July 8, 2024 9:45am Park Operations Update

July 08, 2024 Posted by: Emily Miller

All park operation changes seen below will be updated and found on Denali's Current Conditions page.

Park Operation Post Riley Fire Evacuation:

The Denali Park Post Office will be open Monday (7/8) and Tuesday (7/9) from 12-2pm. These hours are for residents to pick up their mail and packages as the Post Office needs to make room for future mail deliveries. The park remains closed to the public Monday and Tuesday. This only a brief opportunity to retrieve mail with a Post Office box key; the mail counter will be closed other than for package pickup with slips. There is a checkpoint at the Park Road entrance. Vehicles must stop to check in, proceed only to the Post Office for mail pick up, then head back to the Park exit to check out. For outgoing mail services please use the Healy or Cantwell Post Offices. The Denali Park Post Office will return to normal hours and services on Wednesday, July 10th. 

At 4:30am on Wednesday, July 10th, the National Park Service and Denali National Park Tours Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture will welcome visitors back to the park. Normal operations will resume, except for Riley Creek Campground and Day Use Area, and the Horseshoe Lake Trail, which will remain closed due to ongoing firefighting and support activities in the area. The timing of the Wednesday opening is consistent with the recommendations of the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team working on the fire.  

Visitor Services and Facilities:

• The Park Road will open to all visitors to Mile 15, Starting Wednesday July 10^th at 4:30am
• The Denali Visitor Center will open daily, starting Wednesday July 10^th, from 8:00am to 6:00pm
• The Sled Dog Kennels will open daily, starting Wednesday July 10^th, from 9:30am to 4:30pm
• The Denali Bus Depot will open daily, starting Wednesday July 10^th, from 5:30am-7:00pm
•  All ranger programs except our Discovery Hikes will resume on Wednesday July 10^th 
• Discovery Hikes will resume daily, Thursday, July 11^th. Signups will open for Thursday’s hike and consecutive hikes, in person at the Denali Visitor Center, Wednesday, July 10^th
• Denali Transit Bus, Tour Bus and campground reservations are now open
• All Trails will reopen on Wednesday, July 10^th, excluding the Horseshoe Lake Trail
• The Riley Creek Campground and Day Use Area will remain closed
• The Riley Creek Mercantile, and Dump Station will be open daily, starting Wednesday July 10^th from, 7:00am- 11:00pm

All Fire related messaging and information can also be found on the Alaska Wildland Fire Information Page.