Visiting Denali National Park with Kids: Choosing the Right Activities for Your Family
Denali National Park is an unforgettable destination for families, where dramatic mountain landscapes, abundant wildlife, and exciting outdoor adventures create a one-of-a-kind experience. Whether you’re traveling with young children, elementary-aged kids, or teenagers, Denali offers a variety of activities that cater to all interests and energy levels. From thrilling rafting trips to cuddling sled dogs, each experience offers a unique way to explore Alaska’s wild beauty while keeping kids engaged and excited.
Free National Park Resources
This is a great place to start, not only because it’s free and we know that traveling with kids can be expensive, but because these are well-thought out resources designed specifically for families to help their kids get the most out of visiting Denali National Park.
Ranger-Led Hikes and Family Hikes
Guided Nature Walks in Denali National Park offer visitors the chance to explore the park’s diverse landscapes alongside a knowledgeable ranger. These walks depart from the Denali Visitor Center twice a day from June 1 through mid-September, and provide an easy to moderate hiking experience, covering up to three miles round-trip over well-compacted gravel trails with occasional roots and rocks. The trail varies by season and conditions, offering a unique glimpse into the taiga ecosystem, where participants might spot red squirrels, moose, spruce grouse, and seasonal wildflowers or berries. There is no sign-up required—visitors simply arrive a few minutes before the start time. While most of the walk is gentle, there are occasional steeper sections, especially in wetter conditions when trails can become muddy. These guided experiences provide an engaging way for families to learn about Denali’s wildlife, plants, and geology while enjoying the fresh air and stunning scenery of the park.
Junior Ranger Program & Family Hour
The Junior Ranger Program is a perfect way to introduce kids to Denali’s incredible ecosystem. Designed for children ages 4-12, this free program provides an activity booklet that guides them through the park’s history, geology, and wildlife. After completing fun challenges such as identifying animal tracks and answering nature-themed riddles, kids are awarded a Junior Ranger badge in a special ceremony with a park ranger. It’s an interactive way to keep children engaged and learning throughout their visit, and it adds an extra sense of adventure as they explore the park.
During Family Hour, educators will lead nature walks, guided programs, touch tables, and educational games for families of all ages. Topics and activities vary each day. This is available twice a day from June 1 through late August.
Denali Discovery Pack
The Denali Discovery Pack is a free hands-on learning kit available for families and groups with children at the Denali Visitor Center. Designed to enhance exploration of the park, each pack is stocked with educational tools and activities that encourage kids to engage with Denali’s science and culture. Inside, families may find items such as a Discovery Pack Activity Guide, hand lenses, a compass, a thermometer, a pH test kit, water sampling supplies, and nature fact sheets—all aimed at making the park experience interactive and educational. The pack allows children to observe, measure, and discover elements of the natural world while hiking, investigating water quality, or learning about local wildlife. When you’re done exploring, they can be returned at the Visitor Center or a designated drop-off location near the Denali Bus Depot.
Every Kid Outdoors
If you’re traveling with a fourth grader, check out the Every Kid Outdoors program that provides free access to national parks and federal lands for all U.S. fourth graders and their families! At Denali National Park, this pass allows the fourth grader, all children under 16, and up to three accompanying adults to enter the park for free. While the pass grants free park entry, it does not cover costs for parking, camping, special tours, or privately operated services within the park.
Hiking
Hiking in Denali is one of the best ways to experience the park, and there are great trails for families of all ages. For young kids, the McKinley Station Trail is a good choice, winding through birch forests and wildflower meadows with plenty of opportunities to spot small wildlife. It’s 1.6 miles one-way, but you can go out and back as far as the little legs want to go.
For elementary-aged children, the Savage River Loop provides an easy two-mile trail through a dramatic river canyon, where Dall sheep are often seen on the cliffs. Or, the Horseshoe Lake Trail offers an easy three-mile round trip walk with a gradual incline, leading to a scenic lake where beavers build their dams. The Mountain Vista Trail is another rewarding but short walk with sweeping views of the Alaska Range.
Teens who are ready for a challenge will love the Triple Lakes Trail, a 9.5-mile hike that takes them past three alpine lakes, across rivers, and through dense forest. Or, the Mt. Healy Overlook Trail. The first mile of this trail, which begins near the Murie Science and Learning Center, is moderately steep, hiking through the forest. The forest eventually gives way to tundra. Trees turn to shrubs, and the landscape opens wide. The last 1.5 miles are even steeper. Your reward, however, is sweeping views of the Denali National Park entrance area, the Nenana River Valley, Healy Ridge, and nearby alpine ridges.
Use the free DenaliFlora app to help curious kids explore the flora they see along the trail! iOS and Android.
Denali National Park Area Guided Tours
Rafting on the Nenana River
Rafting on the Nenana River is an exhilarating way for families to experience Denali’s dramatic landscapes from the water. For those with younger children (ages 5+), a gentle float trip through Class I and II rapids offers a calm and scenic journey along the river, where guides point out wildlife such as bald eagles, moose, and even the occasional bear along the banks. For families with older kids looking for more excitement, whitewater rafting through Class III and IV rapids delivers thrilling waves and splashy currents. Paddle rafting is the most adventurous option, where teens 15 and older can actively participate in navigating the rapids. Oar-powered rafts are available for those who prefer to enjoy the ride while a guide does the rowing. The combination of towering mountains, rushing water, and the possibility of wildlife sightings makes rafting a must-do experience for families visiting Denali.
Price: $150 - $250 per adult, $90+ per child, depending on the type of trip
Flightseeing Over Denali
A flightseeing tour is one of the most awe-inspiring ways to take in the vastness of Denali National Park. These small aircraft fly over the Alaska Range, offering breathtaking views of rugged mountains, winding glaciers, and North America’s tallest peak. Young children are often mesmerized by the experience of flying in a small plane, while older kids and teens appreciate the rare opportunity to see Denali from above and take great photos. For families looking for the ultimate adventure, TEMSCO Helicopter Tours offers a glacier landing, where passengers can step out onto the ice for an unforgettable walk in the middle of Alaska’s wilderness. Flights generally last under an hour, making them manageable for kids of all ages. Infants under two typically fly for free on a parent’s lap, and some companies offer a discounted rate for children ages 2-12.
Price: $350-$450 per person, depending on flight duration and whether a glacier landing is included
ATV Tours
For families who enjoy exploring at a faster pace, an ATV tour provides a fun and adventurous way to experience the rugged backcountry near Denali. These tours take visitors on dirt trails through tundra landscapes, across streams, and along scenic ridges with incredible mountain views. Kids of nearly all ages can ride along as passengers, with car seats available for young children. Teens 16 and older with a valid ID and parental permission can drive their own ATV, making this an exciting and independent adventure for older kids. The Black Diamond ATV Treasure Hunt adds an extra layer of fun, turning the ride into a geocaching adventure where families work together to locate hidden clues along the route. The ride ends with a delicious camp-style feast, making it a full experience rather than just a tour.
Price: $100-$250 per person
Dog Sledding Tours
Meeting a team of Alaskan sled dogs is a highlight for many families visiting Denali. These highly trained athletes play a vital role in Alaska’s history and culture, and children love the opportunity to interact with them. Jeff King Husky Homestead and Dog Gone It Tours Tours provide an in-depth kennel tour, where families can meet the dogs, learn about the Iditarod race, and even cuddle with playful puppies. Just south of Denali, Squid Acres Kennels offers an hour-long kennel tour plus a ride on a side-by-side pulled by the dogs, giving visitors a small taste of what it’s like to race through the Alaskan wilderness! The National Park Service also offers free dog sled demonstrations three times daily in the summer, where visitors can watch a team in action and learn the history of these working dogs and their important role in Denali National Park..
Price: $65-$150 per person, depending on the tour
Ziplining
Denali Park Zipline is an adrenaline-packed experience that takes families soaring above the treetops. Unlike most zipline courses that weave through dense forests, this one offers wide-open views of the Alaska Range and the tundra below. Children must be at least eight years old and weigh at least 70 pounds to participate, making it a great option for families with older kids and teenagers looking for a thrill. The course features multiple ziplines of varying lengths, suspension bridges, and even a rappel station, adding variety to the adventure.
Price: $180 per adult / $120 child (8-12)
Denali Park Road Bus Tours
Denali National Park limits private vehicle access beyond Mile 15. Bus tours and park shuttle buses provide the only way to reach deeper sections of the park. For families who want to see wildlife and experience Denali’s breathtaking scenery without strenuous activity, a bus tour along the Denali Park Road is the best option. The Denali Natural History Tour is the shortest tour, lasting 4 - 4.5 hours. The longest tour available in 2025 and 2026 is the 5 - 5.5 Tundra Wilderness Tour. This tour travels to mile 43 of the Denali Park Road, increasing the chances of spotting bears, moose, caribou, and even wolves. To keep kids entertained, parents can create a wildlife scavenger hunt or let them use binoculars to spot animals in the distance. Download the Denali wildlife PDF so kids know what to look for.
Car Seat Note: Families taking a Denali Park Road tour with young children must provide a car seat to comply with Alaska’s car seat laws.Children under 1 year old or under 20 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing infant seat. Those between 1 and 4 years old and weighing at least 20 pounds must be in a car seat. For children ages 4 to 7 who are under 57 inches tall or weigh less than 65 pounds, a booster seat is required. Booster seats are not required once a child exceeds either height or weight limit.
Price: $80-$250 per person, depending on tour length
Dinner Theaters
A night at a Denali dinner theater is a fun way for families to enjoy Alaskan storytelling, music, and hearty local food all in one experience. The performances bring Alaska’s frontier history to life through energetic acting, folk music, and humorous storytelling. Meals are served family-style, typically featuring wild-caught salmon, slow-cooked ribs, and rustic sides. Younger kids will enjoy the lively performances, while teens might roll their eyes at first but end up having a great time. It’s an entertaining way to end a day of adventure. Shows include Cabin Nite Dinner Theater hosted at Denali Park Village or Music of Denali Dinner Theater at the Holland America Lodge.
Price: $70-$100 per person
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