Current Conditions

Alerts

 

On This Page:

• COVID-19 Notice
• Summer 2022
• Park Road Conditions

Learn and Explore

Last Updated: May 20, 2022

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 2023, while the Polychrome Area Plan is implemented.

The details below apply to trip planners in 2022 and 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 of Denali National Park and Preserve: MEDIUM

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.

 

Summer 2022

The summer season begins on May 15. Summer 2022 (and 2023) operations will be 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.

Visitor Centers & Other Facilities

• Denali Visitor Center: Open daily, 8 am to 6 pm (May 15 to late September). Rangers are available to answer questions and collect entrance fees.You can also watch park films and explore the exhibit area.

• Backcountry Permits: Available at the Backcountry Information Center daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Permits are issued in-person only, no more than one day before your trip begins.

• Sled Dog Kennels: Open daily, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Sled Dog Demonstrations are offered daily.

• Other facilities in the park entrance area, such as the Denali Bus Depot, Riley Creek Mercantile, Morino Grill, and Alaska Geographic Park Store, are open.

• Eielson Visitor Center: closed in 2022

Buses

• Transit buses and tour buses travel as far as the East Fork Bridge (Mile 43). Advance reservations for buses are strongly recommended.

• Free shuttles operate along the first 15 miles of the park road (Riley Creek Loop, Savage River Shuttle, Sled Dog Demonstration Shuttle).

• Masks may be required aboard all buses and shuttles, depending on local COVID-19 transmission rates.

Campgrounds

Wonder Lake Campground is closed in 2022. All other campgrounds are open. Advance reservations for all campgrounds are strongly recommended; they can be made as early as December 1, for the following summer.

Entrance Fees and 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.

Road Lottery

The 2022 Road Lottery and Military Appreciation Day are cancelled.

 

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.