This hike is beautiful, as well as a challenge! It's right by the visitor center, also close to the…read morehorseshoe bend trail, right across from the tracks for the entrance. The hike can be a little muddy, as well as strenuous at points, but if you're an experienced hiker you'll be fine. It's super windy up top so if you're visiting during the colder months make sure you layer up, even though you may break a sweat because it's very cold and windy at the top. It's a beautiful hike with a bunch of wildlife--we saw two moose! You have a great view of the park the entire way up. Definitely consider this hike if you're visiting, the view is so worth it when you get to the end!!

This trail can be found by going to the Denali Visitor Center, it is literally right outside their…read moredoor. This is a great hike and no entrance fees make it absolutely free. It is also one of the only hikes that can be done without taking the shuttles further into the park. It's about a 4.4 mile hike round trip with the option of further extending the hike once you get to the top by hiking along the breath taking ridge. In total, you ascend 1700 feet. The trail starts pretty easy, but quickly jets upward and gets steeper and steeper as you near the summit. The trail is well maintained, but loose rocks cover the upper portion. The hike is difficult, but like with any hiking, a determined little kid or out-of-shape person could still do it. Once at the summit you realize that all the hard work was well worth it. You are afforded expansive views of the entire valley and a good part of Denali.

Absolutely a great hike and not that strenuous at all! Although the entire hike is about 9 miles,…read moreour hike guide took us through about 4-5 miles of it. The hike was pretty straightforward and there were a few uphill climbs here and there, but there was nothing anyone in OK shape can't complete. We started our hike at about 8am in the morning and spent 3 hours on our hike. It rained a bit throughout the hike so we didn't encounter other hikers until later in the morning. The views of the 3 lakes were gorgeous though and it was so peaceful out there! The mountains surrounding the lakes weren't that high so it was easy to see their peaks as well. Along the way we saw some interesting trees and vegetation. It helped that our guide was giving us information as we hiked along. We were also warned that there were moose sightings on the trail and we did encounter some fresh moose tracks, but unfortunately we didn't see any. Other than that, there wasn't much danger. The great thing is that this hike is it is free, if you go at it on your own, and can be completed by just about anyone!

Access trailhead via the visitor center (we needed a map at the beginning to find the trailhead,…read morebut once you reach the trailhead it is well marked the rest of the way). You can also start on the other side, near Denali Park Village Lodge. This is a beautiful 9-mile hike. It's listed as a "very strenuous" 6-8 hour hike in our book. We are in decent shape but not the best, and we finished in just under 5 hours, including stops for lots of photos ;) parts of the hike definitely got us breathing hard-- it starts fairly flat but there are stretches that are fairly steep as you ascend a mountain. Beautiful scenery along the way, with rivers, mountains, and several lakes. If you finish the hike after main shuttle, call SALMON BAKE! (907) 683-2733. They arrange shuttles til 3am-ish for just $3 per person!!

Excellent trail to this beautiful lake. The hike is easy, fairly short and achievable by young and…read moreold alike. In late June there were still lots of wildflowers all along the trail. The trail also goes along the Nenana River which is nice to see. The lake itself is pretty and nice to walk around. And sometimes you get a bonus: like during my hike there was a large moose in the lake eating water plants! It was so beautiful to see in its natural habitat. This was truly a great place to visit while here in Denali National Park.

Beautiful, easy hike in Denali National Park! We loved it. Came earlier in the day, and it was…read moremildly raining but it was still super enjoyable. Walked the loop, got down to the river and the lake. But the best part is getting to see the view of the lake from above. Quite a few stairs, so just be aware. Decent shade cover if it's sunny. Great hike to enjoy in Denali.

Not enough stats! Breathtaking. Unreal. We did a tour on a bus. Didn't see any wildlife but the…read morescenery is incredible. There are bathrooms throughout. Not a ton of trials. You could spend days in here and still not see everything. Get here.

Bucket list trip for us and so glad we made the long journey from Anchorage to see it. The park is…read moreHUGE and there's lots to see. We stayed at Riley Creek Campground and used the park buses to get around. We went to the visitor center, the sled dog demonstration, and took a tundra tour. Unfortunately, the mountain was never visible during our 3 days so we'll have to return again to see it. There's so much wildlife and beautiful scenery. Highly recommend.

This is probably the most popular hike in the park. It's a 2-mile loop located right at the end of…read morethe public part of the road and the trail is fairly flat and easy-- that is, unless it's icy. You have a great chance of seeing ptarmigan and arctic squirrels. It's also your best (only?) chance of seeing doll sheep without taking a bus into the park. I strongly recommend hiking past the bridge at the end. The doll sheep are seen most often high on the mountain on the left side (past the bridge). If you're daring, you can hike up after them. But even if you don't see them, the rock formations out there are bizarre and fascinating. Some of them look like castles and some of them look like they are from outer space. It's a good trail but don't let this be the only one you do. You've got to get away from the people and really get into the bush. If you hike pretty much anywhere else in the park then you will have a better chance of seeing wildlife than people.

This is the winter face of the park…read more When the road is only plowed up to 3 miles in, this is the place you go to talk to other humans. They've got ice cleats and snow shoes you can borrow. They've bot the winter Aurora forecast posted. They've got a nice little fireplace. They have some pretty neat kid-friendly exhibits. There are many short hikes that begin here. The most notable is probably Horshoe Lake: https://www.yelp.com/biz/horseshoe-lake-denali-national-park Their hours are 9am-5pm. Even if they are closed, they have some good park brochures in the "mud room" that you can take. That also have one show which amenities in the nearby sleepy towns are actually open.

Reasonably priced l, guides are knowledgeable, and we caught a lot of fish. Not much more you can…read moreask for. Booked two trips during my week staying at Denali National Park, would fish in the morning and hike the park in the afternoon. These guys helped make it a great trip and you won't be disappointed if you book a trip with them!

Denali Fly Fishing Guides provided an excellent guided trip to the Brushkana Creek for Artic…read moreGrayling. My guide, Devin, was very knowledgeable about the area in general and the particular water. I didn't have much time available during my recent vacation with my wife, but a half day provided me with a full two and a half hours on the river and ample opportunity to catch and release several graylings. I would highly recommend these guides and would engage them again should I make another trip to the 49th state.

This nature hike was one of the highlights of my trip. Our guide, Eric, was incredibly…read moreknowledgeable and passionate about the Alaskan Boreal forest, and it was obvious within minutes that this was far more than a job to him. From plants, lichen, and wildflowers to moose droppings, spruce bark beetles, and the delicate balance of the ecosystem, he made every step of the trail fascinating. Even though we didn't spot any wildlife, I never once felt like we missed out because the forest itself felt so alive with stories. The pace was comfortable, the views over the Nenana River were beautiful, and I walked away feeling like I had learned far more than I expected. If you enjoy nature, learning, and getting off the beaten path a bit, I highly recommend this experience.

BF booked the Denali Wilderness Hiking Tour, which is billed as a strenuous hike. Unfortunately,…read moretwo of the hikers were not up to a strenuous hike, so it only covered about half the distance it was supposed to. Not sure how best to fix this. Maybe Denali Backcountry Guides ask everyone at time of booking "This is a strenuous hike covering x miles and y elevation gain. Do you feel capable of making that hike?" I don't know. Just know it is disappointing to book a strenuous hike, then go slowly and only cover half. The guide was knowledgeable and the hike was good. With a different group of hikers, it would be 5 star.

I think one of our favorite parks. There's not many trails. You definitely have to blaze your own!…read more The scenery is great (not as much wildlife as I expected). It's nice that the public can't go the whole distance thru, that way it keeps traffic minimal and doesn't disturb the wildlife.

Visiting Denali National Park was nothing short of breathtaking -- a true wilderness experience…read morethat takes your breath away in both scale and beauty. From the moment we arrived, the immense landscape of tundra, mountains, and glaciers stretched out before us, reminding us how small we really are in the natural world. The vast open spaces encourage slow exploration, whether you're on a bus tour, hiking along a riverside, or just stopping to watch wildlife. We saw moose, caribou, and even distant bears -- real wild animals in their natural habitat -- which was unforgettable. The shuttle system into the park (which limits private vehicles) makes sense given how pristine this place is kept, though it does mean planning ahead and sometimes long days on the bus. We learned that weather can be unpredictable -- Denali itself was hidden in clouds a good part of our visit -- but even without a clear view of the peak, the surroundings were spectacular. The hiking opportunities are more backcountry-oriented, so if you love getting off the beaten path and embracing rugged terrain, Denali delivers. If you're expecting paved trails and easy viewpoints like other national parks, you might find it a bit raw -- but that's exactly why we loved it. All told, Denali is a must-visit for anyone who wants to experience true Alaskan wilderness -- rich wildlife, dramatic landscapes, and a sense of isolation that few other parks offer. Just pack warm layers, be ready for limited services, and give yourself time to soak it all in.

Great rafting adventure with Guide Owen! "Supa suites" provided to help keep us warm and dry as we…read morerafted the glacial river! My husband and son braved the frigid river as they chose to jump into and test the supa suites. Many class 3 rapids and couple class 4s. Mike Tyson was our favorite rapid. 5/5 recommend!!

Merrill was an outstanding rafting instructor! His clear, simple instructions made everyone feel…read morecomfortable and confident from the very beginning. He was knowledgeable, patient, and made the entire trip fun and safe. Thanks to his guidance, our rafting experience was truly memorable. We highly recommend Merrill to anyone looking for an amazing adventure!