The busy summer season has ended at Denali National Park and Preserve, and visitors can now drive private vehicles on the Denali Park Road as far as the Teklanika River Rest Area at Mile 30, weather permitting. Visitors are advised to call ahead for weather and road information, as conditions can change rapidly at this time of the year. Vault toilets will be available at the Mountain Vista Trailhead (Mile 12), Savage River parking area (Mile 15) and the Teklanika River Rest Area through September. Other park facilities west of headquarters, such as campgrounds and restrooms, are closed for the season.
Beginning on Friday, October 1, the park road will be closed to travel beyond Mile 5 in order to replace a large culvert at Mile 7 that is failing. During the construction period, which is expected to take up to four weeks, that section of road will be impassable by vehicle. The road will be open to pedestrians and bicyclists, but they will need to walk around the construction area and stay alert for trucks and other heavy equipment.
The headquarters flagpole parking lot is closed to all parking until late November, as the site will be under construction as part of the kennels road re-alignment project.
On Wednesday, September 22 the Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) will begin functioning as the winter visitor center. The MSLC will be open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to provide park information and backcountry permits.
The Bear Loop of the Riley Creek Campground at Mile 0.2 remains open for camping, but the water has been turned off for the season. A vault toilet is provided for campers and water can be obtained at the Murie Science and Learning Center. Gas, food service and lodging are available in the communities of Healy and Cantwell.
Denali National Park and Preserve collects an entrance fee year-round. The entrance fee of $10 per person or $20 per vehicle is good for seven days. The majority of the money collected remains in the park to be used for projects to improve visitor services and facilities. Interagency Federal Recreation Passes such as the Annual, Senior, and Access Pass, and the Denali Annual Pass are also valid for entry into the park. Visitors can pay entrance fees at the Murie Science and Learning Center.
Information is available on the park website at www.nps.gov/dena or by calling (907) 683-2294 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. daily.
Denali Park Road Open to Mile 30 through September
The American Alpine Institute just received the following email from Denali National Park:
