Denali, Alaska Information

Towering in the midst of Denali's 12,775 square miles is the highest point in North America - Mount McKinley at 20,320 feet. It's an Alaskan icon and can be seen as far away as Anchorage. It is the heart of the six million acre Denali National Park. Only about 2,000 people call the area home, but over 400,000 people visit the area every year. Denali is the great outdoors of Interior Alaska.

Denali National Park is larger than the entire state of Massachusetts. The Park is home to several ecosystems. Forests cover the lower elevations that slowly merge into tundra, and finally change into the snowcapped peaks and flowing glaciers of the Alaska Range. Just visiting the park is a once in a lifetime event. Seeing the majestic peaks and untouched wilderness is breathtaking. It's a place that can't even be compared to anywhere in the Lower 48.

Did You Know?
The word Denali means "Great One" in the Athabaskan language.
Denali is the native word for Mount McKinley.

When you visit Denali, you'll see wildlife like you never imagined. Caribou migrating across the tundra, black bears eating wild blueberries, moose hiding in willow trees, grizzly bears lumbering over downed logs, Dall sheep relaxing on rocky outcrops, mountain goats scampering off rock faces, wolves bolting across alpine meadows, bald eagles soaring against a snowcapped backdrop, wolverines climbing trees, marmots digging holes, or a fox returning to its den. There are over three dozen different species of mammals in the park and all of them are unique and a delight to see.

When you come to Denali you're entering Alaska's wild side. You'll want to be sure to enjoy all the outdoor activities that Denali offers. Some of the best ways to get out and explore are rafting the Nenana River, bushwhack your own trail across the tundra, pedal a mountain bike through the forests, photograph wildlife from a bus safari, summit the peaks of the Alaska Range, hunt for moose in the Denali National Preserve, fish for lake trout at one of many glacial lakes, or spend weeks on end spotting wildlife with a backpack on your shoulders.

Did You Know?
Summer is the best time to see wildlife because the roads are open.
In the winter the roads close and the park is patrolled by dog sled.

Area Information:

U.S. National Parks Service
PO Box 9, Denali Park 99755
(907) 683-2294
http://www.nps.gov/dena/

Annual Precipitation:14.98 in. rain / 83.0 in. snowfall
July Averages: Temperature 66 F high / 43 F low

Lodging:

Denali Bluffs Hotel
Mile 238.3 Parks Hwy. Denali Fairbanks 99707
(907) 683-7000
http://www.denalialaska.com/bluffs_index.html

Grande Denali Lodge (business office)
241 W Ship Creek Ave. Anchorage 99501
(907) 264-4600
http://www.denalialaska.com/

McKinley Village Lodge
Milepost 231, George Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
http://www.denaliparkresorts.com/lodging-food/mckinley-village-lodge.cfm

Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Mile 238.5 George Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
(907) 683-2282
http://www.princesslodges.com/denali_lodge.cfm

McKinley Creekside Cabins
Mile 224 George Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
(907) 683-2277
http://www.mckinleycabins.com/

Denali Park Hotel
Mile Post 1.5 Denali Park Rd. Denali 99755
(907) 683-1800
http://www.denaliparkhotel.com/

McKinley Chalet Resort
Mile Post 238 George Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
http://www.denaliparkresorts.com/lodging-food/mckinley-chalet-resort.cfm

Denali RV Park & Motel
Mile 245.1 George Parks Hwy. Denali 99743
(907) 683-1500
http://www.denalirvpark.com/

Denali Backcountry Lodge
1301 Parks Hwy. #5 Wasilla 99654
(907) 376-1992
http://www.denalilodge.com/

Denali Mountain Morning Hostel & Lodge
Mile 224.1 Parks Hwy Denali
(907) 683-7503
http://www.hostelalaska.com/

Did You Know?
Only one road goes through the park and it is closed to private vehicles, only tour buses and pre-approved vehicles can go.

Camping:

Riley Creek Campground (Mile 0.4 Denali Park Rd.)
http://reservedenali.com/campgrounds/index.cfm

Savage River Campground (Mile 13 Denali Park Rd.)
http://reservedenali.com/campgrounds/index.cfm

Teklanika Campground (Mile 29 Denali Park Rd.)
http://reservedenali.com/campgrounds/index.cfm

Sanctuary Campground (Mile 23 Denali Park Rd.)
http://reservedenali.com/campgrounds/index.cfm

Wonder Lake Campground (Mile 85 Denali Park Rd.)
http://reservedenali.com/campgrounds/index.cfm

Igloo Campground (Mile 35 Denali Park Rd.)
http://reservedenali.com/campgrounds/index.cfm

Denali Grizzly Bear Cabins & Campground
Mile 231.1 Parks Hwy. Denali 99712
(907) 683-2696 / (866) 583-2696
http://www.denaligrizzlybear.com/

McKinley RV & Campground
Mile 248.4 Parks Hwy. Denali
(907) 683-2379 / (800) 478-2562

Denali Riverside RV Park
Mile 240 Parks Hwy. Denali
(907) 388-1748 / (866) 583-2696

Denali Rainbow Village & RV Park
Mile 238.6 Parks Hwy. Denali
(907) 683-7777

What to See:

Denali Visitor Center
Mile 1.5 Park Rd. Denali 99755
(907) 683-9532
http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/denalivisitorcenter.htm
and
http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/-summer-dvc-page.htm

Eielson Visitor Center
Mile 66 Park Rd. Denali 99755
http://www.nps.gov/dena/parknews/eielson-visitor-center.htm

Wonder Lake
Mile 86 Park Rd. Denali 99755

Restaurants & Bars:

229 Parks Restaurant & Tavern
Mile 229.7 Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
(907) 683-2567
http://www.229parks.com/

McKinley Creekside Cafe
Mile 224 George Parks Hwy Denali 99755
(907) 683-2277
http://www.mckinleycabins.com/

The Perch Restaurant, Bar and Cabins
HC2 Box 1525 Denali 99743
(907) 683-2523
http://www.alaskaone.com/perchcabin/restaraunt.htm

Bubba’s Baja
Mile 238.6 Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
(907) 683-7827

Denali Park Salmon Bake Restaurant
Mile 238.5 Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
(907) 683-2733
http://www.denaliparksalmonbake.com/restaurant.html

The Summit Restaurant
(907) 683-2282

Panorama Pizza
Mile 224 Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
(907) 683-2523
http://www.denaliperchresort.com/index.html

Black Diamond Grill
Mile 247 George Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
(907) 683-4653
http://www.blackdiamondgolf.com/blackdiamondgrill.html

Lynx Creek Pub
Mile 238.6 Parks Hwy. Denali 99743
(907) 683-2547

Black Bear Coffee House
Mile 238.5 Parks Hwy. Denali 99755
(907) 683-1656

Denali Roadhouse Restaurant
Mile 231.1 Oarks Hwy. Denali
(800) 230-7275
http://www.denalirivercabins.com/

The Great Alaska Fish & Chip Company
Mile 238.9 Parks Hwy. Denali
(907) 683-3474

Overlook Bar & Grill
Crow’s Nest Rd. Denali
(907) 683-2641

Did You Know?
Over 150 different species of birds have been spotted in the park.

Transportation:

Denali Park Tours
Bus, Fixed Wing, Helicopter, Dog Sled, and Rafting
http://www.alaskatravel.com/denali-park/tours.html

Airport:

Closest airports are:
Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/anc/index.shtml

Fairbanks International Airport
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/faiiap/

Newspaper:

The Alpenglow
http://www.nps.gov/dena/parknews/newspaper.htm

Hospitals:

Canyon Health Clinic Urgent Care Center
At the Park Entrance (Seasonal facility)
(907) 683-4433

Community Interior Health Center
Tri-Valley Community Center
Usibelli Spur Rd. PO Box 246 Healy 99743
(907) 683-2211
http://www.myhealthclinic.org/

Fish & Game:

Alaska Dept of Fish & Game
1255 W 8th St. Juneau 99811
(907) 465-4100
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/

Forest Service:

U.S. Forest Service AK Region
PO Box 21628 Juneau 99802
(907) 586-8806
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/

 

Many people visit Alaska just to visit the Denali area. It is an area that is so immense that you could spend several lifetimes exploring it and still only see a fraction of what Denali has to offer. It's an area that you'll want to visit over and over again. It's magical.

Denali is a natural place of epic proportions. You'll love it. It's one of the last frontiers.