Denali Park Road

Denali Park Road is the vital transportation artery of Denali National Park.

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Denali Park Road Details

Denali Park Road is the vital transportation artery of Denali National Park, running 92 miles from the park entrance at George Parks Highway/Highway 3 to distant Kantishna. The road generally runs parallel to the Alaska Range and accesses every major point of interest in the park, including Denali's two visitor centers, six campgrounds, trailheads, and scenic viewpoints. Traveling through valleys and up mountainsides, the road reaches its high point at Highway Pass, about 4,000 feet above sea level. Private vehicle traffic is generally limited to the first 15 miles of Denali Park Road, with the exception of an annual road lottery that allows 1,600 cars to drive as much of the highway remaining open on certain days in September. At all other times, the bulk of the road is accessible only by park shuttle buses and tour buses. More than basic transportation, these lengthy bus rides offer spectacular views of Denali's scenery and not-infrequent encounters with park wildlife, up to and including grizzy bears. Denali Park Road is paved for the first 15 miles, then gravel the rest of the way. Weather often closes stretches of the road as it goes deeper into the park, especially in winter. Among park visitors, two of the most frequent questions are, "Will I see wildlife?" and "Will I see Mt. McKinley?" National Park Service research estimates that 80 to 90 percent of visitors will see wildlife, and on a park road tour, about one in three visitors will see the mountain for most of the day and other 40 percent will have partial views.

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Low

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