Your Safety

Emergencies: Dial 911

Be prepared to give your location as Denali National Park. Call to report accidents, fires, or life-threatening emergencies. Cell phone coverage exists only within three miles of the park entrance. Since there are no phones west of Park Headquarters, emergencies in those areas should be reported to rangers on patrol, campground hosts, bus drivers, or to staff at Eielson Visitor Center or the Toklat Rest Stop.

Wilderness Safety

Denali is a true wilderness . Before venturing into the park, read the safety information in the Denali Alpenglow, the park newspaper. Grizzly bears and moose are dangerous. Crossing glacial rivers is treacherous and the potential for hypothermia is always a factor in the sub arctic. More information on wilderness travel can be found in our backcountry camping webpages.

 
Hikers on a trail in Denali
Often, hikers cannot rely on cell phones for help. Stay aware of your surroundings and report emergencies to rangers, bus drivers, or campground hosts. Be prepared, in remote areas, to self-rescue.
nps photo / neil blake

Did You Know?

This slump occurred as underlying permafrost melted

Warmer temperatures have led to dramatic thawing of permafrost. Thaw releases carbon, as once-frozen materials decompose, but allows increased plant growth. Researchers in Denali are studying whether thawing permafrost will increase or decrease world-wide carbon emissions.