Looks like Denali NP may be shut down for the 2020 season. There is an issue at MM 43 that may or may not be able to be fixed in time.https://www.ktoo.org/2019/12/19/denali-park-road-could-be-closed-due-to-sloughing-roadway/We are currently booked in the park at the end of August and now are trying to decide what to do. It's in the middle of our planned trip and if we can't go there the plan is to cancel the entire trip. Hopefully there will be updates in February to help with the decision.UPDATE: I have received word from the lodge in Denali that barring any unforeseen circumstances the park road will remain open throughout the entire 2020 season. We have already decided to go elsewhere and save Denali for another trip but hopefully this information will help someone else make a decision.

There is SOOOOO much more to Alaska than Denali. Our next trip we won't even spend time there.

There is SOOOOO much more to Alaska than Denali. Our next trip we won't even spend time there.This would be my 4th visit-I'm well aware of what the state has to offer and have explored other areas but not Denali.

MM43 is halfway in according to the map. Most of the campgrounds (except Wonder Lake) are located before it. If the majority of the stuff you want to see is beyond that, then you may have a problem, but if you're in one of the cgs nearer the entrance you'll still be able to stay there, I would think? I'm not familiar with it as we did stop there 3 years ago, but it was a madhouse, even with most stuff shut down, and we just drove in a few miles for a look see, and then continued on our trip south to Kenai.

I would not cancel a trip to Alaska because approximately half of Denali NP is closed. We spent 3 days at Teklanika and took the long 10 hour bus tour from there. It was a grueling trip and didn't se much of interest. Grizzlies, sheep, goats were seen, but were hundreds of yards from us. Teklanika is about 26 miles into the park, so that leaves about 18 more miles to see before the road closure. Really, there's not much more to see beyond that point that can't be found elsewhere in the state. If your goal is to see Denali Mountain, you can actually get better views driving through Denali STATE Park on the way to Talkeetna.

Most of the campgrounds (except Wonder Lake) are located before it.We are booked at North Face Lodge at the end of the road as we don't have an rv right now.I would not cancel a trip to Alaska because approximately half of Denali NP is closed.Agree 100%. It was getting late and I was very tired when I got the email from the lodge telling us the park road may be closed and my reaction was very knee-jerk. Logical heads prevailed and we are looking at staying at a lodge in Lake Clark National Park for that weekend instead, where you get much closer to the wildlife. We will still pass by the park and may just drive in as far as we can get (MM 13 I think). Thanks for the head's up on Denali State Park.

Denali NP-probable shutdown 2020 season-Updated 2/19/20

harley4275
Explorer
Dec 21, 2019
We stayed at the overlook for the night and was a beautiful site in the morning.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Dec 21, 2019
Very surprised at your decision to cancel an entire trip due to this possible issue.
MDKMDK
Explorer
Dec 21, 2019
Crowe wrote:
Most of the campgrounds (except Wonder Lake) are located before it.

We are booked at North Face Lodge at the end of the road as we don't have an rv right now.

I would not cancel a trip to Alaska because approximately half of Denali NP is closed.

Agree 100%. It was getting late and I was very tired when I got the email from the lodge telling us the park road may be closed and my reaction was very knee-jerk. Logical heads prevailed and we are looking at staying at a lodge in Lake Clark National Park for that weekend instead, where you get much closer to the wildlife. We will still pass by the park and may just drive in as far as we can get (MM 13 I think). Thanks for the head's up on Denali State Park.

There's a "scenic overlook" farther south on the Parks Hwy where you can pull out, park, and view the "big hill". Can't recall how far but it's a few miles. We stopped there and got some of our best pics of it.
Crowe
Explorer
Dec 21, 2019
Most of the campgrounds (except Wonder Lake) are located before it.

We are booked at North Face Lodge at the end of the road as we don't have an rv right now.

I would not cancel a trip to Alaska because approximately half of Denali NP is closed.

Agree 100%. It was getting late and I was very tired when I got the email from the lodge telling us the park road may be closed and my reaction was very knee-jerk. Logical heads prevailed and we are looking at staying at a lodge in Lake Clark National Park for that weekend instead, where you get much closer to the wildlife. We will still pass by the park and may just drive in as far as we can get (MM 13 I think). Thanks for the head's up on Denali State Park.
zigzagrv
Explorer
Dec 21, 2019
I would not cancel a trip to Alaska because approximately half of Denali NP is closed. We spent 3 days at Teklanika and took the long 10 hour bus tour from there. It was a grueling trip and didn't se much of interest. Grizzlies, sheep, goats were seen, but were hundreds of yards from us. Teklanika is about 26 miles into the park, so that leaves about 18 more miles to see before the road closure. Really, there's not much more to see beyond that point that can't be found elsewhere in the state. If your goal is to see Denali Mountain, you can actually get better views driving through Denali STATE Park on the way to Talkeetna.
MDKMDK
Explorer
Dec 21, 2019
MM43 is halfway in according to the map. Most of the campgrounds (except Wonder Lake) are located before it. If the majority of the stuff you want to see is beyond that, then you may have a problem, but if you're in one of the cgs nearer the entrance you'll still be able to stay there, I would think? I'm not familiar with it as we did stop there 3 years ago, but it was a madhouse, even with most stuff shut down, and we just drove in a few miles for a look see, and then continued on our trip south to Kenai.
Crowe
Explorer
Dec 21, 2019
There is SOOOOO much more to Alaska than Denali. Our next trip we won't even spend time there.

This would be my 4th visit-I'm well aware of what the state has to offer and have explored other areas but not Denali.
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Dec 21, 2019
There is SOOOOO much more to Alaska than Denali. Our next trip we won't even spend time there.

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Denali NP-probable shutdown 2020 season-Updated 2/19/20

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