maintained, and is how we came in. If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can always rent a car.
• Public Transportation: The Alaska Railroad offers summer routes between Anchorage and Fairbanks, with stops near the park.
• Plane: You can find small regional flights operating from Anchorage or Fairbanks to nearby airstrips in Healy and Denali, offering the fastest but priciest option.

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⛺ Where to Stay in Denali National Park

Denali National Park offers a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping under the Alaskan sky to cozying up in a small-town motel. Here’s a breakdown of where you can stay the night:

• Camping: Camp (tent and RV options) at any one of Denali National Park’s six in-park campgrounds for $25-$50 a night (make reservations online here) or look at campgrounds outside the park for more options.
• Hotels & Cabins: Denali Park Village, McKinley Creekside Cabins, and Carlo Creek Cabins are three popular stays all within a 20-minute drive from the main Denali Visitor Center.
• BLM Land: If you happen to be travelling in a van like us and are interested in where you can stay the night for free, we used iOverlander to check for BLM spots while on the road.

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⏰ How Many Days in Denali National Park?

We spent 5 days in Denali National Park and felt like it gave us the perfect balance of flexibility, wildlife viewing, and hiking without feeling rushed. Below, we’ve outlined what you can expect to accomplish with different trip lengths:

• 1 Day: Stick to exploring the park’s first 15 miles, hike a couple of classic trails, visit the sled dog kennels, and watch the park film in the Visitor Center.
• 2-3 Days: Add a transit bus or narrated tour to go into the backcountry, complete Denali’s Junior Ranger program, and maybe even snag a spot on a Discovery Hike.
• 5+ Days: Along with everything mentioned above, consider a flightseeing tour, guided experience, or even a backpacking trip in the backcountry.

Read Next:

Denali Buses: Everything You Need to Know

📰 Related Articles

• Denali National Park Buses: Everything You Need to Know
• Our 7 Favorite Hikes in Denali National Park, Alaska
• Denali Discovery Hike: What It Is, How to Book, & What to Expect
• What to Bring to Denali National Park: Ultimate Packing List
• How to See Denali in 1 to 3 Days: Itinerary & Ultimate Guide

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