Navigate Denali’s Scenic Wonders on a Self-Guided Jeep Expedition
We take pride in providing authentic travel recommendations based on our own experiences, which is documented through our travel photography and writing only about places we have personally visited. We may earn a commission when you purchase a product or book a reservation. This has no influence on our recommendations. For more information, please read about our approach to travel publishing. Learn more ›
Written by Kyle Kroeger
Let’s explore the wonders of Denali National Park on a self-guided Denali Jeep tour! The vast Denali National Park spreads over six million acres in Alaska. This Park is home to much of Alaska’s wildlife and fascinating geological features. You can discover most of these on a tour of the Denali Highway.
With arid land, numerous rivers, lakes, icy glaciers, tundras, springs, cliffs, and forestation, Denali is perhaps the best tourist destination in Alaska. Tourists will need to make a train journey or go on a road trip to cover the great distances to reach the park and visit its most beautiful spots.
The self-guided tour allows you to stop at any place to take pictures and absorb this park’s outstanding beauty, making this a must-have for planning our full Denali itinerary.
Denali has several roads that wind through the park, making picnic spots accessible to visitors who choose a self-guided tour. If you opt for a self-guided tour, a Jeep is the most suitable vehicle for bumpy areas and mountainous routes.
About Denali National Park
A pleasant road trip is an excellent way to relieve stress. It can help you gather your thoughts, give you a fresher perspective, wake you up, and settle your soul. With Denali being one of the top natural tourist destinations in the world, you shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy a road trip that offers the best sightseeing in Alaska.
Denali’s long road trips provide comfort for the soul throughout the journey. You can park the Jeep at any spot and jump out of the vehicle to take pictures and absorb the view.
A Jeep tour through the tricky roads of Denali will make you keep your eyes on the path, but don’t worry; the window space and windshield offer an unparalleled view of a skyline broken up with distant snowy mountains and dense white clouds.
Hues of white and blue mark the horizon as the sun casts rays and shadows through the clouds. Thick and lush green spruce trees on either side of the road enhance this skyline’s blues, grays, and whites.
The roads are smooth before you get onto the Denali Highway, although they are twisty. Be mindful that the broad roadways have a few stone deposits at the edges, so don’t get too captivated by the beauty of the sky and go offroad.
Image Gallery
Take in the incredible beauty of this region through my image gallery from the experience. All the photos below are taken from my trip.
See Related: Best Van Camping Equipment
How to Explore a Denali in a Jeep [Self-Guided or Tour Guide]
We took a self-guided Jeep tour of Denali. We traveled with a baby, and we didn’t want our tour guide (and other participants) to have to endure a fussy baby potentially.
No one wants that! We did not need to rent a car and booster seats since we brought our own (it’s law in Alaska to have car seats with you on every ride). Plus, we like doing Jeep excursions our way. We like to pretend we are in a Jurassic Park movie – sue us. I can’t promise we didn’t play the theme song a few times!
Key Highlights from the Tour
Horseshoe Lake Trail
There are various bodies of water along the tour, such as the Horseshoe Lake and Savage River trails within the Denali National Park and Preserve boundaries, right before the Denali National Park entrance.
The trails lead to the river and offer a mesmerizing panoramic view of the lake and the mountains. Horseshoe Lake is the epitome of natural beauty. It is framed by mountains and dense with spruce trees home to squirrels, woodpeckers, and other critters.
A bridge in the middle of the lake allows visitors to cross from one side to the other. This bridge also makes a great picture spot, as the background consists of thick, verdant spruce trees and crystal-clear water. An azure blue sky adds to the scenic beauty of the lake.
There are various cliff faces, with steep drops down to lake level. The lake has smooth edges with rock deposits that form part of the trail. From here, tourists can closely watch the water and take a mind-clearing stroll beside it. This trail looks closer at the still, clear water reflecting the cloud-pocked blue sky.
During summers, the Horseshoe Lake trail is a must-visit spot at Denali Park, as this statue-still lake is as unforgettable as it is mesmerizing. Serenity blankets this area, and peace pervades the atmosphere, making this an incredibly peaceful experience for visitors.
See Related: Best Hotels Near Denali
Visit the Savage River Loop Trail
Take your Jeep to the Savage River Loop Trail next. Again, a self-guided tour gives you the benefit of stopping by at any spot that you like the look of. Although it was a little more crowded than other stops on your tour, this trail is very popular with tourists, the roads are never jammed, and it is relatively safe to travel along the dirt highways.
You’ll see warning signs before the road intersects, but since the road curves every mile, you should drive within the average speed limit to avoid accidents. A new mountain peak emerges in the distance with every twist and bend. The greater Denali area is a 600-mile-long arch of mountains.
They stretch from Alaska to Canada. The glaciers of this range can also be found in Denali National Park and Preserve. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go to other mountain treks by Jeep that you can’t get on crowded bus trips.
See Related: Best Hiking Tours in Denali
Other Potential Hikes
Besides Horseshoe Lake Trail and Savage River Trail, Denali National Park offers many routes via Denali Park Road to reach the distant snow-capped mountains, other treks, rivers, and rocky cliffs.
Looking at the aerial view, you may think some places are unreachable; however, this is not the case because the roads are well-paved and smooth, even if they cut through mountainous areas. Only a few sites have bumpy dirt roads that make their way through the hills.
Some of the mountains in the arid ranges have great rocky treks. You can park the Jeep nearby and climb it to get a clear glimpse of this area’s breathtaking views. Some of the mountains have carved stairs that make your climb easier.
These mountains blend natural colors with various textured arid cliffs and limestone deposits to make beautiful picture spots. They can be tiring climbs, but it is worth it for shutterbugs. The views of the picturesque landscape allow visitors to capture mountains, flowing streams, and forestation all in one frame.
Take great care while descending these mountains. It is a rough trek lined by bushy, thorny trees and giant rocks. A slip and fall could mean serious injury or worse.
Remember to wear sturdy, supportive, and comfortable shoes for this trek. Also, look for wildlife in the area. Some wildlife, such as bears, cougars, or mountain lions, can be adorable or majestic.
See Related: Helicopter Tours Around Denali
Planning Your Denali Jeep Tour
Since this is a self-guided tour, you can travel through any roads you like and stop by to stroll when the mood takes you. Since Denali National Park encompasses a vast area, some routes are longer than others. It is wise to use GPS navigation to reach the exact spot you want to visit.
Driving the highway and venturing into Alaska’s wilderness through this tour makes it super easy to witness wildlife and Alaska’s stunning natural beauty.
It is best to travel during the height of the day so you can get the best of these fascinating views. A perfect day is one with blue skies and scattered cloud cover. The clouds occasionally obscure the sun, casting slanting rays through them, creating a unique pale blue tint.
The roads cover everything from tall alpine trees in the North to dry thorny bushes in the south, and they take you through different areas. After a few miles, the snow-capped mountains disappear, replaced by a range of arid cliffs ahead of you. These are home to big-horned Dall sheep and moose. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot some American beavers.
On this peaceful drive, you should bring snacks to munch on as you admire Alaska’s spectacular scenery. Besides that, some good music on your trip is a mood booster.
Even if you travel hundreds of kilometers by Jeep, it is not tedious because the scenery transforms every few miles. However, food and music would be helpful since this route section will take 135 miles.
On the gravel road, you’ll only spot a few other vehicles, such as buses and jeeps. The Alaska Range is barely populated, and most traffic will be tourists. Some visitors travel by bus, which has multiple stops.
They also have a tour guide. You can follow the tour bus if you don’t want to navigate the park. The weather in Alaska is usually pleasant, and the sun’s heat isn’t scorching, so you will likely enjoy this trip even in the hottest parts of the day.
You’ll see many plains and plateaus along this leg. Besides that, Denali has multiple hills and patches of dense forest, making it a natural habitat for numerous species, such as grizzly bears, caribou, and wolves.
If you’re traveling through these areas, you might spot some grizzly bears along the way. As of writing, approximately 300-350 bears inhabit the Denali National Park and Preserve.
Weather
The weather in Denali is mostly pleasant, even during winters when the temperature drops below minus seven degrees Celsius, provided it’s not a blizzard.
However, it is best to visit during the summer because you will have access to more activities. Besides, you’ll probably want to avoid the rain in the spring and fall anyway, and you won’t have to worry about the winter cold, which can be fatal.
See Related: Rental Cars That You Can Take Out of State
Lightly-Guided Excursion
Drive Denali Highway and find a memorable trip. It was recently named the #2 drive in the country. You can also reach your guide using the CB radio. Your guides will be available to offer you highlights on these trips and will have a range of sporting equipment to choose from. The turnaround is more than 50 miles, but we may need Denali if no one gets there.
You will want the freedom to move in any direction or leave the automobile for any reason. Approximately six decades ago, the Denali Highway had nearly closed.
Since the site remains in season, Alaskans now use it to access the countryside for hunting, fishing, camping, boating, or other leisure activities. Snow closing on a road during fall turns it into a winter wonderland.
Where will you tour in your Jeep?
By implementing safety measures, Denali ensures a secure journey. There are barriers on the road. The roads do not abruptly terminate; instead, they curve gradually to offer you space to avoid the edges.
Besides that, Denali has some gravel roads that provide a skid-free route to its northern mountains. You can travel through these dirt roads to reach various trails. Since they lead to the North, multiple road climbs and bumps exist.
The road trips through Denali National Park share a familiar vibe with driving through the countryside. However, Denali has more ethereal and wilderness-type sites. Such locations promise to soothe the adventurer in you.
Moreover, the park’s preserved geological features make the drive (at whatever cost) completely worth it. For more travel content, check out our YouTube channel for more travel videos like these.
FAQ
Is there any age restriction to going on a Denali Highway Jeep excursion?
Like most rental vehicle companies, you must have proof of a valid driver’s license. However, if you rent your Jeep, the scenic Denali Highway is only accessible from May 1 to September 15, weather permitting.
Related Resources