sled dog

Located about 240 miles north of Anchorage and 120 miles south of Fairbanks, Denali National Park (www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm) is one of the crown jewels of the 49th State. One of Alaska’s eight national parks, Denali occupies just over six million acres of wild land bisected by a seasonal road. And if all that sounds a bit rugged for your taste, rest assured it is possible to plan a wheelchair-accessible Denali visit. Granted, scaling the 20,310 namesake mountain may not be on your to-do list; however the park also offers a nice selection of wheelchair-accessible trails, attractions and tours suitable for non-mountaineering visitors.

Getting There

A top concern about a wheelchair-accessible Denali National Park visit is actually getting to the park. Although there’s no airport there, Denali is easily accessible by rail and car. The peak visit time is from late May through early September, but that’s primarily because of the train schedules and the unpredictable weather. Still if you have a vehicle, and a bit of a sense of adventure, late spring and fall can also be beautiful times to enjoy Mother Nature’s majesty in Denali.

Daily train service is available from Anchorage and Fairbanks on Alaska Railroad’s (www.alaskarailroad.com) Denali Star during the summer months. The northbound train departs from Anchorage, and takes three hours to get to Denali. It stops in Wasilla and Talkeetna along the way. The southbound Fairbanks to Denali nonstop route takes four hours to get to Denali. And the good news is, all the stations include lift boarding, and the GoldStar Dome Cars feature elevator access, accessible seating and accessible lavatories downstairs. Additionally, most of the major cruise lines also offer cruise tour packages that include a Denali stop, on their own accessible railcars.

If you’d prefer to drive, accessible rental vans are available in Anchorage from Alaska Mobility (www.alaskamobility.com). After you pick up your van, just hop on The George Parks Highway (Highway 3). Also designated as a National Scenic Byway, this well traveled route runs between Fairbanks and Anchorage, and offers access to the park. The drive on this well maintained paved road is doable in a day from Anchorage; but plan for extra time as there’s no shortage of viewpoints and roadside stops along the way. And for information on places to stop en route, visit themilepost.com, an excellent Alaska road trip resource.

Wheelchair-Accessible Denali Shuttles

Another wheelchair-accessible Denali feature is the free accessible shuttle bus system. After the winter snow is cleared in late spring, the road into Denali National Park is open to private vehicles to the Savage River area. Transportation further into the park is only available from concessionaires, and it’s largely dependent on road conditions.

That said, the free shuttle bus system operates in the Riley River area near the park entrance, and in the Savage River area 15 miles down the road. And all of the shuttle buses and shuttle bus stops wheelchair-accessible. The Savage River Loop and the Riley Creek Loop shuttles run all day and stop at a number of trails and attractions along the way. The Sled Dog Demonstration Shuttle, which runs from the Denali Visitor Center to the sled dog kennels, departs 40 minutes prior to the demonstrations, and returns shortly after they are completed.

The shuttle bus schedule is available at www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/courtesy-shuttle-buses.htm, and it’s also posted at all the shuttle stops. Printed schedules are not available in the park, and cell phone service is limited, so it’s best to save a screen shot of the schedule for planning purposes.

Riley Creek Hikes

If you’d like to try a hike in the Riley Creek area, then hop on the shuttle, get off at the Riley Creek Campground and explore the McKinley Station Trail. This 1.6-mile hard-packed dirt trail runs from the campground to the visitor center. Although it’s not completely level, it offers an undulating — and accessible — route through the forest. There are also a few accessible boardwalk sections along the way. Be forewarned though — there’s a short cut to the visitor center about half-way along the route, but it goes straight uphill. Stick to the original trail for a gradual accessible path to the visitor center.

If you’d prefer a shorter walk, check out the Spruce Forest Loop, which is located right behind the visitor center. This .15-mile trail meanders through the forest, and offers visitors a good introduction to the vegetation and wildlife found in the park. It’s also very convenient, as you can just take the shuttle to the visitor center and hop on the trail from there.

Sled Dog Demonstration

The Sled Dog Demonstration is another wheelchair-accessible Denali must-do. Although accessible shuttle service is available from the visitor center, you can also drive over to the kennels. There’s plenty of accessible parking available at the kennels; however it’s a longer jaunt from the parking lot than it is from the bus stop, so slow walkers might want to opt for the shuttle. It should also be noted that the Roadside Trail that runs from the visitor center to the kennels has a steep grade and numerous obstructions, and it’s definitely not an accessible option to get to the kennels.

The sled dog demonstration is fun to watch, as the team is hitched to a wheeled sled that speeds around a dirt track. Accessible seating for wheelchair-users and slow walkers is available in the front, so everyone is guaranteed a good view. A ranger is on hand to answer questions about the sled dogs — which are still used in the winter in the park — and folks can walk though the sled shed and around the kennels after the demonstration. Best of all, there’s no charge for this educational demonstration.

Savage River Hikes

Last but not least, save some time to explore the Savage River area of the park, which offers a few accessible trails, and some great scenery. The shuttle stops at the Mountain Vista and Savage trailheads; and if Mount Denali is “out” (not obscured by cloud cover), you’ll get a great view from several vantage points along the way.

The Mountain Vista Trail is the most accessible trail in the area. This .6-mile hard-packed dirt trail begins near the shuttle stop, behind the accessible vault toilets and picnic shelter. It winds through the tundra, and offers several impressive views of the Alaska Range along the way. And you never know what wildlife you’ll run across, so keep your ryes peeled. Pack along a picnic lunch and enjoy it at one of the accessible tables at the picnic shelter, while you wait for the shuttle to Savage River.

The shorter Savage Cabin Loop begins just to the left of the Savage River Campground shuttle bus stop, near the accessible vault toilet. The .3-mile loop is fairly level — with a few undulations — and is covered in compacted gravel. Midway along the route, you’ll find a historic cabin that was constructed by the Alaska Road Commission in 1924. It was originally used as a ranger cabin, but today it’s an interpretive site. Although the cabin isn’t accessible, you can still get a good glance at the inside from the doorway. And the docent programs are usually presented outside, in an accessible space. Even if there aren’t any docents at the cabin it still make a nice stop on this short jaunt.

Wheelchair-Accessible Denali Lodging Resource

Of course, the final piece of the access puzzle in Denali National Park is lodging. There are no hotels or lodges in the park, but the campground has accessible spaces, and there are a number of accessible lodging choices nearby. Visit emerginghorizons.com/wheelchair-accessible-denali-lodging-options for more information.