This page describes some of the sensory experiences one might encounter at different facilities in the park. Please contact us with any additional questions.
Ranger programs
- All ranger programs strive to engage multiple senses and learning styles, and often include audio components and/or tactile objects.
- At the start of each program, the ranger will explain what to expect and how long the program will last.
Denali Visitor Center
- There are many tactile exhibits. You can touch animal furs, a relief map, and more.
- The building is often noisy and crowded, with a PA speaker system that's occasionally used. Quieter spaces can be found at benches outside and behind the visitor center.
- There is an active train depot nearby. You may hear loud train whistles as the train arrives and departs.
- Park films are played in the theater on a regular schedule every half hour.
- An 18-minute, non-narrated film, "Heartbeats of Denali," shares sights and sounds of the park throughout the seasons.
- A 21-minute, narrated film, "The True Heart of Winter", tells the story of sled dogs working in Denali.
Winter Visitor Center
- A tactile fossil exhibit features a rock with a dinosaur track that you can touch.
- Armchairs and a fireplace offer a nice place to warm up after spending time outside in the cold.
- This building is often fairly quiet in mid-winter, but can be crowded when large tour groups are visiting.
- There is an active train depot nearby. Trains run infrequently in the winter, but you may hear loud train whistles as the train arrives and departs.
- Upon request, park films can be played in a small room adjacent to the main visitor center space.
- An 18-minute, non-narrated film, "Heartbeats of Denali," shares sights and sounds of the park throughout the seasons.
- A 21-minute, narrated film, "The True Heart of Winter", tells the story of sled dogs working in Denali.
Sled Dog Kennels
- The dog yard can be a very noisy place. The dogs may howl together, bark at squirrels nearby, or bark excitedly before going for a run during a dog demonstration. There is also a PA system in the dog yard that is used before and after demonstrations.
- The dogs have thick fur coats that are constantly shedding. Your hands and clothes may be covered in dust and dog hair if you pet the dogs. You can choose to view the dog yard from a distance without interacting with the dogs, if you prefer.
- Sled dog demonstrations can be very crowded, with up to 400 people in attendance on the busiest days. Most visitors stand close together during the demonstration. There are a few benches to sit on; the benches are also often crowded.
Denali Bus Depot
- The building is often noisy and crowded, with a PA speaker system that's occasionally used. Quieter spaces can be found at benches outside.
Riding the Bus
- The bus driver will often use a PA system to announce stops, give instructions, or describe the landscape.
- Riders are expected to sit and use a lap seat belt. Bathroom/rest stops off the bus are scheduled about every 90 minutes.
- There is no air-conditioning system on the bus. Riders may open windows for ventilation, which can make it windy or dusty inside the bus.
- Riders are expected to speak quietly when stopped to look at wildlife.
