“Back 15” at Denali NP – Part 2 of 2

October 1, 2025

The only road that goes in to Denali National Park extends 92 miles west from the main Visitor Center. The first 15 miles, which are paved, are open to all visitors using their personal vehicles. When the buses stopped running on September 15, the next 15 miles are also opened to all visitors, weather permitting. That goes at far as the Teklanika River campground, and was where I had to turn around today.

Beyond that campground the road continues to Mile Marker 53, the Toklat River ranger station, then to Mile Marker 66, the Eielson Visitor Center, then to Mile Marker 85, Wonder Lake (which has a spectacular view of Mt. Denali), and ends at Mile Marker 92, where there is an airstrip for planes.

Here are more of the things I saw as I drove from Mile Marker 15 to Mile Marker 30:

That was as far as I was allowed to drive in today. I don’t think I was anywhere near Mt. Denali itself so I doubt if I somehow got a photo of it. I wasn’t very close to any of the mountains I saw, and the road went up and down between hills which probably blocked my view looking deeper into the Park.

I stopped taking photos and focused more on looking for animals on the way out. It was almost 6pm when I turned around and I’ve heard that wildlife sighting typically increase in the morning early morning and early evening. Black bears may have started hibernating but grizzly bears may have still be out and about. I did speak to a couple from Europe when I was here two weeks ago and they had a video of three grizzly bears crossing the road just a few feet in front of their vehicle, and they said it was on the section of road back here.

If I had known that I wouldn’t have an opportunity to speak with any rangers on this visit I might have asked more questions when I was here about two weeks ago. Never having been here I had no idea what to expect.

This was my only opportunity to drive the additional 15 miles in. There will be more snow arriving overnight and the gate at the Savage River bridge was closed for the remainder of my visit.