Though a wilderness park, many areas of Denali are accessible to visitors with physical or mobility concerns. Information here is grouped geographically; check out our series of park maps to better understand the relation between these parts of the park.
Programs and Tours
Ranger Programs
Trail hikes: Around the park entrance, these typically occur on the McKinley Station and Horseshoe Lake Trails (see trail descriptions below). Elsewhere in the park, hikes typically occur on the Thorofare Ridge Trail and Tundra Loop (see trail descriptions below).
Sled Dog Demonstrations: Buses — at least one of which has a wheelchair lift — take visitors from the Denali Visitor Center to the sled dog kennels, 1.5 miles away. Kennels amphitheater has limited seating, so please arrive early to ensure a seat, rather than a standing space.
Campground Programs: Each campground's amphitheater is accessible via level paths, surfaced with well-compacted gravel. Many benches are in each campground amphitheater, but please arrive early to ensure a seat. Programs occur in Riley Creek, Savage River, Tekanika River and Wonder Lake Campgrounds.
Discovery Hikes: These day-long, off-trail hikes are extremely strenuous. Conditions vary considerably from hike to hike.
Bus services: Many tour and shuttle buses have a wheelchair lift. Please be sure to note the need for such a bus when making advance reservations or when buying tickets in person at the Denali Bus Depot.
Restrooms: Breaks for restroom stops occur roughly every 90 minutes on every type of bus trip in Denali. All rest stops in the park have one or more wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
Site accessibility: Riley Creek is composed of three large campground loops. A few spaces near the Mercantile (see below) are specifically designated as accessible, though most sites are level, vehicle-accessible and surfaced with compact gravel. Electricity is unavailable at any site, however. When making campground reservations, please be sure to request an accessible site if desired.
Ranger or concessioner stations: Riley Creek Mercantile features accessible restrooms and showers. Routes in and around the facility are paved and level. Six specifically-designated accessible parking spaces.
Restrooms / showers: Several of the restrooms throughout the campground are wheelchair-accessible. Showers are available at Riley Creek Mercantile.
Pay phone: None available.
Amphitheater: Routes to the amphitheater are well-compacted gravel and are level.
Routes: Most paths throughout the campground are well-compacted gravel and are level. The three campground loop roads are paved and generally level, with some small inclines.
Savage River Campground
Site accessibility: Savage River is composed of two main loops. None of the sites are specifically designated as accessible, though most sites are level, and vehicle-accessible. Surfaces range from compact gravel to native soils and roots. Electricity is unavailable at any site.
Ranger or concessioner stations: None. There are two campground host sites, should an emergency arise.
Restrooms / showers: Several of the restrooms throughout the campground are wheelchair-accessible. There are no shower facilities.
Pay phone: None available.
Amphitheater: Routes to the amphitheater are well-compacted gravel and are level.
Routes: Most paths throughout the campground are well-compacted gravel and are level. The three campground loop roads are paved and generally level, with some small inclines.
Sanctuary River Campground
Site accessibility: This small campground is tent-only, and campers must use the camper bus to access it. No sites are specifically designated as accessible, though most sites are level. Surfaces are typically native soils with roots and rocks. Electricity is unavailable at any site.
Ranger or concessioner stations: None available.
Restrooms / showers: One wheelchair-accessible restroom. No shower facilities.
Pay phone: None available.
Amphitheater: There is no amphitheater at this campground.
Routes: Most paths throughout the campground are level, though surfaces can be rocky or rough.
Teklanika River Campground
Site accessibility: Teklanika is composed of three campground loops. None are specifically designated as accessible, though most sites are level, vehicle-accessible and surfaced with compact gravel. Electricity is unavailable at any site.
Ranger or concessioner stations: None. There is one campground host site, should an emergency arise.
Restrooms / showers: Several of the restrooms throughout the campground are wheelchair-accessible. There are no shower facilities.
Pay phone: None available.
Amphitheater: Routes to the amphitheater are well-compacted gravel and level.
Routes: Most paths throughout the campground are well-compacted gravel and level. The three campground loop roads are generally level, with some small inclines.
Igloo Creek Campground
Site accessibility: This small campground is tent-only, and campers must use the camper bus to access it. No sites are specifically designated as accessible, though most sites are level. Surfaces are typically native soils with roots and rocks. Electricity is unavailable at any site.
Ranger or concessioner stations: None available.
Restrooms / showers: One wheelchair-accessible restroom. No shower facilities.
Pay phone: None available.
Amphitheater: There is no amphitheater at this campground.
Routes: Most paths throughout the campground are level, though surfaces can be rocky or rough.
Wonder Lake Campground
Site accessibility: This small campground is tent-only, and campers must use the camper bus to access it. No sites are specifically designated as accessible, though most sites are level. Surfaces are typically well-compacted gravel. Electricity is unavailable at any site.
Ranger or concessioner stations: A host is available in the campground, as is a ranger station about one mile away along the park road. The ranger station entrance is accessible, though there are limited visitor services at the station.
Restrooms / showers: One wheelchair-accessible restroom. No shower facilities.
Pay phone: None available.
Amphitheater: Routes to the amphitheater are well-compacted gravel and are level.
Routes: Most paths throughout the campground are well-compacted gravel and are level.
Denali Park Road: The sole road in Denali travels through low valleys and up tall mountainsides, and some visitors need to know just how high in elevation the road rises. The highest point on the Park Road is called Highway Pass, and it is almost 4,000' above sea level (1,220 meters). The entrance area of the park is much lower, ranging from 1,700 - 2,200 feet above sea level.
Trails: Check out trail descriptions above; few maintained trails go higher than 3,000 feet above sea level.
Backcountry: Much of Denali is taken up by part of the Alaska Range, with peaks near the park road generally ranging between 3,000 and 6,000 feet above sea level. Denali, at 20,310 feet, towers above all others in the range.
Park Entrance Area Facilities & Trails
Denali Visitor Center Area
Parking: Ten accessible spaces are available
Routes: Paved from parking lot with slight uphill incline; additional routes between restaurant and park store are paved, also slight inclines
Entrance: Front door operates on a push-button door opener; rear doors do not.
Restrooms: Mens and womens both wheelchair accessible, as well as one "family" restroom on its own
Water: Water fountains and nearby water filling station (for own bottles) wheelchair accessible
No pay phone
Benches: Provided throughout visitor center and outdoors area around the center
Elevator in facility to access all levels
Exhibits: Some tactile or otherwise interactive exhibits structured to be accessible from a wheelchair
Denali Bus Depot
Parking: Six accessible spaces are available
Routes: Paved from parking lot with slight uphill incline; additional routes between restaurant and park store are paved, also slight inclines
Entrance: Front door operates on a push-button door opener; rear doors do not
Restrooms: Mens and womens both wheelchair accessible, as well as one "family" restroom on its own
Water: Water fountains and nearby water filling station (for own bottles) wheelchair accessible
No pay phone
Benches: Provided throughout visitor center and outdoors area around the center
Elevator in facility to access all levels
Exhibits: Some tactile or otherwise interactive exhibits structured to be accessible from a wheelchair
Sled Dog Kennels
Parking: Numerous spaces, but none closer than approximately 50 yards (50 meters) from the kennels
Routes: Paths to and throughout the kennels are well-compacted gravel, no significant inclines
Entrance: Facility is mainly outdoors, though a small office can be found in the kennels; the door can only be opened manually
Restrooms: Available close to the parking area, rather than the kennels itself; restroom structure is large enough to accommodate wheelchairs
Water: Not available
Pay phone: Not available
Benches: Benches and some seating in the kennels amphitheater are available
Dog yard: Each dog has its own house, which is surrounded by very loose gravel.
Entrance Area Trails
Roadside Bike Trail: Little elevation change, slopes slightly downhill to the east. Surface is well-compacted gravel. 5% maximum grade, 10' width.
Horseshoe Lake Trail: Surface is native soils with rocks, roots. Initially a short, steep uphill to a bench overlook. The trail descends 250' steeply, and about 1/2 mile down to the shore of a lake. Grade of 5% with sections up to 20%. Generally 5' wide with a narrower section 24" wide from the visitor center to the railroad tracks.
Jonesville Trail: Surface: Compacted gravel. Drops ~150 feet from west to east.
McKinley Station Trail: Compacted gravel. 8.5% grade maximum, dropping ~100 feet in the process via one long, gently sloping hill. 5' wide.
Meadow View Trail: Surface is compacted gravel. Trail is relatively level, but has a steep drop to one side and is 30" wide. Only access is via the Rock Creek or Roadside Hiking Trails.
Mount Healy Trail: Surface is native soils with rocks, roots. Initially inclines gently, eventually becomes very steep - up to 25% grade. Generally 24" wide.
Roadside Hiking Trail: Compacted gravel. Runs generally uphill from east to west, up to 15% grade; generally 36" width.
Rock Creek Trail: Compacted gravel. Runs generally uphill from east to west, up to 15% grade; generally 30" width.
907 683-9532
A ranger is available 9 am to 4 pm daily (except on major holidays). If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message and we'll call you back as soon as we finish with the previous caller.
