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Denali National Park
Denali National Park lies on the north side of  the Alaska Range, south of the Arctic Circle. The Park entrance is accessible by Highway, 237 miles from Anchorage Alaska and by Railroad, but you have to ride a Park Bus to get into the Park.
alaska state railroad  Alaska Railroad Info

The park was established in 1917 as a wildlife refuge for the protection of large mammals including Dall sheep, caribou, moose, grizzly bears and wolves. Originally called Mt. McKinley National Park it was expanded from 1.9 million acres to 6 million acres in 1980.
The fragile web of Denali's wildlife includes 37 mammal species and 160 species of birds. Most of the park is either covered with rock and ice, or sub-Alpine tundra with its scattered ponds, clusters of dense shrubs such as dwarf birch, willow, or blueberry, and oceans of small wildflowers.

Mount McKinley—America's tallest mountain—rises 20,320 feet (above sea level) from the frozen heart of the Alaska Range, along the south side of the park. Muldrow Glacier, descending from the northeast flank of Mt. McKinley, is 30 miles long, and the largest of many glaciers flowing down the mountain's northern face.

Eight major glacial troughs radiate from mile-high headwalls in the Cathedral Spires portion of the park. The northern portion of the park and preserve includes the old Kantishna mining district north of Wonder Lake, as well as an ecosystem which supports large and small mammals and a variety of waterfowl and over 450 species of plants.

McKinley's geology features a portion of the Denali Fault System (the largest crustal break in North America) that stretches for 1,300 miles across the full width of Alaska. Associated with the Alaska Range, the fault passes through the park, generally separating the most ancient rocks in Alaska from those of younger age. Events that took place between these extremes have created a beautiful land with wide, low plains, and dark, sombre mountains, brightly colored peaks and sheer granite domes.

Once you're in the park, there are restrictions on travel along the park road (which runs from the Parks Highway to Kantishna). Single-trip shuttle bus tickets cost between $12 and $30 per adult, depending on the destination. Children under 12 years old will ride-free.
For Alaskan residents, or for visitors planning a long stay in the state, a six-ride discount package will hold particular appeal. The nontransferable tickets will cost $25 for rides to Toklat, Eielson or interior campgrounds, or $40 to Wonder Lake. The tickets must be used a minimum of seven days apart. Reservations are required.

Improvements to the bus system include a 40% increase in the number of shuttle bus seats, a nationwide toll-free reservation system for bus and camping tickets, better road maintenance and a shifting of the park budget toward improved visitors services and resource protection.
Check locally for up-to-date information regarding travel within the park. Shuttle buses leave from the Visitor Access Center near the park entrance at frequent, regularly scheduled intervals, and go as far as Wonder Lake, stopping at all the campgrounds and wildlife viewing opportunities along the way. Wildlife tour buses also provide access into the heart of the park. Naturalist guides provide interesting information of the human and natural history of the park. Tours may be booked through the local hotels.

The park road is open to Wonder Lake from June 10 to mid-September, when it's usually closed by the first heavy snowfall.
Private vehicles may drive only as far as mile 14.8 on the park road. Access to the park interior is by shuttle bus; tickets are available for $12-$30 at the Visitor Center. Waits up to 2 days are common during peak visitor season. Starting mid-January you may phone 1-800-622-7272 and reserve up to 8 seats in advance.

Information/Emergency
Superintendent, Denali National Park and Preserve, PO Box 9, Denali Park, Alaska 99775; 907 683-2294.
Emergency: 683-9100 (in park) or Alaska State Troopers 683-2232

Copper River EMS at Glennallen--911 or 822-3263 (Alaska State Troopers)
Cantwell Volunteer Ambulance--768-2982 or 768-2202 (Alaska State Troopers)
There are no public phones on the highway outside of Paxson and Cantwell

Accommodations
Denali North Star Inn
Box 240, Healy, AK 99743; 907-683-1560, 1-800-684-1560
Comfortable, reasonably priced rooms, best food in the Denali Park vicinity. Denali Park and area tour information and reservations. Local shuttle service, authentic Alaskan gifts, barber shop/beauty salon. Recreation and exercise facilities, saunas, laundry, tanning beds. Eleven miles to Park entrance.

Motel Nord Haven
28 room family-owned and operated motel 12 miles north of the entrance to Denali National Park in Healy, Alaska. Located at Mile 249.5 Parks Highway.
P.O Box 458, Healy, AK 99743
(907) 683-4500 US Toll Free 800-683-4501 Fax: 907-683-4503
info@motelnordhaven.com

Denali Backcountry Lodge
Don't pass up a visit to this lodge if you want to escape the park's crowded east entrance and immerse yourself deep within Denali National Park for a few days. The lodge is located at the end of the 95 mile park road. Full service accommodations feature a comfortable wilderness vacation lodge, cozy cedar cabins, dining room and lounge. One to four night stays include roundtrip transportation from the train depot, all meals and lodging, guided hikes, wildlife viewing, bicycling, photography and natural history programs. Many famous naturalists are found staying at the lodge and occasionally they conduct special presentations. Credit cards accepted. PO Box 189, Denali National Park, AK 99755. Call 800-841-0692.
Alaska Wildland Adventures
PO Box 389 Girdwood, AK 99587. 800-334-8730, 907-783-2928 If you want to "experience Alaska" contact this well respected adventure travel company. Alaska Wildland Adventures operates wildlife safaris, sportfishing packages and wilderness vacation lodges. Their safaris feature premium itineraries combined with small group experiences. Active, independent travelers often choose a visit to one or more of their pristine wilderness lodges located in the heart of Alaska's most famous parks and refuges. For example, a visit to Denali Backcountry Lodge will take you to the very end of "park road" deep inside Denali National Park.
You'll have the opportunity to search out Denali's famed wildlife, view Mt McKinley up close, and hike the wild regions of the park with naturalist guides or you can take mountain bikes and explore on your own. Visit their website or order their informative brochure. web: www.alaskawildland.com

Denali Windsong Lodge just north of the park entrance offer seventy-two modern nonsmoking rooms with private bath, telephones, satellite TV, in-room coffee. Clean, modern rooms, unique log furnishings, free local phone calls, courtesy transportation. Numerous restaurants and activities in immediate area. Beautiful property with scenic views of the Nenana River valley. Handicap accessible. For reservations call 800-208-0200, fax 907 245-0400.

Denali Princess Lodge Located on the banks of the Nenana River, the 280-room Denali Princess Lodge offers the most modern accommodations in the area. Just one mile from the entrance to Denali National Park featuring panoramic views of the Park, spacious outdoor decks with hot tubs, a fine dining restaurant, seafood bar, lounge, casual cafe, espresso bar, tour desk, gift shop, televisions and telephones in every room, shuttle service to the rail depot and Park Visitors Center. Daily rail packages available aboard Princess' Midnight Sun Express from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Open mid-May through mid-September. Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, American Express accepted. Located at mile 238.5 on the George Parks Highway. Call 800-426-0500 for reservations and information.

Totem Inn is just 12 scenic miles North of the Denali Park entrance. 907-683-2384. Deluxe rooms, satellite TV laundry and handicap rooms available. Restaurant and Lounge.

Camping
The National Park Service maintains 7 public campgrounds within the park. One can drive a car or RV to Riley Creek, Savage and Teklanika Campgrounds. Access to Sanctuary, Igloo and Wonder Lake is by shuttle bus only. Camping fees are $12 per night. You can reserve camp sites by calling 1-800-622-7225, or in person at the Visitor Center up to two days in advance. During any summer season you can stay only 14 nights in the park whether you stay in one campground or in several. Park campgrounds are maintained from Memorial Day to mid-September, weather permitting.

The Morino Campground near the park entrance is a walk-in camping area for bikers and backpackers arriving without vehicles.

Transportation/Tours
Alaska Park Connection Coach Service runs daily service between Denali, Talkeetna, Anchorage, Portage, Seward and return. The only direct service available between Denali & Seward. Call 888-277-2757 for schedule or reservations, fax 907-245-0400. web: www.alaskaparks.com

Alaska Tour & Travel offers various tour packages to the Denali area. Book lodging, transportation, cruises and activities with a single call to 888-277-2757, fax 907-245-0400.

Things to Do
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North American Sales
PO Box 189, Rockaway NJ 07866, (973) 983 1144 Local NJ, (800) 221 0596 Toll Free
(973) 983 8551 Fax

Worldwide Reservations
4 Waterperry Court, Middleton Road, Banbury, Oxon OX16 8QG
01295 256777 Tel.
01295 257399 Fax

McKinley Raft Tours PO Box 138, Denali National Park, AK 99755; 907 683-2392. One mile north of the McKinley Park entrance on the Parks Highway. McKinley Raft Tours offers three different kinds of trips from the quiet beauty of a float trip to the rush and excitement of the Nenana's famous white water.

The Denali National Park Hotel is a staging area for wildlife tours, slide-lecture programs, and nature walks.
The Visitor Center near the park entrance has current information on shuttle buses, and permits for overnight camping at campgrounds along the park road as well as permits for overnight backcountry hiking trips.
There are evening talks daily at most of the park's campgrounds. Check park bulletin board.
located 12 miles from the park entrance.
Healy is a quaint, historical mining and railroad town. Drab railroad buildings, and wooden plank platforms which front the tracks resemble a movie set. Across the river are the coal mining settlements of Suntrana and Usibelli.

Service
mile 249.5/km 401.5 Larry's Healy Service Tesoro gas and oil products.
Click The link below to Denali National National Park for more information about this area.

Denali Highway
This scenic, 133 mile/214 km route connects the Richardson Highway with Denali National Park and Preserve. The highway begins at Paxson Junction (mile 177/km 285 on the Richardson Highway) and ends at Cantwell Junction where it merges with the Parks Highway. It is only 28 miles from this point to the Denali National Park. This highway is closed in winter from October to mid-May.
With the exception of the first 20 miles/32 km, this highway is gravel and can be quite rough.
mile 0--Paxson (Junction of Richardson & Denali Highways)

Paxson Inn & Lodge, rooms with bath, dining room, cocktail lounge, full RV hook-ups, phones, liquor store, gas, diesel, propane and towing. 907-822-3330. Editor's note: Chet and Karen Eldridge and family operate this long established lodge at the Junction of the Richardson Highway with the Denali Highway. They have begun extensive renovations with more planned for the future The Denali Highway leads 133 miles to the Parks Highway and Denali National Park. See Denali Highway in Index.

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