Denali National Park & Preserve

A backpacking trip in Denali is unlike backpacking in most other national parks. Denali is about the size of Vermont, with only a handful of trails—most of which are near the entrance of the park for day-hiking, rather than overnight backpacking. This opportunity to set your own route and hike through a trail-less landscape amid wild animals and wilderness is rare in the 21st century.

Alaska is well known for it’s amazing and abundant berries in August and September—just ask any of the grizzly bears in Denali! A family friendly activity would be to strike off into the tundra and search for berries. Bring your bucket (or empty water bottle) to fill, or simply snack on the go.

Biking the Denali Park Road is a rewarding way to explore the park at a slower speed than vehicles allow. Experience a variety of terrain over the course of just a few hours as you pedal from forested areas up to expansive views of the tundra, then coast back downhill towards a river.

Denali is home to a beautiful variety of plant species, from tall Aspen trees to short Moss campion. With a diversity of habitat types that support water-loving to drought-tolerant plants, Denali is an excellent place to immerse yourself in the subarctic flora. The DenaliFlora App is the perfect companion for your botanical explorations.

Though Denali's dogs are not available for visitor sled rides, there are opportunities for visitors to arrange for day trips or multi-night trips through a privately owned sled dog kennel in the area.

Horseshoe Lake is a lovely destination about 2 miles from the Denali Visitor Center. A trail loops around the entire lake, which is occasionally home to moose, beavers and a variety of bird-life. An early-morning visit to the lake is particularly pleasant, though any time of day is great to hike to the lake.

Whether on foot, skis or snowshoes, winter is a great time for you to explore Denali! Snow starts falling as early as September, although in some years the conditions aren't good for skiing until December, and it sticks around until April or May.

While most of Denali’s sole road is restricted just to bus traffic, anybody can drive out to Mountain Vista and Savage River. Located about 15 miles inside the park, the area is scenic, featuring several trails (some short, one long) and a picnic area.

At 6 million acres in size, Denali is incredibly vast, and hiking is possible almost anywhere in the park. However, there are only a handful of established trails in the park, and here you'll find a few suggestions for one or more short hikes from the Denali Visitor Center.