Day Trip Details

This is an exclusive opportunity to experience the backcountry of Denali National Park in a single day.

You’ll have opportunities to see a variety of wildlife, magnificent landscapes, and a historic gold mining district for lunch. Our drivers are experienced guides, adept at helping our guests spot wildlife. It’s common for guests to see grizzly bears, moose, black bears, and caribou. Other animals such as wolves, marmots, squirrels, and ptarmigan are also routinely spotted. If the weather is clear, you might have a chance to spot Denali, the tallest mountain in North American. Rain or shine, Denali Park is filled with wonder and wildlife.

2027 Season

Operating Dates: June 10 – September 6, 2027 

Schedule: 7 Days a week

$259 per person includes round trip bus tour, lunch at the Lodge, and an on-site activity.

Departure Locations & Times

  • 6:10 am Denali Park Village Main Lobby
  • 6:30 am Denali Bluffs Hotel
  • 6:40 am McKinley Chalet Resort

Bus Returns To Hotels Before 8:00 pm

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Interested in a longer stay? Learn about all-inclusive packages at Kantishna Roadhouse.

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Common Questions

From start to finish, the tour lasts about 13 hours. This includes lunch at the Kantishna Roadhouse and frequent stops along the way for passengers to take in the views of Denali National Park, stretch and use the restrooms. You can expect to be back at the front of the park some time between 6 and 8 pm.
We regularly pick up at the following hotels: Denali Park Village, Denali Bluffs Hotel, and McKinley Chalet Resort. If you’re not staying at one of these hotels, please contact us at (800) 230-7275 to arrange for pick-up. Visit our tour details page for more information on pick up times.

Most guests park at their hotels near the entrance of the park. Occasionally some guests drive in the morning of their tour. If that’s you, tours begin at the Bus Depot at the front of Denali National Park. There is plenty of available parking there, but be sure to arrive around 20 minutes early so you can park and walk to the Kantishna Wilderness Trails pickup spot.

No. Our buses do not offer restrooms, however our buses stop approximately every one to two hours, letting passengers off for about 10-20 minutes at a time to use rest stops.

The Kantishna Roadhouse property features several historic buildings, gardens, and beautiful views. You can take time to explore on your own, take a guided nature hike, pan for gold, go fly-fishing, or go for a bike ride. You can also simply take advantage of the opportunity to unplug and unwind! Expect to take lots of photos to capture the experience.

Yes! We offer all-inclusive packages with a two-night minimum. Please visit the Kantishna Roadhouse website for more information. 

We recommend being prepared for changes in weather – lightweight comfortable pants, comfortable closed toed shoes suitable for dirt or rocky terrain, short or long-sleeved shirt + a mid-weight sweater or jacket.

We recommend packing light, and bringing only the essentials. Personal items that you expect to need during the day such as a camera, wallet, medication, and toiletries. Personal items like sunglasses and binoculars are also recommended. We have rain jackets and pants, hiking poles, insect repellent, water bottles and binoculars available for use at the Roadhouse. Although en-route snacks are provided, you may bring your own if you like. Guests are encouraged to bring bottled water for your convenience.

You may, but we can’t guarantee you’ll see it. Visitors to Denali National Park often refer to the ‘30% Club.’ Being a member of the 30% Club means you were of the lucky 30% of visitors to Denali National Park that was able to view Denali free of cloud cover. The elusiveness of Denali makes it all that much more special for guests who are fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the fabled mountain.

We can never guarantee animal sightings, but it’s very common to see bears, caribou, and moose along Denali Park Road. Dall sheep can often be seen in small herds on far away mountain tops. On rare occasions, our tours spot wolves; however, wolves are very aware of human behavior and they often stay away from the road. It’s very common to see birds such as ptarmagin looking for food in the tundra, and eagles and hawks can be spotted soaring above the mountain ridges. Small animals like marmots and ground squirrels are abundant in the park, so be sure to check in the shrubbery! Other rare animals you might spot include wolverines and porcupines. Keep your eyes open, and make sure to let the tour guide know if you spot something so everyone can join in on the fun.

Lunch at the Roadhouse typically consists of fresh house-made sandwiches and soup, but this may change based upon availability of ingredients. We strive to provide meals made with locally sourced or homegrown ingredients whenever available.

Due to our remote location, we may not always be able to accommodate special dietary needs. Please let us know as far in advance as possible of any special dietary needs.

Our gift shop offers hats, gloves, socks, clothing, insect repellent, books, field guides, Alaska Native art and postcards available for purchase; please do keep in mind the weight limit for the flight back to Denali Air. We are happy to ship items for you.

Gratuities are not included in your tour price. All gratuities received are shared equally amongst the staff unless you request otherwise. Cash is appreciated; if you choose to purchase something from our gift shop using a credit card, you’re welcome to add your staff gratuity to that transaction. 

While gratuities are not required, if you enjoy your experience and feel it was enhanced by the attention and efforts of our staff, 10-15% is commonly regarded as standard.

Your time with us is limited, but we will be happy to help you see and do as much as you can while in Kantishna!

There is no internet or cell phone service in Kantishna. Plan to unplug and truly experience the backcountry.

We have outlets available to charge cell phones or cameras. Please bring charging cords.

Policies

Cancellation Policy

  • Prior to 60 days of excursion date, a $30.00 service fee per seat is charged.
  • Between 60 and 30 days of tour date, forfeiture of 50% of payment.
  • Within 30 days of arrival: Non-refundable.
  • Cancellation for any reason is subject to our cancellation policy. We recommend travel insurance.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend travel insurance for guests riding with Kantishna Wilderness Trails. Travel insurance policies can cover family emergencies, medical emergencies and unforeseen travel disruptions.

Infrastructure and therefore access to our lodge can be and has been impacted by wildfires, floods, landslides, and snowfall. Circumstances like these are impossible to predict and can impact any itinerary, especially in a place with variable weather like Alaska.

Canceled reservations due to forces beyond our control are subject to our stated cancellation policy. Any travel or accommodation costs associated with delays or unforeseen circumstances are the responsibility of our guests.

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