Life with ArielDenali National Park and Preserve, nestled in the heart of Alaska, is home to North America’s tallest peak, Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley) at over 20,000 feet. The park offers a unique blend of awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse wildlife, and adventure opportunities. It is also the first national park dedicated to protecting wildlife. There are five mammals that everyone wants to see in the park and are referred to as the “Big Five”, namely grizzly bears, Dall sheep, wolves, moose, and caribou. I was luck enough to see four of them.
Like other national parks, Denali doesn’t allow dogs almost everywhere. But I was able to walk Ariel on the only dog-friendly trail and around our campground. Also, I took only short hikes so that I didn’t have to leave Ariel in the RV for too long. Luckily, Alaska summer was cool enough that our RV was never too hot with windows open. We visited Denali National Park in 3 ways, each offering a unique perspective of this stunning park.
Driving around Denali
Road Condition
Denali Park Road, the only road cutting through the park, stretches 92 miles, meandering through valleys and mountainsides. For visitors, this road serves as the primary artery for exploration. Private vehicles can traverse the first 15 miles up to Savage River, after which the journey is carried on through park buses or pre-arranged tours. In winter, only the first 3 miles are open.
This restriction, although seemingly inconvenient, ensures reduced ecological impact, preserving the park’s delicate balance and allowing its inhabitants to thrive without constant human intrusion. It’s a great example of Alaskans’ dedication to protecting its unparalled nature. In addition, Denali Park Road past Mile 15 is unpaved dirt road, not easy for private vehicles to travel on. Lastly, since the summer of 2021, the road has been closed after about Mile 45 due to landslide. It’s unclear when it’s going to reopen again.
Best Stops on the First 15 Miles of Denali Park Road
Denali Visitor Center
Denali Visitor Center is the main visitor center of Denali National Park. This impressive facility serves as an informational hub, offering you an array of interpretive exhibits and videos about the park’s diverse ecosystems, history, and wildlife. It also has a bookstore where you can purchase a wide range of souvenirs and gifts.
Sled Dog Kennels
Denali’s Sled Dog Kennels is the only working sled dog kennels in any US National Park. These kennels play a vital role in the park’s winter operations. Established to aid rangers in patrolling the vast wilderness during snow-covered months, these hardworking Alaskan huskies help transport supplies, clear trails, and assist in wildlife research.
Visitors to the kennels can witness a slice of Alaskan tradition in its purest form. You are allowed to meet and greet the dogs, but you can’t bring your own pups on site for safety reasons. During summer months, the park also offers free demonstrations showcasing the prowess and importance of these magnificent animals. You can watch as rangers harness the dogs and demonstrate the team dynamics of a sled dog run. The dogs get super excited as they are getting ready to work. It’s not just an exhibition of skill but a testament to the bond between the dogs and their handlers.
Horseshoe Lake Trail
The Horseshoe Lake Trail is a 2-mile loop leading hikers to the trail’s namesake: the stunning Horseshoe Lake. Reflecting the sky and surrounding woodlands, the lake’s tranquil waters offer a picturesque setting perfect for relaxation and photography. Moreover, the trail provides a peaceful escape from the bustling park entrance, enveloped by a dense canopy of spruce and birch trees and complemented by the gentle hum of the lake’s waters. You may also spot wildlife such as moose, beavers, or bears.
Mountain Vista Trail
The gentle, 0.7-mile loop of Denali’s Mountain Vista Trail provides stunning panoramic views of the towering Alaska Range, including glimpses of the majestic Denali peak on clear days. You will be surrounded by wildflowers, alpine vegetation, and potential wildlife sightings. With its breathtaking vistas and manageable length, the trail is a perfect introduction to Denali’s immense beauty for visitors of all ages and hiking abilities.
Savage River Trail
The Savage River Trail in Denali National Park is a 2-mile loop tracing the meandering Savage River with only about 360ft elevation. It provides an intimate view of the river’s rushing waters, surrounded by vast valleys and the distant allure of Alaska Range. Pay attention to your surroundings when on the hike as you may encounter wildlife here: marmots sunning on rocks, Dall sheep navigating steep cliffs, or even the occasional grizzly bear foraging nearby. The trail, easily accessible and suitable for various fitness levels, is particularly favored during summer months when the valley is verdant and carpeted by wildflowers, adding a splash of color to the rugged scenery.
Roadside Trail
The Roadside Trail is the only trail in the park that’s dog friendly. It is right next to Denali Park Road and shared with bikers. Although it doesn’t provide much good views, it goes through lush spruce trees and conveniently connects the Riley Creek campground and Denali visitor center. Ariel enjoyed her daily walk on this trail during our visit. However, the actual length of this trail is only about half of what’s shown in the above link on AllTrail. So please follow the actual signage and don’t walk your dogs on the sections that don’t allow pets.
Tundra Wilderness Tour
If you want to delve deep into Denali’s wilderness after Mile 15 of Denali Park Road and without the strains of hiking, I highly recommend the Tundra Wilderness Tour. With a focus of bringing you up close to Denali’s wildlife, this tour ventures 40+ miles of wilderness along Denali Park Road to the furtherest point that a vehicle can reach in the park. On this 5-5.5 hours tour, you will be immersed in Denali’s pristine landscape, untouched wilderness, and breathtaking vistas of its vast tundra.
More importantly, you will get the opportunity to witness all types of Alaska’s majestic wildlife. All buses are equipped with superzoom cameras and TV screens to show you where the animals are. I saw bears, moose, caribous, ptarmigans, and Dall sheep on my tour. Make sure you bring binoculars to have a better view yourself.
In addition, the tours are guided by knowledgeable park-certified interpreters. The experience is as educational as it is scenic. Narratives delve into the park’s geology, history, and stories of the guide’s hiking and living experience in Alaska. I was really impressed by my guide’s knowledge and experience. He talked non-stop for 5 hours with lots of personal stories, making the tour even more memorable.
Flying to Denali
Even though named after Mount Denali, Denali National Park does not offer much opportunity for an average person to get close to the highest peak of North America without hardcore, extensive backpack trips. If you want to see Mount Denali within a few miles, I recommend a flightseeing tour. It not only provides unparalleled perspectives of Denali’s grandeur but also offers bird’s-eye views of numerous glacial peaks and vast valleys shaped by ancient glaciers.
Many tour companies operate flightseeing tours to Denali and Alaska Range. I chose the Grand Denali Tour with Glacier Landing operated by Talkeetna Air Taxi. The tour started from the picturesque town of Talkeetna and took about 2 hours end to end.
Talkeetna itself is worth a visit. Its cute downtown has many delicious and cute restaurants and gift shops. And the Talkeetna Riverfront Park provides unobstructed views of Alaska Range and plenty of fishing opportunities. Moreover, Talkeetna Lakes are tranquil and peaceful, a great spot for summer water activities. Ariel and I had our first and fun SUP experience there.
Grand Denali Tour with Glacier Landing
The flightseeing tour was even more memorable. Each plane is a small jet that seats only 9 passengers so that everyone has a window seat. At the check-in, the staff weighed each of us including our backpacks and provided a pair of rubber shoe sleeves for glacier landing. After that, the captain quickly brought us up to the sky. We soared over dense forests, snaking rivers, and rugged tundras. The highlight, undoubtedly, was the awe-inspiring view of Denali. With its snow-capped summit and sprawling glaciers, the mountain’s magnificence is accentuated from the air.
But the tour didn’t stop at just marveling from above. After an hour, the aircraft gracefully touched down on the vast Ruth Glacier that goes up to 4,000 feet deep, allowing us to step out onto an icy wonderland for about 15 minutes. Although we were asked to only stay nearby the plane for safety reasons, the experience of walking on the ancient glacier surrounded by towering snow peaks was surreal. The crunch of the snow beneath my feet echoed in the absolute silence of this untouched land; the crisp, pure mountain air filled my lungs. It’s a magical moment that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Other Blogs about Alaska
- Kayak to the Disappearing Columbia Glacier
- Places to Enjoy Anchorage, AK Like a Local
- World Famous Bear Watching at Brooks Falls
- Breathtaking Hike on the Matanuska Glacier of Alaska
- Best 10 Stops Along the Scenic Seward Highway
- Fishing in Seward: A Must-Do Summer Activity in Alaska
- Traveling into the Arctic Circle: 7 Things to See
- Best 10 Places for Summer Adventures in Fairbanks, AK
- Alaska’s Highways from Best to Worst
- Best 15 Stops on the Legendary Alaska Highway
[…] Magic Bus 142 is another must-see. This 1940s-era bus was located on the Stampede Trail near Denali National Park and became famous through Jon Krakauer’s book “Into the Wild” and its subsequent […]