Current Conditions

Alerts

 

On This Page:

• COVID-19 Notice
• Winter 2023–2024
• Summer 2024
• 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 until partway 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.

 

COVID-19 Notice

The National Park Service follows CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Thank you for helping to keep yourself and others safe and healthy.

Mask requirements are based on the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels for the Denali Borough and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Current COVID-19 community level for the Denali Borough (Denali Visitor Center, Kennels, Park Road, etc) : LOW
Current COVID-19 community level for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station) : LOW

HIGH: masks are required for all people indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
MEDIUM and LOW: masks are optional.

• Practice physical distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet (2 m) of distance between you and others.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• If you feel sick, please do not visit the park.

 

Winter 2023–2024

The "winter" season begins in late fall on September 15, when summer bus trips stop running. The season continues through spring to mid-May, when summer operations resume.

Facilities and services in the park are limited during the winter season (mid-September to mid-May). Winter operations are not affected by the Pretty Rocks Landslide or the associated road closure, as the park road is closed at Park Headquarters (Mile 3) for most of the winter anyway. In spring and fall, the road may be open to Mountain Vista (Mile 13) or Teklanika (Mile 30). Check the alerts at the top of this page, the road status map below, or call 907-683-9532 to find out how much of the road is currently open.

Visitor Centers and Other Facilities

• The Winter Visitor Center is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm daily, except for major holidays. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
• The Indoor Picnic Area is open for the same hours and on the same days as the Winter Visitor Center. It is a heated building where you can warm up and eat your own food.
• Sled Dog Kennels: The kennels are open on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Stop by to meet the dogs (if they aren't out on the trail), talk with a ranger, and learn about mushing.

Trip Planning Tips

• Plan a winter visit and read about winter activities available in the park.
• Riley Creek Campground is open for free winter camping on a first-come, first-serve basis. Toilets are available, but no running water, electric hookups, or other services are provided. All other campgrounds are closed for the winter season.
• Backcountry permits are issued at the Winter Visitor Center.
• A small selection of gift and souvenirs are available for sale inside the Winter Visitor Center through our non-profit partner, Alaska Geographic.
• Most ranger programs are offered in the summer. Check the calendar and ask at the visitor center upon arrival to see if any winter ranger programs are scheduled and to find out about special events.

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; learn more about fees and passes in Denali.

 

Summer 2024

The summer season begins on May 15 each year. Summer operations are affected by the ongoing Pretty Rocks Landslide and the associated closure of the Denali Park Road at Mile 43. To learn more about plans to address the landslide, 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 will be operating as normal.

• Transit buses and tour buses are traveling no further than the East Fork Bridge (Mile 43 of the Denali Park Road).
• Eielson Visitor Center is closed.
• Igloo Campground and Wonder Lake Campground are closed. All other campgrounds are open.

Other things to know as you plan a summer trip:

• Bus and campground reservations for Summer 2024 can be made beginning on December 1, 2023.
• Sanctuary Campground has returned to taking in-person, walk-up registrations only. No reservations for this campground are available.
• In summer, the Denali Visitor Center will be open daily from 8 am to 6 pm.
• In summer, the Sled Dog Kennels will be open daily. Stop by to meet the dogs, learn about dog mushing, and consider attending a sled dog demonstration.
• Backcountry permits are issued at the Backcountry Information Center, next to the Denali Bus Depot. Open daily 9 am to 6 pm in the summer.
• Ranger programs are offered daily in summer. Check the calendar or ask a ranger at the visitor center to learn about other special events.

 

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.