Denali National Park Tours
The Denali Backcountry Adventure
The deepest and most elevated journey into the heart of Denali National Park!
The Denali Backcountry Adventure is a 92-mile journey to the heart of Denali National Park. This adventure delivers the experience of a lifetime through the unexpected sights and sounds of the Alaskan wilderness.
In one day, you will travel the single road into the deepest reaches of Denali, seeing wildlife, untouched nature and rugged landscapes. Your driver-guide is a gifted storyteller with an eye for safety and a radar-like ability to spot wildlife. Time seems to fly by as your journey past stunning landmarks in the vastness of Denali National Park.
Lunch is served in the warm, welcoming Miner’s Day Lodge at Denali Backcountry Lodge in the remote end-of-the-road community of Kantishna followed by Immersive activities that will connect you with the history of this special place.
The journey out of the park is just as full of magic. The light is different, the chances of spotting wildlife are different, and by this point, you’ll feel different as well. You’ll have a deep appreciation for the preservation of this remarkable place — how the vast wilderness can be both calming and inspiring.
Ininerary:
6:00 AM | Depart |
12:00 – 12:30 PM | Denali Backcountry Lodge: Lunch and Activities Stop |
1:45 – 2:15 PM | Depart for return trip; continue searching for wildlife. |
6:30 – 7 PM | Return to Denali Canyon area |
Availability: June 10 – September 6
Duration: 13 Hours
Bring:
Denali weather can change quickly, so we recommend dressing in layers and bringing a waterproof outer layer, comfortable walking shoes, any personal medications, and your camera. Additional pre-trip details will be provided before departure.
Inclusions:
A hearty family-style lunch is included at Denali Backcountry Lodge. The menu is inspired by the history and flavors of Kantishna and features White Chicken Chili, Kantishna Garden Salad with Rhubarb Vinaigrette, Sourdough Cornbread with Birch Syrup Butter, a Bumbleberry Tart and our Fireweed Honey Arnold Palmer. Menus are subject to change without notice. An assortment of light snacks and beverages are available onboard. Many common dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice, including vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options. Please provide dietary information when booking so the culinary team can prepare appropriately. After lunch, guests continue on a short, hosted journey through Kantishna. The experience includes a guided botany walk, a seated homesteading story focused on life at the end of the road, and hands-on gold panning before returning to the Day Lodge area to visit the gift shop and restrooms before continuing the Tour. Guests who prefer not to participate in portions of the hosted activity may opt out and reconnect with their group before departure. Scheduled restroom opportunities are available along the Park Road, and additional restrooms are available at Denali Backcountry Lodge before, during and after the Kantishna experience.
Additional Info:
A mandatory $15 National Park Entrance Fee is added to every booking for guests 16 years and older.
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Guests with park passes can seek a refund at the Denali National Park Visitor Center by providing park pass and receipt.
Additional $2 is add for Alaska Geographics- Your donation helps fund youth programs, trail and habitat projects, educational exhibits and materials, and partnerships with parks, refuges, and forests across Alaska.
Denali National Park: East Fork Transit Bus Tour
Explore the park on a budget on the non-narrated shuttle bus!
Photo credit: https://www.valisemag.com/denali-bus-tours/
Photo credit: https://www.valisemag.com/denali-bus-tours/
In an effort to preserve the fragile ecosystem of Denali National Park and Preserve, the National Park Service has limited access on Park Road for private vehicles. Designed for those who want to experience Denali off the bus (hiking and camping), transit buses offer transportation inside Denali National Park similar to a bus system you’d find in a larger city. These buses are not guided tours and offer no narration.
Availability: May 20 - September 14
This tour must be booked directly starting December 1st and the link provided below will take you directly to the booking page.
Times: Departs daily at 6 AM and then shuttles run about every half hour
Duration: Round trip 4.5 hours, but could be longer if you choose to hop off the bus and explore
Pick Up Location: Denali Bus Depot
How does it work?
The Denali Transit Buses provide a “hop on/hop off” system for those looking to experience Denali National Park and Preserve on their own timeline. However, reservations to enter the park are made for a specific departure time so please arrive a minimum of 20 minutes early at the Denali Bus Depot prior to your reserved departure time to board the bus. Once your bus is underway and has left the paved section of the roadway, passengers can “hop on/hop off” at their discretion by simply requesting to be let off the bus. To catch another bus, simply stand anywhere along the Denali Park Road in the direction in which you wish to travel, then wave down any green bus. If the first bus is full, you and your party will have to wait until the next bus. Transit buses are green buses and will have a sign which indicates the destination of the bus is heading. Buses generally run about every 30 minutes on average.
We highly recommend ordering our hearty To Go Lunch as there are no food services within the park.
Book yours online or order at check-in with the front desk.
Tundra Wilderness Tour
The only narrated half-day trip
Photo Credit Doyon Joint Venture
Photo Credit Doyon Joint Venture
The Tundra Wilderness Tour is the premier tour of Denali National Park and Preserve! This tour offers wonderful diversity for visitors. Incredible scenery, a narrated history of the park road, and some of the best opportunities to view the park’s wildlife inhabitants await you on this tour.
The Tundra Wilderness Tour will guide you along the spectacular road corridor, promising different experiences every day, as Denali’s wildlife moves at its own pace and according to the seasons. Travel to the Murie Cabin near the East Fork River to experience where Adolf Murie lived while conducting his famous research inside what was then known as Mount McKinley National Park!
Availability: May 20 - September 14
This tour must be booked directly starting December 1st and the link provided below will take you directly to the booking page.
Times: Vary, click button below to reserve
Duration: 5 - 5.5 hours
*All passengers, regardless of age, must have a reservation to board the bus.
*Parents are responsible for providing the appropriate car seat for children.
Pick Up Location: Denali Bus Depot
Deposit/Cancellation Policy
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Confirm payment and cancellation policy at booking.