Activities in Denali National Park
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Camper Buses
The alternative to the shuttle buses are the less crowded, more informal camper buses, aimed at ferrying overnight campers, backpackers and cyclists, and offering ample space to stow gear. To take these buses you must have a campsite or backcountry unit reserved along Park Rd, or be toting a bicycle. If you don't have a campground reservation, you can't ride out on the camper bus, but you can probably hitch a ride back on one - a recommended course of action.
As with shuttles, it's good to reserve as far in advance as possible.
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Polychrome Pass Circuit
Polychrome Pass Circuit One cross-country route you might consider off Park Rd is Polychrome Pass Circuit, an 8-mile trek that will challenge fit, experienced day hikers. (Less studly souls might want to do it as an overnight, which requires a permit.) This hike traverses one of the park's most scenic areas. The brilliantly colored rocks of Polychrome Pass are the result of volcanic action some 60 million years ago.
Today the multicolored hills and mountains, including Polychrome Mountain (5790ft) and Cain Peak (4961ft), are a stunning sight in the low-angle light of a clear Alaskan summer day.
The route begins on the west side of Park Rd's bridge across East Fork Toklat R…
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Wilderness Camping
For many, the reason to come to Denali is to escape into the backcountry for a truly Alaskan experience. Unlike many parks in the Lower 48, Denali's rigid restrictions ensure you can trek and camp in a piece of wilderness all your own, even if it's just for a few days.
The park is divided into 87 backcountry units, and in 43 only a regulated number of backpackers (usually from four to six) are allowed at a time. You have to obtain a free permit for the unit you want to overnight in. You may spend a maximum of seven nights in any one unit, and a maximum of 30 consecutive nights in the backcountry.
Obtain permits at the Backcountry Information Center, where you'll find wall …
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Wildlife Spotting
Because hunting has never been allowed in the park, professional photographers refer to animals in Denali as 'approachable wildlife.' That means bears, moose, Dall sheep and caribou aren't as skittish here as in other regions of the state. For this reason, and because Park Rd was built to maximize the chances of seeing wildlife by traversing high open ground, the national park is an excellent place to view a variety of animals.
Roughly 1800 moose roam the north side of the Alaska Range, and the most spectacular scene in Denali comes in early September, when the bulls begin to clash their immense racks over breeding rights to a cow. Moose are almost always found in stands …
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Mt Healy Overlook Trail
This is the longest maintained trail in the entrance area, and the only one in the vicinity that truly lets you escape the crowds. It's a popular trail among day hikers as it provides a good workout and the reward of fine views over the Nenana River valley, Healy Ridge and other ridgelines. The trail veers off the Taiga Trail and makes a steep climb up Mt Healy, ascending 1700ft in 2½ miles. Plan on three to five hours for the hike.
Once on the trail, you soon cross a bridge over Horseshoe Creek, after which there's a moderately steep climb through a forest of spruce mixed with aspen and alder. After a mile you reach a scenic viewpoint where you can gaze upon Mt Fellows …
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Shuttle Buses
Shuttle buses are aimed at wildlife watchers and day hikers. They aren't fancy, comfortable, high-tech wonders but big, clunky school-bus-style affairs. On board, passengers armed with binoculars and cameras scour the terrain for animals, most of which are so accustomed to the rambling buses that they rarely run and hide. When someone spots something and yells 'stop!' the driver pulls over for viewing and picture taking.
The drivers are concessionaire employees, not NPS naturalists, but they provide unofficial natural-history information en route. Some are better at this than others.
Day hikers don't need a backcountry permit and can get off shuttle buses anywhere along Pa…
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Toklat Ranger Station
During 2006 and possibly 2007, Toklat Ranger Station will feature interpretive displays and offer ranger-led programs, including an hour-long tundra hike at 13:00 daily. To make it here in time for the hike, reserve a shuttle bus leaving the WAC by 09:00. The station is functioning as a temporary visitor center until the overhaul and reopening of Eielson Visitor Center (Mile 66), on the far side of Thorofare Pass (3900ft).
Several day and overnight hikes are still possible from the Eielson area, including one around Mt Eielson and another to Muldrow Glacier.
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Biking
No special permit is needed to cycle on Park Rd, but biking off-road is prohibited. Camper buses will carry bikes, but only two at a time and only if you have a reservation. Many cyclists ride the bus in and bike back out, carrying their gear and staying at campsites they've reserved along the way. It's also possible to take an early-morning bus in, ride for several hours and catch a bus back the same day.
You can rent bikes at Denali Outdoor Center, for a half day or for a full day. Rates include a helmet, water bottle, tools and lock.
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Rock Creek Trail
The moderate 2.3-mile Rock Creek Trail leads west to the park headquarters and dog kennels. It's far easier hiking this trail downhill from the headquarters end, where the trail begins just before Park Rd. From here it crosses Rock Creek but doesn't stay with the stream. Instead, it climbs a gentle slope of mixed aspen and spruce forest, breaks out along a ridge with scenic views of Mt Healy and George Parks Hwy, and then begins a rapid descent to its end at the Taiga Trail.
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Kantishna Air Taxi Flightseeing
Kantishna Air Taxi Flightseeing flies out of Kantishna and Healy. The company offers hour-long flightseeing excursions around Mt McKinley, direct flights between Kantishna and the park entrance and flights from Kantishna to the park entrance with a 20-minute detour by Mt McKinley. Two versions of a bus-out/fly-back day tour are also available.
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Horseshoe Lake Trail
A few short, maintained trails web the park entrance area. The Horseshoe Lake Trail, accessed at Mile 1.2 of Park Rd by the railroad crossing, is a leisurely 1½-mile walk through the woods to an overlook of an oxbow lake, followed by a steep trail to the water. Follow the tracks north a short way to the wide gravel path.
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Polychrome Pass Overlook
Polychrome Pass Overlook is a rest stop for the shuttle buses and a popular spot for visitors. This scenic area, at 3500ft, gives way to views of the Toklat River to the south. The alpine tundra above the road is good for hiking, as you can easily scramble up ridges that lead north and south of the rest-stop shelter.
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Era Helicopters Flightseeing
Era Helicopters Flightseeing will take you up on a 50-minute Mt McKinley tour (around US$270) or a 75-minute flight that includes a glacier landing (around US$370). Heli-hiking trips are also available. The helipad is on the north side of the Nenana River bridge, at the south end of Glitter Gulch.
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Aramark Tours
Aramark Tours offers a five-hour Natural History Tour to Primrose Ridge, a four- to five-hour Teklanika Tundra Wilderness Tour to the Teklanika River Overlook, and a six- to eight-hour Tundra Wildlife Tour to Toklat River. All include narration, hot drinks and a snack or box lunch.
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Fly Denali Flightseeing
Fly Denali Flightseeing is based in Healy and has tours of various durations and routes. Their three-hour flight includes the only glacier landing available from the park entrance.
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Taiga Trail
The Taiga Trail, accessed at Mile 1.2 of Park Rd by the railroad crossing, turns west from the Horseshoe Lake Trail and leads to both Mt Healy Overlook Trail and Rock Creek Trail.
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Denali Air Flightseeing
Denali Air Flightseeing offers a narrated flight of about an hour around the mountain. Flights leave from the company's airstrip at Mile 229.5 of George Parks Hwy.
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Alaska Timberline Aviation Flightseeing
You may be able to get cheaper flightseeing deals with this smaller-scale local operator.
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Atkins Guiding & Flying Service Flightseeing
You may be able to get cheaper flightseeing deals with this smaller-scale local operator.
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