• Image of Mount McKinley and the Alaska Range

    Denali

    National Park & Preserve Alaska

Gear Checklist

The following equipment is highly recommended when venturing out into Denali's backcountry:

Equipment

  • Sturdy hiking boots (waterproofed) and at least 2 pairs wool or synthetic socks
  • A backpack that can carry a tent, personal gear, and a Bear Resistant Food Container (BRFC)
  • Gaiters and trekking poles for river crossings, loose rock, snow patches, boggy areas, and brush
  • Rain jacket and pants (ponchos not recommended)
  • Polypropylene, nylon, fleece or wool clothing (avoid cotton). Quick-dry pants, long underwear, at least one long-sleeved shirt, a warm winter hat, waterproof gloves and a fleece jacket are also recommended. Be prepared for temperatures ranging from 30° to 80° F(-1° to 27° C) in the summer months
  • Stove, fuel, cookware and water bottles
  • Water filter (preferably equipped with a silt stopper device) or water purifying tablets
  • Dense, high-calorie food that fits in the Bear Resistant Food Container and cooks quickly
  • Compass and map (maps available at the Backcountry Information Center). While a GPS unit is useful, it should be used to supplement a topographic map, not in place of one
  • Toilet paper, trowel, and a bag for used toilet paper and sanitary items, which must be stored in the BRFC and packed out, not buried or burned
  • Tent with rain fly and waterproof floor (bivouacking or camping with only a tarp is not recommended)
  • Sleeping bag and pad (for any overnight summer trip, protection to 20° F/7° C is suggested)
  • Insect repellent and/or head net
  • Emergency gear, such as first aid kit, knife and a signaling device such as a whistle or signal mirror
  • Large plastic or waterproof bags to protect the gear inside you pack
  • Bear spray (this is up to your personal preference-conditions must be perfect for bear spray to be effective, e.g. wind direction, weather, distance from the animal
  • A change of shoes for camp, to lower your impact on the vegetation and to change out of wet boots
  • Backpack rain cover
  • Camera with waterproof case
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat for sun protection
  • Toiletries such as toothbrush, hand sanitizer, and lip balm- ALL items with an odor must fit in you Bear Resistant Food Container

Did You Know?

Major vegetation monitoring should allow detection, understanding and potential management of vegetation change

The vast landscapes of interior Alaska are changing. Large glaciers are receding, permafrost is melting and woody plants are spreading. Comparison of "then-and-now" photographs and data from major vegetation monitoring should allow detection, understanding and potential management of these changes.