Current Conditions

Alerts

 

On This Page:

• Spring 2026
• Summer 2026
• Park Road Conditions

Some park operations are currently altered due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide. The closure of the Denali Park Road at Mile 43 is expected to remain in place through summer 2026, while the Polychrome Area Plan is implemented.

 

The details below supersede all other trip-planning information. If you encounter discrepancies between other parts of our website and this information, go with what you see below.

 

Spring 2026

Facility hours are variable at this time of year. Check visitor center hours and Sled Dog Kennels hours before your trip and read more about planning a spring visit.

Backcountry permits can be obtained at the visitor center. Most ranger programs are only offered in summer.

Weather permitting, the park road will remain open to mile 30 (Teklanika Rest Area) through May 19. The summer season begins on May 20, when transit buses begin operating and private vehicles are restricted to driving to mile 15.

Upcoming Closure

A temporary closure west of Teklanika is scheduled for May 11–15 during a bear capture operation. The park road will be closed to all bikers and pedestrians west of the Teklanika River bridge (mile 31). All backcountry units west of the Teklanika River will also be closed.

The closure will start May 11 and remain in effect until three days post capture of the last bear, through May 15 at the latest. Check back here for announcements if the area is reopened early. The capture operation is part of a study on the effects of traffic on bears and allows the park’s wildlife biologists to check collars on young and growing bears and to replace any collars that might have dropped off or malfunctioned.

Entrance Fees and Passes

Entrance fees to Denali are required. You may pay your park entrance fees online or in person upon arrival to the entrance area of the park (credit cards only, no cash). 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. Discounted or free annual and lifetime passes are also available to select groups; if you already have a pass, bring it with you. Learn more about fees and passes in Denali.

 

Summer 2026

The summer season runs from mid-May to mid-September. Summer operations are affected by the Pretty Rocks Landslide and the associated closure of the Denali Park Road at mile 43. To learn more about the landslide and for bridge construction updates, see the Polychrome Area Plan.

Changes to summer operations due to the landslide are listed below. Other visitor center facilities and services in the park are not impacted by the landslide.

• Transit buses and tour buses will travel no further than the East Fork Bridge (mile 43 of the Denali Park Road).
• Eielson Visitor Center is closed.
• Wonder Lake Campground is closed.

Other important links for planning a summer trip:

• Check visitor center hours, Sled Dog Kennels hours, and shuttle schedules before your trip.
• Bus and campground reservations are strongly recommended.
• Ranger programs are offered daily in summer. Check the calendar or ask a ranger at the visitor center to learn about other special events.
• Backcountry permits can be obtained at the Backcountry Information Center, next to the Denali Bus Depot.

 

Conditions on the Denali Park Road

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

Other red areas on the map show wildlife closures, which are closed to all entry due to nesting or denning activity or sites where a bear or wolf is feeding on a carcass. Temporary wildlife closures (lasting less than 24 hours) may also be in place and not appear on the map; always check at the visitor center upon arrival for the latest information before hiking.