Northern Lights Forecast for Denali

Northern Lights in Denali

Denali National Park covers six million acres of interior Alaska around the highest mountain in North America. The entrance is at mile 237 of the Parks Highway, in the Nenana River valley on the park’s eastern edge, 120 miles south of Fairbanks and 240 miles north of Anchorage. In winter the entrance area is nearly empty, with no town light to speak of, and the National Park Service says the aurora is seen periodically here.

The plow line on the park road

The park never closes, but it shrinks. After the first big snowfall, usually in October, the park road is plowed only to park headquarters at about mile 3 until spring; from about mid-February, conditions permitting, the plowed section is extended to around mile 13. Beyond the plow line the road is the ski, snowshoe and winter-bike route into the park. The January average low at park headquarters is about −6°F, and the record there is −54°F.

The Murie center, the sled dog kennels and Riley Creek

The Murie Science and Learning Center at mile 1.3 is the winter visitor center, and rangers there lend snowshoes and ice grippers free. No food is sold in the park in winter. The sled dog kennels at headquarters are open to visitors, though the dogs are often out on patrol. One loop of Riley Creek Campground at the entrance stays open all winter, free, with a vault toilet and no running water.

Winterfest, a park and community weekend in late February, has guided snowshoe walks, a snow sculpture contest, kicksled rides and ski races.

Healy, 11 miles north of the entrance

The hotels, restaurants and gift shops along the Parks Highway at the park entrance are summer businesses and close for the winter. Healy is the year-round community, with a few lodgings and restaurants open through the winter.

Winter roads to mile 237 and the depot flag stop

The Parks Highway takes around 2 hours from Fairbanks and 4 to 5 from Anchorage in summer conditions; in winter allow longer for snow-packed road, blowing snow and short daylight. The summer Denali Star train does not run in winter, but the Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train between Anchorage and Fairbanks passes through on weekends from mid-September to mid-May, with Healy as a listed stop and a flag stop at the Denali depot. Arrange a ride from the station before you come; there is no public transport at the entrance in winter.