You’re finally booking that trip to Alaska!
My guess is you feel overwhelmed with all the places you want to visit and see, and how to fit it all in based on the time you have available. In our experience, whether you have one week or three months it never feels like enough!
We hope your Alaska travels take you to Denali National Park & Preserve! Denali is worth the visit, and it was one of the highlights during our 2023 two-week Alaska trip. We visited Denali for two nights, or one full day, as part of a land-tour with Holland America before joining a 7-night Alaskan cruise.
While I wish we had more time during our visit, I do feel we made the most of our one day in Denali.
So, how did we set up our day? What would I do differently? What were the must-sees during our Denali visit?
Let’s gooooo!
One Day in Denali
Early Start
Okay, my first piece of advice is to get an early start in Denali.
The first thing that went “right” for us during our Denali visit actually happened by sheer luck. Holland America booked us on the Tundra Wilderness Bus Tour at 6:00am. Yes, you read that right. We boarded (basically) a school bus promptly at 6:00am from McKinley Chalet Resort. Meaning, we got up even earlier to grab coffee and a small breakfast beforehand.
I, of course, was thrilled to be in the park before sunrise. Generally wildlife are more active in the early mornings, which increased our chances of seeing animals. Conversely, he was not as thrilled.
And I admit, while I was thrilled to get an early start, I was skeptical if this 5-6 hour bus ride was the best way to spend a large chunk of our time in the park, since we only had one day in Denali...
As we made the short drive into the park in the dark, our bus driver explained he would narrate for most of the tour to help us learn more about the park, the landscape, the wildlife, etc. He also explained what happened if we saw wildlife and the importance of being quiet as the bus would stop so we could observe and take photos.
We didn’t have to wait long to see wildlife. Within 15-minutes of entering the park we observed a moose, our first of the “big five” (moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly bears)! We pulled over and observed, before continuing on.
We saw several other moose while in the park, but unfortunately we did not see a bull moose close up (we’ve yet to see one close up in all our travels!).
The buses on this particular tour are equipped with zoom lens, so if wildlife are far away the driver can still display the animals on screens throughout the bus. Of course it’s more exciting to see them right outside your window, but the screens work very well if you can’t see them with your naked eye, or through a camera or binoculars. Side note: this is a tour you definitely want to bring binoculars!
We drove to Savage River, which is the point at which general traffic cannot go past, only the Denali buses. Once further into the park we spotted more of the “big five” from far off, including caribou and Dall sheep. I had no idea how large caribou antlers were–up to 3+ feet! We were able to enjoy the caribou from our binoculars, but weren’t able to get any decent photos. This is where the zoom lens and screens on the bus was really helpful.
As we drove further into the park, the sun was coming up creating beautiful scenery. We could tell it was a fairly clear day with few clouds. I crossed my fingers we’d be in the small percentage of visitors who actually see Denali, or “the mountain.”
One of the most exciting moments was seeing our first grizzly bear! We saw several on our trip, and even viewed one for over 10 minutes as he walked along the road (away from us, of course!).
The bus makes several quick pit stops along the way where restrooms are available, and you do receive a box of various snacks to enjoy during the tour. We also found the narration very enjoyable and informative. Our driver narrator was very passionate about the park, which added a degree of authenticity vs just lobbing information at us for 5.5 hours.
And the views… Oh, the views! Simply stunning. The higher elevation mountains received snow the night before, which added a magical element to the already stunning landscape. We could also tell fall just arrived with changing colors (9/2/23).
After we reached out turnaround point, our driver had yet to point out Denali, the highest peak in North America with a summit of over 20,000 feet. I knew there were only certain places along the road Denali was viewable, and was losing hope.
But then at one stop he surprised us all by casually noting the peak with the small cloud puffs, was “the mountain.” The clouds finally cleared enough and saw Denali!
Needless to say we were elated, or at least I was. We saw Denali, four out of the “big five” (no wolves), and the weather was stunning (after days of rain and clouds). I rate the Tundra Wilderness bus tour a 10/10.
The cost of the bus tour was included in our overall land tour and cruise package with Holland America. However you can book this bus tour on your own. And in fact, we think the Tundra Wilderness bus tour is a Denali National Park must-do.
As of the date of this post, adults are about $142 per person (children around $64 pp), which is not cheap. However, as I mentioned in our favorite Alaskan excursions post, this excursion/experience may check off several things on your Alaska bucket list (seeing Denali, wildlife viewing, etc.). Meaning, the cost is high but you are maximizing your dollars by experiencing so much in one tour. But, by all means, if you aren’t into wildlife viewing, or having an opportunity to see Denali, skip this.
Mid-Day
The bus returned to our chalet resort around 11:30a. By this time we were hungry, and grabbed a table at the bar in one of the restaurants onsite for sandwiches and pizza.
The next top thing on our list was a sled-dog demonstration. After lunch we took a free shuttle from our resort to the Denali Visitor Center. We got our National Park Passport book stamped, and had plenty of time to hop another free shuttle to the kennel area in time for the demonstration.
Before the demonstration the park rangers encouraged us to walk through the kennels to say hi to all the dogs. You could tell the pups were enjoying the sunshine!
The sled dog demonstration was fun, and worthwhile if it interests you (it’s also free). I find myself very skeptical when animals are involved for human entertainment. However, in walking through the kennels, watching the rangers interact with the dogs, and hearing about the Alaskan huskies we could tell these dogs LOVE what they do and are well cared for.
We arrived back at the visitor center around 3:00pm. By this time we were getting tired due to the early wake up time. But it was still beautiful out, and I was secretly determined to at least do one hike in Denali National Park. After consulting with a ranger, we decided to take the free Savage River shuttle, and get off at the Mountain Vista shuttle stop to hike Mountain Vista Loop Trail.
The loop trail is only .6 miles, mostly flat on compacted gravel, and ADA compliant. It was a lovely walk with sweeping mountain views all around. We were extra alert for wildlife on the trail, but sadly we didn’t have any luck.
Afterwards we continued to Savage River via the shuttle. This is a stunning area, and the furthest one can drive a personal vehicle into the park. There is a small parking lot, and a few trails. I decided to get out and take more photos, and once again thanked the universe for such incredible weather.
Evening
To return to our chalet resort we rode the shuttle back to the visitor center, and then caught another shuttle to the resort. Easy-peasy, although it did take some time.
We had 6:00p dining reservations at Karstens Public House, which turned out to be a great option for our group. We ate there both nights during our stay, and enjoyed the variety of food and service.
I suppose we could have stayed in the park longer, but given everything we saw I was satisfied we made the most of our one day in Denali National Park. Plus, I knew likely we’d be back in the future–I was very sad we didn’t get a selfie of us in front of the Denali entrance sign as we normally do!
Back to our rooms to clean up for the night, as well as prepare for another early morning departure to Whittier to board our cruise ship!
What Would We Do Differently?
Look, I love dogs. And the sled dog demonstration was fun to see. However, it did take up a big chunk of time (at least 2 hours) because you must take a shuttle to get to the kennel area, and then one back to the visitor center. If we did this day over, I’d pass on the sled dog demonstration.
Instead I’d do a longer hike, such as Horseshoe Lake from the visitor center, or Savage River Loop Trail from the Savage River shuttle stop. Another option would be off-trail hiking. Denali is one of the few national parks that allows off-trail hiking!
Really though, besides skipping the sled dog demonstration, and maybe staying in the park later into the evening, I wouldn’t change anything else.
Additional Tips for Maximizing One Day in Denali
When you only have one-day in Denali National Park, the key is to have a loose plan with several back up options. Here are important considerations when planning.
Weather
I’m going to be honest with you. I do think weather will have a big impact on your overall experience in the park.
If it’s cloudy and rainy, you likely will not see Denali, and that is a huge bummer.
However if the weather is crummy, don’t forget wildlife is out rain or shine. And with less than desirable weather, the bus tour would still be a great option because 99% of the time you are inside the bus. I don’t think you can go wrong with the bus tour.
Be prepared for changing weather by bringing the right clothing. Dress in layers and wear waterproof shoes and a waterproof rain jacket. This isn’t just Denali advice though, this is true for anywhere in Alaska. During our two-week Alaska trip we used our rain jacket every day, no matter where we were!
If you plan to hike, obviously the weather can make or break your experience. The appropriate clothing can too, as well as having several trail options. Denali is a large park, so the weather in one area can be very different from others. Talk to a ranger for advice given the conditions, and be prepared to use plan B, C, D, etc.
Food
When I think about what takes up time, food/meals is another consideration if you only have one day in Denali.
We had lunch back at the resort because our bus tour started and ended directly from our resort (we also had meal vouchers). This cost us at least 1.5 hours.
Instead plan to bring more snacks than normal or eat at the Denali Visitor Center, which has a small restaurant. You will save a ton of time by staying in the park instead of leaving and returning (even using the shuttles). Not to mention parking can be an issue during peak times of the day.
How to Get Around Denali National Park
Like many other national parks, there places in Denali where you can drive your personal vehicle, but there are places where you cannot. From our experience, the park has made extra efforts with transit buses and shuttles to help you get around the park, in addition to the bus tour mentioned earlier.
And, as you might expect, vehicle restrictions apply during certain times of the year due to weather conditions. This NPS website does a great job explaining the bus tours and shuttles, schedules, etc. to help you plan your visit. Check this out ahead of time to plan how you’ll get around to make the most of your day!
Bottom line: Denali National Park will leave an impact on you no matter the weather or how much time you have to experience the park. Come with a plan, know the weather is a roll of the dice, and make the most of your time in this incredible park!
I can’t wait to hear about your trip to Denali National Park. If you’ve spent just a day in Denali, I’m curious what other tips you’d offer those planning a visit. Please share in the comments!
Related Blog Posts: