Camping in Denali National Park
The state of Alaska is home to 15 national parks. With a cumulative total of more than 50 million acres, these parks are more than twenty times the area of Yellowstone National Park. And while Alaska can seem remote to many first-time visitors, most of the parks have developed over time, making them remarkably accessible for travelers of all ages and abilities. One of the most easily accessible national parks is Denali National Park and Reserve, situated in the lower center of mainland Alaska.
About Denali National Park
Formerly known as Mount McKinley, Denali National Park and Preserve contains just more than 6 million acres of alpine glaciers, rivers, mountains, and scenic beauty. Much of the Denali National Park is covered with alpine landscape, including steep rocks, dense brush, and sloping hills full of small plants and wildflowers. According to the United States National Park Service, there are more than 157 species of birds within the borders of this Alaska national park, with other wildlife, such as caribou, moose, sheep, and bears also visible to Denali visitors.
While some areas of the Denali National Park are open and available to campers year round, many areas are not. The summer months bring temperatures between 33 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, while the cold winter usually keeps people away, with temperatures ranging from 40 below-zero at its coldest to 20 below-zero at the warmest.
Camping in Denali National Park
RV enthusiasts and backcountry campers alike can enjoy camping in Denali National Park, with programs and facilities for many styles of camping. Denali has six planned campgrounds: Riley Creek, Savage River, Sanctuary River, Teklanika River, Igloo Creek, and Wonder Lake. While none of the campground facilities within Denali have electric hookups for travel trailers or motorhomes, many of the campgrounds have modern shower facilities and comfort conveniences to make camping more comfortable. While some sites do offer reservations, regardless of which campground is reserved, sites are chosen upon arrival, not in advance.
The Riley Creek camping area, situated just inside the entrance to Denali, is the largest campground within the borders of the park. Suitable for all styles of camping, Riley Creek can accommodate RVs up to 40′ long. Tent camping is also available in the Riley Creek campground, with a designated walk-in camping area for tent camping only. Visitors who camp in the Riley Creek area of Denali are close to the general store, which has camping supplies, food, ice, firewood, and other camping amenities. Laundry facilities, showers, and a dump/fill RV station are also located within the Riley Creek area.
The more primitive and private camper will enjoy camping in the Savage River campground in Denali National Park. Though water is available, this campground does not feature any modern amenities, such as a shower house. Savage River is located at the end of the paved road into Denali, and houses only 33 campsites, as well as two group camping areas. While this camping area does not have many of the amenities boasted by Riley Creek, campers can enjoy a beautiful view of Mount McKinley when the weather is clear.
Even more primitive than the Savage River area of Denali is Sanctuary River. As the name implies, this quiet and secluded area for camping offers only seven campsites to choose from, situated not far from the Sanctuary River. This camping area is truly primitive, without potable water or access to electricity. Campers must bring their own water filtration system when camping here. Because Sanctuary River is a walk-in camping area only, visitors to Denali will have to stop at the main gate to find out if any of the sites are open for camping. Reservations for this section cannot be made.
The Teklanika campground, sometimes referred to only as “Tek,” is the second largest campground space within Denali National Park. This campground area, located at mile 29 of the park road, has 53 campsites available for tent or RV campers. Campers staying at Tek are allowed to drive further than other visitors to the park, but only to reach their campsite. Once situated within Teklanika, campers must leave their vehicle at the camping space until it is time to leave. Park shuttles are an option for traveling to and from other areas of Denali. While potable drinking water and restrooms are available at Teklankia, other facilities, such as shower or laundry are not available.
Igloo Creek is one of the smallest areas for camping, like Sanctuary River, with only seven sites available. However, it is the only area in which RVs are not permitted to camp, making it a site for tent camping only. While this campsite is accessible by park shuttle bus, drinking water is not available and campers must supply their own filtration or tablet system. Unlike many of the campgrounds within Denali National Park, Igloo Creek is walk-in only, meaning reservations for a space cannot be made in advance. Located at mile 35 on Park Road, Igloo Creek is nestled between two mountains, Igloo Mountain and Cathedral Mountain, with Igloo Creek itself flowing with clear water nearby. Because of its location, many day hiking trips are available directly from the Igloo Creek campsite.
At mile 85 of Park Road in Denali National Park is Wonder Lake. This camping area, the closest to Mt. McKinley, has 28 campsites available to tent campers only. Potable water and bathroom facilities are available at Wonder Lake, but showers and electricity are not. There is also a food storage area with picnic tables on-site, but fires are not permitted at this camping location. Because of the wet lands in this area of the park, mosquitos are heavy in population, and proper mosquito gear is recommended, including head nets or a mosquito netting jackets.
Backpack Camping in Denali National Park
Backpacking is one of the best ways to experience all that Denali National Park has to offer. Unlike other national parks in the United States, Denali National Park does not have any marked trails or guided paths for back-country camping. As such, there are procedures, including a permit system, required for backpacking within Denali.
Permits for back-country camping in Denali are available at the Backpacking Information Center (BIC) in Denalit National Park. There, those with the intention of backpacking through the national park will need to fill out their information, plan an itinerary, watch a backpacking video, and have a safety talk with one of the park rangers.
Because there are no guided trails or planned itineraries, it is difficult to plan a back-country camping trip in Denali in advance of arrival. Additionally, the national park only allows a certain number of back-country campers in each of the 87 predetermined “units” for camping. As such, back-country campers should arrive with the understanding that they will be unable to have a solid plan in place before departure from the BIC.
Other Information for Camping in Denali National Park
One of the most beautiful places to camp within the United States, Denali National Park provides unprecedented views of flora and fauna. However, certain precautions must be taken to thoroughly enjoy the Denali camping experience. Bear-proof containers are a must for anyone who is considering camping within Denali, and care should be taken to ensure that wildlife, even squirrels, are not rummaging through human food.
Pets are welcome in Denali, but with restrictions. Pets must be on a leash of no more than six feet at all times and can never be left unattended. Further, pets are only allowed on the roads, or in the parking lot and are not permitted to be on the park trails, or any of the in-park busses or shuttles.
Annalise Kaylor is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant specializing in search engine optimized content for the web. As a writer, her work has appeared across the United States in print ads for Whirlpool, Maytag, Home Depot, and Lowe's, among others. As a consultant, she has worked primarily in the education sector, helping universities increase their web visibility and construct and implement social media strategy. Annalise is an avid reader, knitter, organic gardener and baker, as well as the author of the popular baking blog, Knead To Be Loaved. Annalise enjoys fly fishing, camping, and hiking.
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