Denali National Park and Preserve - Winter Activities (U.S. National Park Service)

nps photo / dan irelan

A sundog can be seen anywhere in the world, but they are most common during very cold weather - something Alaska in winter has in spades. Ice crystals low in the air catch sunlight, typically when the sun is low in the sky.

Winter is an amazing and powerful season in Denali. For much of the year, Denali's landscape is blanketed in snow, its rivers and lakes locked in thick ice, its animals in hibernation, long-since migrated, or making the best existence they can in temperatures that routinely reach -40 F (-40 C).

Winter is outside the "normal" season for travelers, but that perhaps increases the rewards of a visit. For someone seeking natural beauty, tranquility, stillness and a challenge, winter in Denali can be a wonderful time.

Snow can begin accumulating as early as mid-September each year, or as late as November. Snow and ice typically stick around through April, although an usually mild or harsh winter can make exact thaw and ice breakup unpredictable. Use the following links to learn more about various winter-specific activities in the park.

Click here to download our winter activities brochure

An aerial view of Denali's winter landscape

NPS photo / jared withers

In winter, the sun hangs low in the sky, making for beautiful lighting of the landscape

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