Required for overnight stays in designated units.
“Six million acres split into 87 units, no trails in most of them, permits free. You cannot book one until the day before you walk.”
Plan your Denali National Park trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Plan your trip
How to get Denali Backcountry
Pick up this free permit in person at the park, no more than a day before you start. NPS: "Backpacking permits are issued only in person, no more than a day before you begin your backcountry adventure." Each unit has its own nightly quota.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
When it opens
- 1 day
- First come, first served from one day before your start dateYou book on the agency's site.
Source: nps.gov
Denali Backcountry reservation dates
- Season
- Mid-May, when the Backcountry Information Center opens to Late September; permits move to the Winter Visitor Center after that
How to get a Denali Backcountry permit
No reservation. You get the permit when you arrive.
Arrive at Backcountry Information Center
Get your permit
Free. The park charges nothing for a backcountry permit. The only costs are a camper bus ticket and the park entrance fee.
Head out
Denali trailheads and fees
- Backcountry Information Center
- Savage River Shuttle
- East Fork Bridge, mile 43
The three Denali trailheads in full
Primary
Backcountry Information CenterNext to the Denali Bus Depot. NPS says backcountry permits are obtained here, in person, and that all members of the backpacking party must attend a backcountry orientation before the permit is issued.
Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in summer. NPS says to allow about 45 minutes for the orientation, so arrive by 5 p.m., and to plan for your group to spend at least an hour here. Bear-resistant food containers are loaned free.
Getting there
NPS puts the park at 5 hours by car or 8 hours by train from Anchorage, and 2 hours by car or 4 hours by train from Fairbanks.
- Savage River Shuttle
A free bus serving the first 15 miles of the park road. NPS names units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 24, 25, 26 and 27 as the areas it reaches.
Once your trip starts you may not return to the park entrance area, which NPS defines as the first 15 miles of the Denali Park Road east of Savage River, until you are finished backpacking.
- East Fork Bridge, mile 43
The end of bus service. NPS says transit buses and tour buses will travel no further than the East Fork Bridge at mile 43 of the Denali Park Road.
NPS says the road closure at Mile 43 is expected to remain in place through summer 2026 while the Polychrome Area Plan is implemented. Confirm your intended unit at the Backcountry Information Center.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Alaska Range, AK
How this permit is issued
Official permit page →Step 1: Create a National Park Service account
Sign up at National Park Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
Step 2: Know the release schedule
Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.
Step 3: Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Denali Backcountry pro tips
- Watch the three safety video chapters online before you arrive. It shortens the desk visit considerably and every member of your party has to have seen them.
- Get the permit before you try to buy camper bus tickets. The park requires it in that order.
- Borrow the food container at the desk. It is free, IGBC-approved, and saves you carrying one to Alaska.
- Build the trip around units still reachable in 2026. Buses stop at the East Fork Bridge at mile 43 while the Polychrome work finishes.
- Bring a spare day. There is no advance booking here, and the unit you wanted may already be at quota when you reach the counter.
More on Denali Backcountry: Live availability activityDo I need a Denali Backcountry permit?
How much a Denali Backcountry permit costs
Denali Backcountry permit fee: Free. The park charges nothing for a backcountry permit. The only costs are a camper bus ticket and the park entrance fee.
The Denali Backcountry hike
- Route Type
- Varies
- Duration
- 1-3 nights typical, up to 30 nights
Denali Backcountry landmarks
- 1Savage River Shuttle units
Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 24, 25, 26 and 27, within the first 15 miles of the park road and reachable on the free Savage River Shuttle. NPS points here if you're short on time or don't want to spend long on a bus.
- 2Unit 1 and the Triple Lakes Trail
One of the units NPS names for beginners, alongside Units 6 to 13, 18 and 31 to 34.
- 3Units 6 to 13
Easy-to-navigate valleys and graveled river bars, with the exception of Unit 11, which NPS describes as mostly rolling tundra hills.
- 4East Fork Bridge, mile 43
Where the buses stop in 2026. Transit and tour buses travel no further, and the road closure at Mile 43 is expected to remain in place through summer 2026 while the Polychrome Area Plan is implemented.
- 5Units 21, 38 to 40, 44 and 87
What NPS calls the super remote areas. Units 23, 44 and 87 are the valley glacier units.
Six million acres split into 87 units, no trails in most of them, permits free. You cannot book one until the day before you walk.
About this permit
Denali's backcountry permits are free and required for overnight trips, and they cannot be reserved. The park issues them in person only, no more than one day prior to the start of the trip. From mid-May to late September it issues them at the Backcountry Information Center on the Denali Bus Depot campus, and in fall, winter and spring at the visitor center. You need the permit before you can buy camper bus tickets, and the park asks you to plan at least an hour at the desk.
The park is divided into 87 backcountry units, each thousands of acres. Forty-two of them have a quota on the number of individuals who may camp there each night, and the park's own example makes the unit clear: if a quota is 8, there could be 8 solo backpackers, or 4 groups of 2 people. The permit specifies which unit your party camps in; you may travel through others to get there, but you cannot double-book a night across two units or across a unit and a campground. Day hiking in the backcountry needs no permit at all.
All party members must attend a backcountry orientation before the permit is issued. The park's safety video series can be watched online in advance: chapters 3 (Hiking), 4 (Camping) and 5 (Animal Safety). If you have not watched them, they are shown at the Backcountry Information Center. The safety talk itself runs about ten minutes.
Bear-resistant food containers are required, not recommended. The park's wording: you must store all food, garbage, and other scented items in a BRFC when camping overnight in Units 1-21 and 23-43, and BRFCs are recommended for overnight camping in all other units. The requirement runs April 15 to September 30. You may bring your own IGBC-approved container or check one out from the Park Service. The small one weighs 3 lbs and holds 3 to 5 days of food for one person, and the larger weighs 5 lbs and carries 7 to 10 days.
Most visitors plan one, two or three nights, though trips of up to 30 nights are possible. Buses run May 20 to mid-September. For 2026, the Denali Park Road is closed at Mile 43 because of the Pretty Rocks Landslide and buses travel no further than the East Fork Bridge, so the units beyond that point are not bus-reachable this season.
The route
The park divides itself into 87 backcountry units, each thousands of acres. Forty-two of them carry a quota on the number of individuals who may camp there each night, and the park spells out what that means: if a quota is 8, there could be 8 solo backpackers, or 4 groups of 2 people. It is a headcount, not a party count. Your permit specifies the unit your party must camp in, though you may travel through other units to reach it, and double-booking a night across two units or a unit and a campground is not allowed.
Permits are free and issued in person only, no more than one day prior to the start of the trip. From mid-May to late September that happens at the Backcountry Information Center on the Denali Bus Depot campus; in fall, winter and spring at the Winter Visitor Center. You need the permit before you can buy camper bus tickets, and the park asks you to allow at least an hour for the process. Every member of the party has to attend the backcountry orientation, which includes chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the park's safety video series if you have not watched them online.
One 2026 constraint changes everything downstream: the Denali Park Road is closed at Mile 43 and transit and tour buses travel no further than the East Fork Bridge, so units beyond mile 43 are not bus-reachable this season.
Why it matters
Denali runs the least reservable backcountry system of any major park, on purpose. There is no lottery, no Recreation.gov listing and no advance booking at all: you show up at the Backcountry Information Center, watch the safety videos, pick a unit that still has space, and walk. It is also almost entirely trailless, which is why the orientation is mandatory rather than optional.
The feeling
River bars and tundra instead of tread. You navigate by landform, cross braided glacial rivers, and camp where the map and the terrain agree. Grizzlies are a routine part of the day, which is why the bear-resistant food container is non-negotiable.
Denali Backcountry hike highlights
- Permits are free, and cannot be reserved: in person only, no more than one day before you start
- 87 backcountry units; 42 of them carry a quota counted in individuals, not parties
- A mandatory orientation for every member of the party, plus three chapters of safety video
- Bear-resistant food containers required in Units 1-21 and 23-43, April 15 to September 30
- Free BRFC loan from the Park Service: 3 lbs for 3-5 days, 5 lbs for 7-10
- Almost no trails; you navigate by terrain and cross braided glacial rivers
- In 2026 the Park Road is closed at Mile 43 and buses stop at the East Fork Bridge
How hard the Denali Backcountry hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required4/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills3/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential4/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity5/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route5/5
Best for: Experienced off-trail backpackers comfortable navigating trackless country and crossing glacial rivers alone.
Recommended experience: Off-trail navigation, glacial river crossing, and bear-country camping. The navigation rating is the highest in this catalog and it is not an exaggeration: most units have no trail of any kind.
Not recommended for: Anyone who has only walked on trails. Denali's backcountry has almost none, and help is a long way off.
When to hike Denali Backcountry
Best time to visit
Mid-June through August. The Backcountry Information Center runs mid-May to late September, and buses operate May 20 to mid-September, so the practical season is bounded by both. Late August brings tundra colour and fewer mosquitoes, and the first snows can arrive in September.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Today: 100% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
- Tomorrow: 100% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
- Day 3: 100% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
Today
34°
27°
100%
Wed
27°
25°
100%
Thu
25°
23°
100%
Fri
27°
18°
Sat
34°
22°
Sun
39°
31°
56%
Mon
35°
29°
88%
Denali Backcountry photography guide
Golden Hour
Alaska barely gets dark in June. The light stays low and warm for hours around midnight rather than for twenty minutes.
Best Light
Late August, when the tundra turns and the low sun returns. June light is long but flat.
Beat the Crowds
There is no crowd. Quotas are counted in individuals per unit and most units hold very few, which is the entire design of the system.
Classic Shots
- Braided river bars running out of the Alaska Range
- Tundra colour across an entire hillside in late August
- Denali itself on one of the days it is visible
- Grizzly tracks in river silt
- Tents on open tundra with no trail in the frame
Denali Backcountry rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- A bear-resistant food container: IGBC-approved if you bring your own, or borrowed free from the Park Service
- Footwear you can ford in; the rivers are braided, cold and glacial
- Real navigation tools. Most of the backcountry has no trail at all
- A shelter that stands up to wind and rain on open tundra
- Water treatment
Recommended gear
- Trekking poles for river crossings
- A head net for the Alaskan mosquito season
- Waders or dedicated crossing shoes
- Extra time in your schedule: weather regularly rewrites the plan here
Rules & regulations
- 01A backcountry permit is required for overnight trips and is issued in person only, no more than one day prior to the start of the trip
- 02Permits are free; day hiking in the backcountry requires no permit
- 03The permit specifies the unit your party must camp in. You may travel through other units, but double-booking a night in two units, or a unit and a campground, is not allowed
- 04All party members must attend a backcountry orientation before the permit is issued
- 05All food, garbage and other scented items must be stored in a bear-resistant food container when camping overnight in Units 1-21 and 23-43; containers are recommended in all other units
- 06The BRFC requirement runs April 15 to September 30
- 07A backcountry permit is needed before you can acquire camper bus tickets
Hazards & considerations
- Grizzly bears, which is why the food container is mandatory rather than advised
- Braided glacial river crossings that rise through the day with the melt
- Trailless travel across tundra and brush, where a mile can take hours
- Weather that can pin a party down for days
- For 2026, the road closure at Mile 43: buses go no further than the East Fork Bridge, so half the park's units are unreachable by bus
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Denali Backcountry.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Denali Backcountry · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Denali Backcountry FAQ
Do I need a permit to backpack in Denali National Park?
Yes for overnight trips, no for day hiking. Backcountry permits are free and required for overnight trips in the Denali backcountry. They are issued in person only, no more than one day prior to the start of the trip: at the Backcountry Information Center from mid-May to late September, and at the visitor center in fall, winter and spring.
Can I reserve a Denali backcountry permit in advance?
No. Units may only be reserved in person at the Backcountry Information Center, no more than one day prior to the start of the trip. There is no lottery and no online booking. Plan for your group to spend at least an hour there completing the process.
How does the Denali backcountry unit system work?
The park is divided into 87 units, each thousands of acres. Forty-two of them have a quota on the number of individuals who may camp there each night. The park's own example is that if a quota is 8, there could be 8 solo backpackers, or 4 groups of 2. Your permit names the unit you camp in; you may travel through others to reach it, but you cannot double-book a night across two units.
Do I need a bear canister in Denali?
Yes, in most of the park. The rule is that you must store all food, garbage, and other scented items in a bear-resistant food container when camping overnight in Units 1-21 and 23-43, and containers are recommended for all other units. The requirement runs April 15 to September 30. Bring your own IGBC-approved container or check one out free from the Park Service.
How much does a Denali backcountry permit cost?
Nothing. All backcountry permits are free. The only costs of spending time in Denali's backcountry are the camper bus ticket and the park entrance fee.
Do I have to watch a safety video for a Denali backcountry permit?
Yes. All members of the backpacking party must attend a backcountry orientation before the permit is issued. Chapters 3 (Hiking), 4 (Camping) and 5 (Animal Safety) of the park's video series can be watched online beforehand, otherwise they are included in the orientation at the Backcountry Information Center. The safety talk lasts about ten minutes.
How far can I get into Denali in 2026?
Mile 43. The Pretty Rocks Landslide has the Denali Park Road closed at Mile 43, and transit and tour buses travel no further than the East Fork Bridge. Units beyond that point are not reachable by bus this season.
Denali Backcountry trail conditions and trip reports
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Write the First ReportAlternatives to a Denali Backcountry permit
- Same AreaNo permit needed
Wonder Lake Campground
The tent-only campground at Mile 85, with the classic Denali reflection view.
Tradeoffs
Closed through 2026 because of the Pretty Rocks construction project, and unreachable anyway with the road shut at Mile 43.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Yellowstone Backcountry Permit
Designated-site backcountry camping across 1,114 miles of trail in grizzly country.
Tradeoffs
Reservable months ahead with a real trail network, which is the opposite of Denali in almost every respect.
- Similar ExperiencePermit required
Glacier Wilderness Permit
Designated wilderness campgrounds in dense grizzly country, bookable through a spring lottery.
Tradeoffs
Far more structured (named campgrounds, four people per site, advance reservations) and far easier to plan a trip around.
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