Denali National Park and Preserve is well known for its wildlife viewing opportunities, but wildlife movements are unpredictable, and sightings always depend on a degree of luck. The large animals that are often the most sought after can be surprisingly elusive. The so called “Big Five”—moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, and wolves, receive the most attention, but Denali is home to a wide variety of animals. This park provides habitat for 39 species of mammals, 169 species of birds, 14 species of fish, and one species of amphibian.
While there is never a guarantee of seeing any animals, the more time you spend riding a bus on the park road, the better your odds are of seeing wildlife. This is because the buses travel through prime wildlife habitat while offering a high vantage point, multiple sets of eyes working together, and an experienced bus driver who will take care of the driving so you can scan the hillsides for wildlife. There is always an element of chance involved – some bus trips see many animals, while another bus trip on that same day may see very few. Learn more about bus trips in Denali.
With the caveat that wild animals are unpredictable, there are parts of the park where you are more likely to see certain species.
- Moose are most likely to be seen in the first 15 miles of the Park Road, as they prefer forested and shrubby habitats. In the spring, moose are commonly seen close to the park entrance, sometimes even in the Denali Visitor Center campus and the Riley Creek Campground. In the fall, moose tend to congregate between Miles 9 and 13 of the Park Road for the rut.
- Caribou prefer the open tundra. They are often seen in alpine areas such as Highway Pass and Thoroughfare Pass, though they are sometimes seen closer to the entrance around Savage River at Mile 15. In Denali, caribou are most often spotted in small groups, though occasionally herds of 100+ will gather.
- Grizzly bears also prefer the open tundra and are most commonly seen between Igloo Canyon (Mile 37) and Eielson (Mile 66). They are often seen in high-alpine areas, like Sable Pass, Highway Pass and Thoroughfare Pass, as well as along rivers. Though grizzly bears are most common further west, they are sometimes seen in the Savage River valley at mile 15. Denali is also home to black bears, but black bear sightings are very rare, partially because they prefer heavily forested habitat found near the start and end of the Park Road.
- Dall sheep prefer steep, mountainous habitats. They can sometimes be seen high on the mountains in Igloo Canyon, approximately Miles 34 – 38 of the Park Road. They are also sometimes seen near the road around Polychrome, at Mile 45. Hikers sometimes see Dall sheep on the Savage Loop and Savage Alpine trails, as well hiking off trail on Mount Margaret (Mile 15) and Mount Wright (Mile 22).
- Wolves are the most elusive of the Big Five. Sightings vary widely from year to year, depending in large part on where wolf packs happen to be denning each summer. If no wolf packs have dens near the Park Road, wolf sightings may be infrequent.
- Birds can be seen and heard throughout Denali National Park. Ptarmigan and many species of songbirds are common in brushy areas along creeks. Owls can sometimes be heard in forested areas, and golden eagles can be seen soaring past high ridgelines. Waterfowl can be seen in the many ponds located between Mile 70 and Wonder Lake (Mile 85). Read more about birding in Denali
- Small mammals can also be seen throughout the park. Red squirrels and snowshoe hares are common in forested areas, and arctic ground squirrels are common on the tundra. Marmots and pika are found on rocky mountainsides. The trails around Savage River are a good place to look for arctic ground squirrels, pika, and marmots. Beavers are sometimes seen in Horseshoe Lake (Mile 1) and in the many ponds near Wonder Lake (Mile 85).
If you camp or go for a hike in Denali, be prepared for wildlife encounters, and know how to behave properly if you do encounter a large animal, such as a bear or moose. Read more about staying safe around wildlife.
Learn more about how to view wildlife in Denali National Park
FAQs
The best chance to view wildlife in Denali is on an excursion, specifically an early morning bus tour down the Denali Park Road. These tours are available in varying lengths from 4 to 12 hours, and the likelihood of spotting wildlife improves the longer you stay on the bus and the deeper into the park you go.
Can you see wildlife in Denali National Park? ›
Visitors often spot moose in the eastern part of the park, and wolves in the more open western part. A variety of species, such as marmots, ground squirrels, red foxes, willow ptarmigan, and spruce grouse, are visible from the park road.
What is the best month to see wildlife in Denali National Park? ›
Denali in June
Long days bring up to 20 hours of sunlight during June, and wildlife activity peaks as animals are busy eating and moving as much as possible.
Can you see grizzly bears in Denali National Park? ›
Denali National Park has a healthy population of grizzly bears, but you won't find them gathering in large concentrations like they do at McNeil River and Brooks Camp. Instead they roam across a vast territory either as solitary animals or small family units of mother and cubs.
Where to see moose in Denali National Park? ›
Notable spots along the park road include the area between the park entrance and Savage River (mile 15), Igloo Creek (mile 34), and Polychrome Overlook (mile 46). In spring, they're also often sighted near Riley Creek Campground, the closest campground to the park entrance.
What are the odds of seeing a bear in Denali? ›
80 to 90% of visitors see bears, sheep, and caribou, though often from a distance. 35% see moose (but your chances double in the late season), and only 20% of visitors see wolves.
What are the big 5 animals in Denali? ›
Among the many animals that roam Denali National Park, the "big five" are a sightseer's prize: moose, bears, Dall sheep, caribou, and wolves.
How likely are you to see Denali? ›
Denali National Park Introduction
Its central point is Denali, the highest peak in North America at 20,310 ft (6,190 m). On average, only 30 percent of summertime park visitors can see the mountain.
Can you see wolves in Denali National Park? ›
Denali is recognized as one of the best places in the world for people to see wolves in the wild. Each year, hundreds of visitors see wolves along the Denali Park Road. More than anywhere else in Alaska, wolves in the eastern part of Denali provide significant benefits to tourism.
How many days do you need in Denali? ›
Located far from any airport or large city, Denali is a wilderness park. Reaching the park can take several hours (or even most of a day), so we recommend that you plan a minimum itinerary of 2 nights in the area, which gives you one full day and part of two others.
Denali National Park and Preserve recommends that all hikers carry bear spray. In closed spaces, such as vehicles and buildings, bear spray canisters should be stored in a sealable plastic bag to prevent spray from spreading in an accidental detonation of the contents.
Are there mountain lions in Denali National Park? ›
- No Bobcats or Mountain Lions this #farnorth the only #wildfeline is the Canada Lynx who have a distinctive tuft at each ear. In #Denali sightings of this elusive animal go up as their food sources become more abundant. When the populations of the #SnowshoeHare are up the #CanadaLynx will inevitably benefit.
What is the best way to see Denali National Park? ›
Denali has just one road, and private vehicles can only drive a short portion of it in summer. Most sightseeing in Denali is done by bus (either a narrated tour bus or a non-narrated transit bus).
How do you see animals in Denali? ›
Generally speaking, your best chances to see wildlife will be while riding a bus ride on the Denali Park Road. A bus offers numerous advantages for the wildlife seeker. You sit much higher than in a normal vehicle, enabling you to see over roadside brush.
What is the best time of day to see wildlife in Denali National Park? ›
START EARLY! Many animals are most likely to be seen at dawn or dusk, like moose who thrive in the quietest times of the day.
When to see caribou in Denali? ›
As summer slides into fall, the animals herd up more and may be easier to find. NOTE: Avoid mid-August through September, when large numbers of caribou hunters converge on the area. The peak of activity falls around Labor Day.
What are the predators in Denali National Park? ›
While Denali may be well known for large carnivores like wolves and bears, Denali is also home to multiple mid-sized (or "meso") carnivores: coyotes, red foxes, wolverines, river otters, mink, American marten, and Canada lynx.
Can you see Aurora in Denali National Park? ›
Denali is a great location for viewing the aurora because we are located at a far northern latitude and because there is very limited light pollution. Light pollution is found in towns, cities, and other developed areas where excessive artificial light brightens the natural environment.
