Denali is the highest mountain in North America coming in at a whopping 20,308 feet high. It is a major Alakan tourist destination not only for the mountain itself but also for the 6 million acres of parkland that surround it. It was a 4 hr drive for us to get to Denali from Anchorage, but seeing that huge numbers of people fly to Alaska each year just to see Denali, made the drive seem inconsequential. Denali was on our list to visit from the beginning of our time in Alaska, but it was almost the end of our time there before we actually decided to make the trip.

You can visit Denali as a quick day trip or spend months planning for a multi day adventure. We had friends who did the whole 9 yards, buying a bear canister and a top of the line GPS. They got the proper permits and bus tickets and spent days hiking into the areas of the park you can only reach on foot. We took a moderate approach and only spent one night in the park. We really enjoyed our time there but it is a trip that require some careful planning even if you are only visiting for a day or two.

Driving in Denali – Vehicles in Denali only have access to mile 15 inside the park. From here you must have a ticket for one of the tour buses that go further into the park unless you plan to walk or bike or are camping for multiple nights in the park. We brought our bikes and Ares is a pro at running alongside on the leash so we biked about 5 miles further into the park. I would highly recommend this route, the roads that are not accessible by normal vehicles are much less traveled and offered great chances to see wildlife. In fact the only reason we turned the bikes around when we did was because a Bull Elk came out of the woods and blocked our path forward. We were careful to keep our distance and when he refused to move we turned around. A ranger who passed us in a car advised us that the elk might have been intimidated by Ares as he allowed several cars and hikers to pass without trouble. We weren’t too upset as it gave us a unique Denali story to share 🙂

Staying in Denali – Denali has two campgrounds that are accessible for single nights by vehicle, there are four other campsites past mile marker fifteen but these require special permits, bus tickets, or multi night reservation to access. We opted the stay at Savage River campground which is at mile marker 13 in the park. We had been advised that this campground was quieter than the first option Riley Creek at Mile marker one. We camped in our Bigfoot rooftop tent and got a great view of Denali the next morning from the campgrounds edge. NOTE – The staff here are the most strict we have encountered at any NP campground, probably with good reason due to animal activity. Do not leave any perishable supplies unsecured when you are away from your campsite or the staff will remove or secure them and leave you a warning note. We had Ares on a lead as we rested in the rooftop tent and were even advised not to do this, the staff member did not leave until we came down and sat with him :). Fires will also be extinguished if you leave them unattended. Primative bathroom facilities are found at both drivable campsites as well as potable water.

What to Bring with You – supplies available once you’re inside the park are both limited and expensive. We brought all our own food and water for our two day trip. Make sure also to fill up on gas before entering the park. If you’re planning a backpacking trip in Denali ensure you have bear spray, a NPS approved bear canister, and a good hiking GPS system as service in the backcountry in minimal at best. We really enjoyed having bikes with us in Denali and highly recommend them! Binoculars are something we wished we had brought for spotting the wildlife that chose to come within sight but still stay far from the road.

After our short time in Denali we wished we could return for a longer backpacking trip into the interior. There’s so much to see, and the drivable roads offer such limited insight into the vastness of this incredible park! One day we would love to go back! There are a lot of fun ways to explore the park from the bus tours, to a helicopter ride up to the top of Denali! That last one is on our dream bucket list for sure :). However you visit, the park is a unique and awe inspiring experience!