I went to Denali for a 3 day backpacking trip in July with little understanding of what I was getting into but it was one of the best trips I’ve taken so far. 

Now having gone through the experience, I’ve outlined below important information to know before heading out on your own backpacking trip in Denali National Park. 

1. You need a permit

Permits are assigned by units. Denali is broken up into about 87 different Units, all of which span thousands and thousands of acres of land. Vast and diverse landscapes all with their own pros and cons and difficulty levels.

2. The units have quotas and group size limits 

You can check out the gov site for the park to read up on this. Typically, if your group is larger than the quota, it won’t be a big deal but no other groups will be allowed to go into the unit you reserved. This helps with preservation and allows for a truly remote experience.

3. Units are first come, first serve

Units are available to reserve as early as 1 day prior to your backpacking trip. Try to be prepped with a few different units in mind. We arrived during July 4th and most all the units we wanted were booked even as early as 9am the day of. Luckily the rangers were able to chat with us about some other options and we settled on Unit 3 (a not so beginner-friendly unit but we made do!).

4. There are no marked trails so pack your compass

In fact, the park discourages walking in a line with your group to lessen the impact of human presence on the terrain.  You are dropped off at your unit and left to your own devices for navigating. Which leads me to my next item…

5. Know how to read a topo map 

Understanding the elevations will help you plan your route while in the park. Luckily, our group had *someone* very familiar with topo maps. We were in a unit with lots of ridges and elevation change – the ability to read the map and plan out our route saved us time and energy. Using the map in conjunction with your compass will keep you oriented as you venture further into the unit. Some of the “easier” units may have a river to follow along so navigation isn’t as much of a concern. 

6. Some Units are more difficult than others 

Units have difficulty based on water availability, ability to navigate, elevation gain, etc. We had to go with a more difficult unit. Because of difficulty navigating the terrain and the length of time it took us to find a water source for camp, we did not make it very far into the unit. But wow, still such an adventure and what a challenge! We saw so much wildlife that really made up for our struggles in terrain. It makes me want to go back and go further into the park. The park website lists beginner units as 1, 6-13, 18, 31-34.

7. A bus will take you to your unit

Bus schedules and prices are available on the park website as well. There is a free shuttle if you choose a unit within the first 15 miles of the park entrance which could save you about $80 per person. Bus rides could take up to 6 hours so if you choose a further unit, you’ll definitely want to plan ahead and get on the bus early if you plan to make some distance into the unit.

8. You’ll be completely on your own 

The quotas on each unit are there for a purpose – for you to have a full immersion of the outdoors and to protect the land. While this is exactly what makes Denali such a unique and memorable experience, it also requires more prep and knowledge than if you were following simple, out and back or loop trails.

9. Make sure to pack water filters and extra water supply 

Water should always be top of mind when planning a backpacking trip and it’s no different in Denali National Park. If you aren’t in a unit with a flowing river, you may have to use questionable looking springs that make having a water filter that much more crucial. Or you can chance it (my hypochondriac self would not allow for it). Park Rangers can help identify where you’ll find water sources in your unit if it’s not very obvious. 

10. The terrain is deceptive – aim for high ground