This national park has been on my bucket list for a while and so I was over the moon when I got to check it off in September right before it closed down for the season. The fall leaves were beautiful and the clouds lifted late morning for a view of the majestic Denali mountain. I camped in the Woof Loop of the Riley Creek campground which was covered in snow (and open all year long). It is dog friendly and super close to the only two dog friendly trails in the park- the roadside hiking trail and the roadside biking trail. The visitor center was beautiful and their souvenir shop had lots of goodies. I've never been happier to get my national park passport stamp and splurged on a sticker for it! read more

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Epic park!!! We were there in August when the weather was perfect. Went on a guided hike the first day as we were leery of meeting bears... Learned a lot from the guide about the flora and fauna of the park. The next visit was a bus ride, which from what I gather the experience hinges on the driver as to what you see and learn about. Our driver was excellent!!! He didn't have a spotter so we all were told what to look for and to not be shy about yelling out what we see. We spotted a momma bear and two cubs up a rock slide between hills. We saw two dall sheep high on a hillside and a small group of caribou too. Each time we saw something he stopped and we all got to see it! We did let a couple people off the bus at two different points, but my question was: where were they going?! There aren't any hiking trails or anything anywhere from the looks of things... and you can see a long ways. It is amazing beautiful wilderness with a capital W. read more

Denali is huge - bigger than New Jersey, Hawaii, and Connecticut. There's only one road, of which more than half has been and will be closed for years. There's a good reason for the closure; google "Pretty Rocks Landslide". Most of the open section can only be travelled by bus. There's a good reason for that, too; google "overpopulation". Understanding the reason Denali's one road is so restricted didn't keep it from being frustrating that we only got to see a tiny fraction of this wild and wonderful place. There are other ways you can and should experience the park, but my group included an octogenarian whose spirit far exceeds her physical capabilities. read more

Denali National Park - The View At One Bus Stop - Parks Near Me

Absolutely beautiful and serine. There are few places or even national parks that allow nature to just be and Denali is one of the closest you will find. The wildlife, scenery, and workers were all exceptional. We went this summer and enjoyed driving through and seeing wildlife and the mountain. read more

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It was a 2 hour and 4 minute drive from Fairbanks to Denali National Park. We really lucked out and got to drive further into the park. We were in the search for grizzly bears, moose, caribou and other creatures at Denali. Due to COVID, Denali Park Road was the only road open. The first 15 miles of the road is paved after that it's like a dirt road with gravel. There were not a lot of people here. Check online for the latest updates on park operations. We were hoping to see some grizzly bears, moose and other wildlife here at Denali. Tips for a fun filled experience. 1) Read the signs posted 2) If you see several cars parked in area. There is a sighting of some sort. 3) Be patient on your drive through. Stop and enjoy the spectacular views. Picture perfect moments. All that fresh air- Just breathe. 4) Check with weather report and dress accordingly. We came upon two parked cars on the side of the road. A guy was taking pictures with long zoom lens and sitting on top of car. Golden Grizzly Bear by the name of Blondie- 6 years old was eating and searching for berries. We were hoping she would turn around so we see her face. She was quite far away. Heard that there were three bears at this area and moose too. As we headed up the path, saw lots of trees, snow on some of the the mountains. Definitely, be back again. read more

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Thank you, Anna, for the magical bus journey through your backyard! Denali National Park is like no other. They allow you to journey through the way you choose. We jumped on a bus and just relaxed for the ride through the park. We met others who journeyed in deep into the mountain trails, learned so much, and saw untouched herds of caribou, dall sheep, and Ravens. Also, was blessed to see Mt. Denali. read more

Denali National Park - Parks Near Me