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Update July 2023
In Denali National Park & Preserve, if you want to learn the rich natural and cultural history of the park, then this is the best tour. We highly recommend adding at least two to your itinerary to fully explore the park. For travelers with limited time to explore the vast expanse of the park, the Denali Natural History Tour offers a perfect solution. Maybe, just maybe, you will encounter the famous big five — grizzly bears, moose, wolves, Dall’s sheep, and caribou. This immersive excursion provides a condensed yet comprehensive experience, allowing you to discover the park’s highlights, witness its breathtaking landscapes, and encounter its fascinating wildlife—all within a time-efficient itinerary.
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More than six million acres of wilderness make up Denali National Park. The terrain fluctuates from low elevation taiga to alpine tundra on the high terrain. There is one road in and out of the park. Denali is home to grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, arctic ground squirrel, snowshoe hares, wolverine, and more than 160 species of birds. Visitors can hike, camp, backpack or view wildlife. There are interpretive programs and ranger-led activities. Visitors can learn about the park’s history and culture of the indigenous peoples.
For us, experiencing this vast expanse of land, mountain peaks, and wildlife was a once in a lifetime experience. In Denali National Park & Preserve, you can easily find solitude and tranquility in this true wilderness area.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Denali Park Road will be closed at Mile 43 of the 92-mile road this summer because of a landslide near Pretty Rocks. Because of road construction, the Denali Park Road will be closed until 2025.
Exploring the Wilderness: Transportation Options in Denali National Park & Preserve
For our 3-week tour of Alaska, we rented an RV from Great Alaskan Holidays for our Alaska dream vacation. You cannot drive past mile marker 15 on the park road. Instead, the National Park offers a free shuttle bus to take you from the campground to the visitor center or the bus depot.
If you want to go further into the park, you can use green non-narrated buses. Non-narrated buses grant travelers the freedom to explore Denali at their own pace. With no predefined itinerary, passengers can follow their instincts, embrace spontaneity, and linger at the spots that resonate with them the most. These allow you to get on and off the bus anywhere along the road. This bus is great for hiking or even backpacking into the heart of the wilderness. Wildlife has the right of way and they take every chance to keep the animals wild.
Note: Denali National Park Visitors Can Expect Major Road Closure through 2025. Roughly half of the main road through Denali National Park and Preserve will remain closed as park officials contend with landslide issues.
Book your tickets online and pick them up at the Denali Bus Depot the day before-arrive early! Reserve far in advance https://www.reservedenali.com/. You must bring your snacks for lunch on this tour. The park does not have an entrance station to collect fees, they instead add the fee to the park bus passes or tour passes.
NOTE: Annual Pass holders are eligible for a refund of the entrance fee (with proper ID), either at the Denali Bus Depot or Riley Creek Mercantile.
What to Bring on Your Denali Natural History Tour: Essentials for an Unforgettable Wilderness Adventure
For our brief visit to Denali National Park, we chose the Denali Natural History Tour and purchased tickets online. This informative tour was ideal for our limited time in the park. However, we had to bring our own lunch since meals were not provided.
To make the most of your experience and ensure a comfortable and enjoyable tour, consider packing the following essentials:
- Layered Clothing: Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable, so dress in layers to stay warm and adjust to temperature changes. A waterproof jacket or raincoat is essential, as rain showers are common.
- Sturdy Footwear: Wear comfortable and sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots suitable for uneven terrain and potential mud.
- Binoculars: Bring binoculars to enhance your wildlife viewing opportunities, as you may spot bears, moose, caribou, and other wildlife at a distance.
- Camera and/or Smartphone: Capture the stunning landscapes and wildlife encounters, but remember to take a moment to fully experience the surrounding beauty.
- Sun Protection: Pack sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the strong Alaskan sun, especially if you are traveling in the summer months.
- Insect Repellent: Mosquitoes and other insects can be present, especially in wooded areas, so carry insect repellent to stay comfortable during stops.
- Water and snacks: Bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the tour. Snacks, such as energy bars and trail mix, will keep you energized during your exploration.
- Sense of Adventure: Finally, bring along a spirit of adventure and a willingness to immerse yourself in the wild beauty of Denali. Engage with your tour guide, ask questions, and savor every moment of this exceptional journey.
Note: refilling stations are at the Murie Science and Learning Center, the Denali Visitor Center, and at the Denali Bus Depot.
What is the Denali Park Natural History Tour: Discovering Alaska’s Wilderness Wonders
This tour typically lasts around 4 to 5 hours, making it a time-efficient option for visitors with limited time or those seeking a shorter excursion. Knowledgeable and experienced tour guides lead the expedition. They provide informative commentary, sharing insights into the park’s history, ecosystems, and wildlife, enriching the overall experience. The bus will take you to Primrose Ridge (Mile 17) on the Denali Park Road before returning to the Denali Bus Depot. Today we only have a short time in the park, so this is the best fit for us.
Embarking on Our Denali Natural History Bus Tour: A Condensed Adventure into Alaska’s Wilderness
Be on time! The tour starts at the bus depot near the visitor’s center. First, we watched the park film, “Across Time and Tundra.” The film is a prelude to what you will see on the tour.
Today the weather is on our side, it is reasonably clear with sunny skies. After mile marker 3, we enter the wilderness. The sun warmed the air and reveal some of the park’s most spectacular views. I was really excited seeing the beauty of this magnificent place for the first time.
TIP: Don’t hog a window–take several pictures and then move so others can take photographs too.
Taiga forest dominates this section of the park. Although wildlife viewings are never guaranteed, they consider this prime moose habitat. You can see moose anywhere in the park. However, they frequently browse along this stretch of road. Our tour guide prefaces that “I can’t make any promises — this is the wild, not a zoo.” We may see animals, we may not.
We kept a keen eye for the flash of sun glinting off antlers, or moose nibbling fresh willow leaves. Luckily we saw spot moose browsing on brush beside the road. Everyone rushed to the far side of the bus for photographs.
Unfortunately, the narrated tours will not allow you to disembark to take photographs. You MUST stay on the bus. This is the downside of these tours.
Interpretive “Living History” at Savage Cabin: A Glimpse into Denali’s Pioneer Past
At mile marker 12, the tour stops to visit Savage Cabin. The Savage Cabin stands as a testament to the resilient spirit of early pioneers who sought to make a home in the rugged Alaskan wilderness. This is the original cook’s cabin built in the Park as the first visitor camp. Today, they still use it as a ranger patrol cabin in the wintertime by the Park Service today. Inside the cabin, we discovered an array of authentic pioneer artifacts, tools, and household items.
As you visit the cabin, there is a park ranger in attendance who is in character, portraying a trapper from the 1800s. Donned in period clothing, he creates an interactive and immersive experience. He provides a “Living History” narrative bring history to life with his vivid storytelling and in-depth knowledge. The tale revolves around his of survival during the winters and summers during the early years. This helped us gain a deeper understanding of the region’s history, culture, and the impact of early settlers on the land and its indigenous inhabitants. The cabin’s walls resonate with the stories of human resilience and their indomitable spirit.
We had just enough time and did the Savage River Interpretive Trail looking at the native plants. The guide told us how the plants have medicinal for the indigenous people. He explains when we see monkshood that it is poisonous, and we should avoid it.
Sanctuary River Rest Stop: A Serene Oasis Amidst Denali’s Untamed Beauty
The bus stopped at the Savage River bridge. The Sanctuary River Rest Stop boasts sweeping vistas of Denali’s vast swathes of tundra, including breathtaking views of the Alaska Range and the meandering Sanctuary River. Here the forest is replaced by low meadow grasses. This glacial-fed river has shaped the land for millennia, carving valleys and shaping the landscape as it flowed. From the river bank, we can see miles of alpine tundra in every direction. Today’s sunshine makes the spring wildflowers in the mountain meadows so vividly colorful! Keep a sharp eye for snowshoe hare in the underbrush near the edges of the riverbank. We saw a few on our walk. This is a good place to savour the unspoiled beauty of Denali.
Throughout the tour, we had lots of opportunity to ask questions and learn from knowledgeable our guide who are intimate with the park’s natural features and wildlife.
The tour guide regaled us with stories for much of our ride to the Primrose Ridge Turnaround. You could tell he was knowledgeable and enjoyed educating others in the park. The bus makes a shortstop by the Sanctuary River to take pictures of Mt Denali. She is only visible 30% of the time as she has her creates her own weather. We were fortunate enough to see Denali today in all her splendor. We became lucky members of the 30 percent club. The views of the whole Alaska Range are stunning.
End of the Road Turnaround Primrose Ridge: Welcoming the Wisdom of Ancestral Lands
At Primrose Ridge, you will see a Native Alaskan presentation before the return trip back to the Denali Bus Depot (formally called the Wilderness Access Center). The dance was very memorable. She described to us how the indigenous people have used the land over the last 10,000 years.
As we disembark the bus, the driver hands us a copy of the book “Denali: A Living History – The Natural History Tour Companion.” Published by Alaska Geographic, it thrills us to have such a wonderful keepsake. Truly a memorable journey!
What Other Narrated Tours are There in Denali National Park?
Kantishna Experience (Tundra Wilderness Tour): This is a full-day (12hrs) tour that takes visitors to the remote Kantishna region of the park. It is the only tour features a National Park Service Interpretive Ranger aboard the bus. The tour includes a guided bus ride through the park, as well as a stop at the historic Kantishna Roadhouse for lunch and a chance to explore the area on foot. Note: Currently not available because of the road closure.
New 2023 Wilderness Tundra Tour-With the road closure this tour is 5.5 hours turns around at the East Fork’s River mile marker 43. During this tour, visitors will see a variety of wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. Your certified naturalist guide will spot and identify animals, and the tour includes multiple stops for wildlife viewing and photography. They made a brief stop at the Adolph Murie Cabin. One of Murie’s most significant contributions was his research on wolves in Denali National Park. In the 1930s and 1940s, many people believed wolves were a threat to other wildlife and should be eradicated. Murie’s research challenged these beliefs and showed that wolves played an important role in maintaining the ecosystem of the park.
Final Thoughts Limited on Time? Take A Denali Natural History Tour
The natural history tour is a great way to gain a deeper appreciation for the park’s natural wonders. Adding this tour to your Alaskan itinerary. to better understand the important role that Denali National Park plays in preserving these ecosystems for future generations. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned park enthusiast, the tour offers an unforgettable and educational experience. It’s important to note that the Denali Park Natural History Tour is distinct from other longer tours that venture further into the park’s interior. If you have limited time to spend in the park but still wish to experience its breathtaking beauty and wildlife, this tour offers a condensed yet rewarding introduction to the wonders of Alaska’s wilderness.
We had such an exceptional experience on this tour! This is the ideal excursion if you only have a few hours in Denali. It is so good to know that this park will remain pristine.
Have you taken a narrated tour in Denali? What did you think? Would you go again? Let us know by commenting below. We would love to have you SHARE your experience in the park.
