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Denali National Park, Alaska
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Alaska: Denali National Park

Denali National Park & Preserve features North America's highest mountain, 20,320' Mount McKinley. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers. Denali's more than 6 million acres also encompass a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose.

The park was established as Mt. McKinley National Park on Feb. 26, 1917. The original park was designated a wilderness area and incorporated into Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The Park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976.

Today the park accommodates a wide variety of visitor use including wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking. It continues to provide a laboratory for research in the natural sciences.

VISITATION:

The primary visitation season runs from May 1 to September 15. Visitation is lowest in winter months.

LOCATION /DIRECTIONS:

Denali Borough, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, south-central Alaska. (Denali Park's headquarters is along Alaska Route 3) Located along Alaska Route 3, the George Parks Highway, approximately 240 miles north of Anchorage, AK,125 miles south of Fairbanks, AK, and 12 miles south of Healy, AK.

Denali Park's mountaineering headquarters is located in Talkeetna, AK, approximately 100 miles north of Anchorage, AK. This is the primary point of departure for Mc Kinley /mountaineering expeditions.

ADDRESS:

Denali National Park & Preserve
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755

TELEPHONE: 1-907-683-2294

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

Daily, summer (late May to mid-September): Visitor Center hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Daily, winter (mid-September to early May): Headquarters Building, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Summers are generally cool and damp with average high temperatures in the mid 60s. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures falling to -40° F and below. Layers of clothing, including good rain gear and hiking boots are recommended for summer. Specialized cold-weather gear is necessary for mountaineering and winter visits.

TRANSPORTATION:

To Park: Denali is accessible by car or via the Alaska Railroad from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. In summer a variety of private bus and van services and the railroad operate daily from Anchorage and Fairbanks.

In Park: The Denali Park Road is accessible by private vehicle for 14.8 miles to the Savage River bridge. To travel to destinations farther into the park, including Eielson Visitor Center, shuttle and tour bus services are available. Bicycles are permitted along the Park Road, and on the camper bus, (for drop off to do a return ride). Road lottery takes place each fall. 400 private cars per day are allowed to drive the park road over a four day period. Call park for details on lottery.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:

Park entrance fees are $10.00 per family and $5.00 per person good for seven consecutive days. An annual pass is available for $15.00. Golden Age ($10.00), Golden Access(no cost), and Golden Eagle Passes ($50.00) honored.

Fees are charged for shuttle and tour bus services. These fees vary according to length of trip. Advanced reservations are available after February 24, 1997 by calling 1-800-622-7275 (nationwide)or 907-272-7275 (locally, in Anchorage, or international)or by FAX 1-907-264-4684.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Visitor Centers/Exhibits: Visitor Center, Eielson Visitor Center, Talkeetna Ranger Station.

Trails, Roadways: A wide variety of ranger-naturalist programs are offered throughout the summer. Elderhostel programs are sponsored by the Denali Foundation. Denali Park Road, Entrance Area Trails. Trails do not exist throughout most of the park but there are numerous day hiking and backpacking possibilities.

Accessibility:

Many park shuttle buses have wheelchair lifts. The Visitor Center, most campgrounds, and Park Headquarters are accessible.

Camping and Lodging Facilities:

Seven National Park Service campgrounds are available in the park. Three campgrounds, Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River, are open to private vehicles. Morino, near the railroad depot, is those traveling without vehicles. The other three campgrounds, Sanctuary River, Igloo Creek, and Wonder Lake, are shuttle bus accessible only. Fees are charged for all campgrounds and advanced reservations are available for most. Riley Creek is the only campground open year-round. For reservation information call 1-800-622-7275 from anywhere in the United States or(907) 272-7275 locally, in Anchorage, or outside the United States. Reservations may be mailed or faxed to Denali Park Resorts. Faxes must be received two days before the date of travel. Reservations that are mailed in must be received 30 days prior to departure.

*Letters may be mailed to:

Denali Park Resorts/Visitor Transportation System
241 West Ship Creek Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99501.

Camper Buses - Since Sanctuary, Igloo, and Wonder Lake campgrounds are accessible only by bus, special camper buses are provided to take campers and their gear into the park. Make reservations for a campsite and sign up for a camper bus at the Visitor Center desk. Be sure to sign up for your return trip to the entrance of the park as well. Park your vehicle in the Riley Creek Campground satellite parking lot where the camper bus will pick you up. You may also board at the Visitor Center. Although the camper bus can accommodate more luggage than regular shuttle buses, for your own convenience, pack efficiently, taking only necessary gear.

Teklanika Campground - Teklanika campers may drive their vehicles to the campground. However, in order to reduce road traffic, there is a minimum three night stay. Make sure you use the dump site at Riley Creek Campground and get all necessary items before going to Teklanika. There are no gas stations or services west of the Denali Park Hotel, and no telephones west of Park Headquarters. Once at the campground, you may not return temporarily to headquarters, since transportation back to the campground is unavailable. Your road pass is good only for one trip into the campground and one trip out. Leave towed vehicles in the Riley Creek satellite parking lot. To venture further west into the park, you must have a shuttle bus ticket.

Backpacker Campground - The Morino Backpacker campground is available for those backpackers who arrive without their own transportation. This 60 site campground is located one quarter mile west of the Alaska Railroad Depot. Self-register at Morino.

Group Campgrounds - Group sites are located at Savage Campground (mile 13). There are three tent-only sites for 9-20 people each. Advance registrations are available after October 1, 1993. Write to Denali National Park, Box 9, Denali National Park, Alaska 99755.

*Check with Park personnel to determine the latest camping regulations, food storage requirements, and safety precautions prior to camping at Denali.

The Denali Park Hotel is the only lodging within the park. Many other accommodations are available within short distance of the park. Most lodging is only open in summer. Year-round lodging is available in Healy, AK - 12 miles north of the park entrance and Cantwell, 29 miles south. Include either a check or credit card number with expiration date. Mail in requests must be received by Denali Park Resorts 30 days prior to your scheduled departure.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:

Forty percent of all shuttle bus seats and campground permits are available by advanced reservation via phone or fax. The spaces available

for advanced reservation do sell out. When they are sold out the remainder of shuttle bus seats and campground sites are available only at the Visitor Center, up to two days in advance.

Food, Supplies:

A restaurant and snack shop are located within the Denali Park Hotel. A small convenience store, The McKinley Mercantile, is located near the entrance to the Denali Park Hotel. Several other restaurants and convenience stores are located within a few miles of the park entrance. Most food services are available only in summer. Restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations are open year- round in Healy, AK - 12 miles north of the park entrance and Cantwell, 29 miles south.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/ PARK USE:

Touring the Park Road by bus, attending ranger-naturalist programs, mountaineering (advanced registration required), day hiking, backcountry camping (permit required), skiing and dog mushing (winter only).

Mountaineering:

Take time to read Mountaineering: Denali National Park and Preserve a reference booklet written by the Mountaineering Rangers of Denali National Park and designed to help climbers plan technical or expeditionary climbs in the park. This is a must read for expeditions, and includes mandatory requirements, general information, equipment suggestions and medical information.

*** Mountaineering permit registration packets must be submitted at least 60 days in advance and a $150 fee is charged.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

At least one full day is required to tour the park road by shuttle or tour bus. Visitors wishing to dayhike, backcountry hike, or attend ranger-naturalist programs, should allow several days. Those visitors arriving without reservations for shuttle or tour bus reservations may experience one to two day waits for an available bus. This is especially true during peak season and visitors should plan accordingly.

*** We highly recommend using the shuttle and campground reservation system when planning your trip!

SPECIAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS:

The park offers a wide range of interpretive programs. Program start dates for 1997 are available. Weekly schedules will be posted to this site again this summer.

VISITOR IMPACTS:

Information on park closures due to weather or road conditions are available by calling the park at (907)683-2294.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Denali State Park, Denali Wilderness Area (great free camping and scenery, just out of park boundaries!!! Be wary of Private lands dispersed throughout), the Denali Highway.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write: Denali National Park & Preserve
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755
or call 907-683-2294

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