20 Epic Things To Do In Denali National Park

1. Go For A Wildflower Viewing

In Denali National Park in summer, the tundra and meadows explode with wildflowers. Different types of plants, so diverse, burst into bloom in all possible hues, contrasting well with the rough scene and towering peaks.

As you walk through the park, you will find rugs of color in pinks, purples, yellows, and whites; some of the showy species include alpine forget-me-nots, fireweed, and Arctic poppies.

This riot of color not only pleases Denali's aesthetic values but also provides a certain type of opportunity for wildflower enthusiasts and photographers to preserve on film the very fleeting glory of Alaska's flora.

2. Visit Sled Dog Kennels

A visit to the sled dog kennels in Denali National Park offers a special interactive opportunity. Located near the headquarters of the park, these kennels provide a team of sled dogs trained to play an important role in park operations, especially during winter.

Guided tours are available in which you may witness these dogs at work, know exactly how they are trained to do so many diversified tasks and also understand the old, traditional method of the sled by dogs. The hands-on experience will allow a visitor to understand the role sled dogs have played in the park's history and operations, as well as engage them with these wonderful creatures.

3. Drive Or Take A Bus Along Denali Park Road

The Denali Park Road is integral to Denali National Park and Preserve, allowing visitors to experience much more than a view of the beautiful landscapes and varieties of wildlife. Stretching 92 miles from the park entrance to the Teklanika River, it exposes breathtaking mountain vistas, vast tundras, and untouched rivers.

Only park buses are allowed to travel along this road, providing interpretive tours and access to trailheads and viewpoints. Private vehicles are allowed only to Mile 15. Park buses go into the park, also with constant monitoring for wildlife that includes grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep.

4. Enjoy Canoeing Or Kayaking

One of the best ways to see it all in such a stunning backcountry environment is by canoeing or kayaking within Denali National Park. The serene waters of the park's lakes and rivers are surrounded by splendid high peaks and lush forests, not to mention a lot of tundra.

Some of the best places for paddling are Wonder Lake and the Teklanika River, where you get to carve out some serene moments on the water while enjoying views of the wildlife, such as moose and beavers. Please make prior arrangements and check whether there are any regulations or permits required before venturing out. 

5. Participate Ranger-Led Programs

Denali National Park offers several free ranger-led programs that help you discover natural wonders and cultural history. Programs are interpretive, educational, and oriented toward enhancing your experience with further knowledge of the ecosystems, wildlife, geology, and human history. 

Rangers are very knowledgeable and passionate about the park, so many programs not only contain interesting facts but also stories and demonstrations that bring features of the park to life.

Joining one of these programs can do more than just inform you about Denali, it can also connect you with its environment and the conservation effort much more profoundly. 

6. Visit Northern Lights Viewing

Visitors to Denali National Park in the fall or winter get to experience the exhilarating view of the aurora borealis, better known as the Northern Lights. The remoteness of the area and the clear, dark skies bring it to perfection for viewing this natural display of light.

The period from late August to April, with their long nights, provides ample time to see the dancing lights across the Arctic sky.

Generally, the best times for viewing are between midnight and 3 a.m., when clear and cold nights with minimal light pollution will give off the brightest displays of all. The aurora borealis is normally not solidly colored but a great display of colors changing from green, through purples, to pinks.

7. Experience The Fishing

Fishing in Denali National Park is very rewarding; added to this is the pristine scenery. Anglers' favorite fishing areas include rivers and streams. One of these is the Teklanika River.

Grayling, salmon, and trout are species that one expects to encounter here. Fishing in Denali has some potential fish catch and can also provide some peace within the surroundings of the park.

It is moreover surrounded by magnificent mountains with abundant wildlife. Be sure to check on any fishing regulations or required permits before heading out. Bring along the right gear, or consider hiring a local guide, to make for a successful and enjoyable fishing experience.

8. Experience The Beautiful Glacier Viewing

The Denali National Park Glacier viewing leaves one in a dumbfounded state over the simple fact of excellent views afforded of some of its finest-looking glaciers. Notable among them is Ruth Glacier, known for its dramatic ice formations and expansive icefield.

For a more breathtaking view, take a flightseeing tour, which avails an aerial view over Ruth Glacier and several other stunning ice features that present their grandeur and mountainous landscapes around it.

Other trails like the Savage River Loop or the Polychrome Pass show the view of the glaciers from far away, providing a different but equally interesting view. 

9. Take A Extraordinary Scenic Flightseeing

A flightseeing tour over Denali National Park will give an awesome overview of the dramatic landscapes from altitude. These tours provide a worthwhile aerial view over Denali, the highest peak in North America, and surrounding areas of wilderness with mountain ranges, sprawling glaciers, and sweeping valleys. 

You'll soar above the park, taking in the large variations in the ground below you, from ice fields like Ruth Glacier with their intricate patterns to the tundra that stretches out in every direction.

Flightseeing tours frequently include information given by experienced pilots or guides that greatly enhance your experience of the park's geography and its features. 

10. Stay At Campgrounds

Campgrounds such as Riley Creek and Teklanika in Denali National Park offer an immersive experience in the remarkable environment. Of these, one of the more accessible ones is Riley Creek Campground, which offers easy access to essential facilities and an easy way to get into the core of the park.

It offers drive-up and walk-in sites, making this a great home base for exploring the park's lower elevations and visitor services.

In contrast, Teklanika Campground lies further along Denali Park Road and offers seclusion and a rugged experience. Accessible only by park bus, it allows campers to be closer to the park's remote wilderness next to the Teklanika River and broad landscapes.

11. Experience Dog Sledding

Dog sledding within the Denali National Park offers travelers a truly Alaskan experience, accomplishing one of the many desires that have been treasured throughout Alaska. Winter months similarly provide an adrenaline-pumped mushing scenario within a landscape covered in luscious whiteness and a team of enthusiastic sled dogs to pull.

More than the thrill of the overpowering experience that ties you to the historic mode of transport, it takes you through the spectacular scenes of the park's wildness clothed in snow. You can enjoy dog sledding that is adapted to be done on wheels in the summer when snow is scarce. 

12. Ride Mountain Biking Through The Park

The experience of mountain biking through Denali National Park is exciting and adventurous, which can be called outstanding in terms of exposure to the surrounding bushland landscape. Backcountry roads and trails form an exciting alternative to traditional types of sightseeing, and one can have close contact with nature right from a different point of view. 

The park terrain includes rugged trails and elevations to difficult heights to the gentler paths, which provide great views across surrounding wildernesses. Some of the popular routes through these areas include Denali Park Road, which accesses scenic vistas and wildlife views, and several off-road trails through pristine landscapes. 

13. Learn About Denali Visitor Center

The Denali Visitor Center is one of the most important places in the park's natural and cultural history, providing exhibits across a diversity of ecosystems, wildlife, and geology. Being at the park's very entrance, this is the place where you can learn a lot, with all the informative displays and boards on the unique environment of the park and the history of its indigenous people.

There are also many ranger-led programs taking place at the Visitor Center, from guided talks to educational films and interactive demonstrations, taking in everything that will help one to understand more about the natural wonders in the park one is looking at and the conservation efforts being put into place. 

14. Explore Your Photography Skills

Denali National Park is a place with many opportunities for outstanding photography in the presence of dramatic landscapes, diversified wildlife, and the northern lights. The vast, towering peaks, expansive glaciers, and rich tundra are some of the things that form great backgrounds for photography, both landscape and wildlife.

Lovers of wildlife will find countless opportunities to photograph some of the great classics natural to this land: grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep in their habitat.

Be it the raw beauty of Denali's surroundings, the fine details in its flora and fauna, or the magical glow of the northern lights, its diverse landscaped vistas and natural light offer the perfect opportunities for any photographer.

15. Go For White Water Rafting

Rafting on the Nenana River in Denali National Park offers activities ranging from thrashing white-water fun to relaxed water activities, whichever one may desire. White-water rafting provides an aggressive ride through the rapids of the river, with waves suitable for surfing and powerful currents, all enclosed by untouched wilderness.

It gives a dynamic way to experience the ruggedness of park landscapes from the water. The alternative to this is a peaceful float down the Nenana River, taking one's time to get the feel of the surroundings along the riverbanks and observe wildlife in peace.

16. Backpacking In Denali National Park

Denali National Park's backcountry gives one a sense of experiencing firsthand the wilderness it dishes out. Multi-day backpacking ventures take one deep into the park's backcountry, where one has low visitation to explore remote areas with a fine sense of solitude. 

Hiker trips offer a chance to travel a wide range of terrains, from rocky crags of high mountain passes to wide open tundra and quiet river valleys, each with an opportunity up close to experience the spectacular natural beauty in the park. 

Backpacking in Denali provides one with a great chance to enjoy an intimate and rewarding connection in the backcountry of Alaska's most iconic landscape, with either the quest for adventure or silence.

17. Hiking In Various Landscapes

Hike Denali National Park, is one of the most beautiful places with various landscapes. The Savage River Loop Trail is one of the most popular, providing a relatively easier hike with very fine views of the Savage River and the landscape around it. It can be an excellent chance to view various wildlife and have tundra and river scenery in this unique park.

For a more challenging hike, Mount Healy Overlook Trail provides panoramic views at the top. It rises through rough ground and dense vegetation to finally end in a viewpoint, surrounding mountains, and the huge underlying valley dramatic landscapes that make for perfect photo memories of Denali's very best.

18. Catch Denali Mountain Views

Getting views of Denali, the highest peak in North America, is one of the greatest highlights of any trip to Denali National Park and Preserve. This majestic mountain, formally known as Mount McKinley, towers over surrounding peaks, giving an elevation of 20,310 feet at its snow-capped summit, dominating every skyline.

There are several prime spots for admiring this stunning peak. While the Denali Park Road had a good number of viewpoints from the road itself, many of the best views are actually from places like Polychrome Overlook and the Savage River.

For an even closer inspection, flightseeing tours can provide dizzyingly beautiful views of Denali and surrounding glaciers from the air.

19. Take A Tundra Wilderness Tour

Take the guided bus experience into the inner precincts of the park, with access to some of the finest landscapes and wildlife viewing. It typically covers that part of Denali Park Road beyond the reach of private vehicles.

You'll be passing overhill and Dale in the park, and you will see a good deal of every description of wildlife from grizzly bears and moose to Dall sheep and caribou.

This tour features Denali and other iconic landscapes with expansive tundra and rugged mountain vistas. This adventure offers a Tundra Wilderness Tour, exploring the park's remote wilderness and wildlife.

20. Experience The Wildlife Viewing

Denali National Park offers excellent opportunities for watching wildlife, most of North America's highest-profile animals are found here in a natural environment. Grizzly bears are often spotted foraging upland on berries or catching fish in streams, and caribou herds sometimes cross the tundra. Moose tend to stick alongside the water, grazing on aquatic vegetation.

Dall sheep are regularly seen on steeper and more rocky cliffs of the park. The more elusive wolves may be seen, traveling in packs over the remoteness. The finest wildlife viewpoints can be found along Denali Park Road during the early morning or late afternoon when most animals are at peak activities.