Current Conditions

 

Learn and Explore

Visiting Denali during a pandemic is going to be a little bit confusing!

Most park operations (e.g., when visitor centers, campgrounds, and other facilities are open) will be changed from normal years. Certain facilities will be closed to the public, while other facilities will have adjusted hours and seasons.

On This Page:

• List of Operations Altered Due to COVID-19
• Current Conditions in the Park

 

Park Operations Altered Due to COVID-19

Below is a list of information pertinent to trip planners in summer 2021. If you encounter discrepancies between other parts of our website and this information, go with what you see below. This supersedes all other trip planning information during this pandemic.

Visitor Centers & Other Facilities

• The Murie Science and Learning Center normally serves as the park's winter visitor center when the Denali Visitor Center closes. When local COVID transmission rates are low in winter 2021-22, it will be staffed daily.
  
  From September 27 to late winter, regardless of COVID transmission rates, the unstaffed Indoor Picnic Area is unlocked daily for visitors to use restrooms and warm up indoors from 9:30 am to 5 pm. It is adjacent to the Murie Center.

• The Backcountry Information Center (adjacent to the Denali Bus Depot) is open until September 30, 10 am to 4 pm daily. Please note that you must reserve your backcountry permit in advance: Learn more about backpacking in summer 2021.
• The Denali Sled Dog Kennels (Mile 3.4 of the Denali Park Road) are open on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 1 pm to 4 pm, throughout the winter.
• Masks are required for all people, regardless of vaccination status, when entering a federal facility.

Entrance Fees & Passes

Entrance fees to Denali are required. Visitors can learn about fees & passes in Denali and pay their park entrance fees online in advance, or upon arrival to the entrance area of the park. The Denali Annual Pass is also available for purchase online. You must be able to show a park pass or proof of online purchase (on a mobile device or printed receipt) if asked by a park ranger.

 

Campgrounds

As in normal winters, Riley Creek Campground is the only established campground open in Denali.

Most of Denali's campgrounds were open in 2021. Advanced reservations for all campgrounds are strongly recommended; they can be made as early as December 1, for the following summer.

Campers are asked to do their part in maintaining social distancing. Bring all supplies for adequate sanitation. It is the responsibility of each camper to understand current Alaska State Health Mandates and their applicability to visitors' camping experience.

 

Conditions on the Denali Park Road

The map below illustrates which parts of the park road are open to private vehicles (thick green line) and, in summer, to bus traffic (thin black line). Red indicates sections of road closed. Icons also indicate which park campgrounds are open.