Be sure to check out our 2 Week Alaska Itinerary and the Alaska page for other ideas around the best things to do in Denali National Park!
*Last updated March 9, 2024
Best Things to Do in Denali National Park
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How long to Stay at Denali National Park
A lot of people only spend one day in Denali National Park as you can take the bus from the entrance to the end and back, with a stop at the Eielson visitor center. However, we spent about 4 days and did some backpacking while we were there. Also, more days in Denali will give you more chances to have a clear day to see Denali mountain. If you are not up for backpacking, I think 3 days between Denali and the town of Talkeetna would be a good amount of time.
Additionally, the main stream runs along the road and attracts animals. The bus ride almost always has views of wildlife, including bears and elk. The bus drivers will pull over to view Denali mountain (Mt McKinley), if it is a clear day. A ranger told us that the peak is only visible about 1 out of 3 days. However, he also said, that it can be clear for a week and then cloudy for the next two weeks. So you definitely need some luck to get a clear view of Denali. We were lucky, the day was clear and beautiful on our way into the park. Three days later when we were leaving, it was raining and Denali peak was completely hidden in the clouds.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is Alaska’s most famous national park. Mt McKinley is North America’s highest peak and is known as Denali in the native language. Due to the potential for poor weather, I’d try to spend multiple days between here and Talkeetna so you can have a clear day to visit.
Personal car travel is not permitted beyond the initial Denali visitor center. You will need to use the public bus to go beyond the Denali visitor center through the park to Eielson visitor center, or beyond to Wonder Lake and Reflection Pond. You can get off or on where you like, as long as there is room on the bus.
Denali Wildlife
You are pretty much guaranteed to see a lot of wildlife in Denali National Park. Additionally, the main bus road goes along the main river, which is where animals congregate. Also, some of the animals you might see include the following.
- Grizzly bears
- Caribou
- Moose
- Dall Sheep
- Wolves
- Black Bears
- Elk
Backcountry Camping
For longer visits, you can stay at a nearby campground outside of the park, camp at Wonder Lake campground, or request a backcountry permit.
The backcountry permits are first come, first serve. Denali is mapped into regions and only a limited number of campers are allowed to stay in each region. Therefore, if you want to camp at the more popular areas of the park, like around Mt McKinley, you have to plan to stay in a nearby region first. Then you can hike to those more popular regions later in your trip as they become available.
On the other hand, you can plan to enjoy some of the other regions. Since we only had 4 days, we choose to hike other areas and really enjoyed the beauty of the park.
The visitor center will assign you an area to backcountry camp in Denali NP. Additionally, the rangers will loan you a bear canister and train you how to use and store it. We did not see any bears during our 3 days in the backcountry, but we did see some bear tracks so they are out there.
You will need to carry food and water, or have a water filter (preferred). Additionally, you will need your own backpack, tent and sleeping bag. Denali may not be the best first backcountry camping trip. However, if you have a little experience it can be a fun and rewarding adventure. Bear spray is the most effective bear deterrent (and more effective than a gun).
Talkeetna
Talkeetna is the home base for climbers attempting the summit. On a clear day, you can arrange a private plane tour of Denali’s glaciers. However, we were only able to go on our 3rd and final day due to bad weather. Be aware that you need a bit of luck to have the weather cooperate.
Talkeetna also has some fun hotel and dining options. We stayed at the Talkeetna Roadhouse in their historic bunkroom. We had dinner at the West Rib Pub and Grill. Man vs Food featured this restaurant for their “Seward’s Folly” caribou burger challenge.
Also Consider Nearby
Be sure to check out our 2 week Alaska itinerary!
South of Denali and Talkeetna is the city of Anchorage. Also, from there, you can explore some of the southern Alaska regions. This includes Kenai Fjords NP and Exit Glacier to the south, Wrangell St Elias NP to the east, and Katmai NP to the southwest. Additionally, visit this site’s main Alaska region page for more options.