If you go at the peak of the tourist season, Denali can be quite overwhelming. Here's how to make life easy and get the most out of your visit to Alaska's most famous park.

Difficulty Level: easy      Time Required: 2-4 days

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Here's How:

1. Don't miss Denali - you haven't really seen Alaska until you've been into the park.
2. Do your research and plan ahead - but that's why you're here, isn't it? The park is huge, there is a lot to do and see, and the entrance area gets very crowded and confusing.
3. When making your plans, add an extra day beyond what you think you'll need.
4. There are a wide variety of accommodations close to the park - see the "Alaska For Visitors" and "ExploreNorth" sites below for listings.
5. Reservations for everything are highly recommended from late June through mid-August. If you don't have reservations, stop as early in the day as possible.
6. The park entrance fees for the 2007 season are $10.00 per person or $20.00 per vehicle. You can also get an annual pass for $40.
7. Denali National Park & Preserve has 6 campgrounds with a total of 291 sites where you can for up to 14 days. Prices vary for each campground.
8. There is a wide range of restaurants near the entrance, both in the hotels and free-standing. A high level of competition has resulted in prices staying reasonable at most. Plan on eating at off-peak times.
9. Denali is not designed as a driving park. The public transportation system is very good - particularly if you're driving an RV, park it and use the buses.
10. There are 3 different bus systems, each with their own routes and features. Only the Tundra Wilderness Tour buses include lunch, but all have great driver-guide commentary. Print out the information on them from the NPS site linked below.
11. The first point on the park road where you can see Denali is Stony Hill. The policy for the Tundra Wilderness Tour drivers, who normally only go to the Toklat River, is that if the weather is clear they continue on to Stony Hill.
12. Take advantage of as many of the National Park Service programs as you can. Of the 40 or so I've attended, every one has been worthwhile in various ways. Many are free, there is a nominal charge for some.
13. There are also a large number of private operators offering raft tours, nature tours, bike rentals, flightseeing and other services. Each of the hotels has operators that they deal with, but they aren't always the best deals - shop around.
    

Tips:

1. "The mountain" may still be Mt. McKinley officially, but to Alaskans, she's Denali, "The Great One".
2. The further into the park you go, the better it gets. The bus trip (especially coming back out) is long, but well worth it.
3. You may see wildlife along the highway, but don't bet on it - on the trips into the park, great wildlife viewing is virtually guaranteed.
   

Related Features:

• Arctic & Northern Animals
• National Park Service - Denali Visitor Center
• More about Denali