The Eielson Visitor Center

 

Since 1934, some kind of visitor facility has existed along Eielson Bluffs. The first facility was a tent camp called Camp Eielson, and named after pioneer Alaskan aviator Carl Ben Eielson. In 1960, after four years of design and construction, an interpretive center and rest stop opened and replaced the tent camp. A major remodel in 2008 ensured the building kept a low profile, tucked partly into the hillside below the park road.

The area has always been famous for its amazing views of Mount McKinley on clear days, and it is not uncommon to see wildlife on the surrounding hillsides.

 

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Visiting the Eielson Area

Eielson Visitor Center is located at mile 66 on the Park Road. During the construction closure that begins in 2027, transit buses will not make a scheduled stop here. A Wonder Lake or Kantishna transit bus will travel past Eielson and can drop you off to hike the trails, but will not make a scheduled stop at the visitor center.

Three trails exist at Eielson and you are also welcome to hike off-trail. On a clear day, Mount McKinley dominates the view to the southwest.

Please remember that there is no food service in the park—bring all your food and beverages with you.

 

Sustainable Features

As one of the leaders in sustainable design, the National Park Service made a priority of re-modeling Eielson Visitor Center using sustainable building methods and materials.

Building into the tundra

A main goal of the project was to design a low-profile building that blends into the landscape. The steep slope enabled the designers to partially bury the building, which visually screens the structure from the Park Road. The roof is literally "green," as tundra mats salvaged from the construction of the site were relocated to planters dispersed on the roof terrace. These camouflage the roof deck, helping it blend into the landscape. The green roof also assists in storm water run-off reduction and thermal energy conservation.

Other sustainable building techniques

The planning and construction of Eielson included strategies such as maximizing natural daylighting, selecting energy-efficient heating / venting systems, the use of renewable energies to power the building and thoughtful selection of recycled and locally produced.

Renewable energy

In the past, the remote location of the center spurred the park to implement various renewable energy strategies at the site, including a hybrid generator system with photo-voltaic panels and a battery bank. Information gained from analysis of this and other strategies led to expanding the solar panels and battery bank, installing a solar hot-water heating system for the restrooms, and constructing a small hydroelectric system in a nearby stream.

Commitment to environmental sustainability

Denali National Park and Preserve is a National Park System Center for Environmental Innovation. The park has committed to showcase new technologies, motivate and educate the public and park service employees about environmentally friendly practices, and install systems and alter behaviors to reduce energy needs and adverse environmental impacts. The design effort for the replacement Eielson Visitor Center embraces that challenge and exemplifies these goals.

In recognition of Denali's achievements, the Eielson Visitor Center achieved a platinum level certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Platinum is the highest level achievable.

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