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Snow-covered road through a spruce forest, with a lodge on the left and sunlit Denali rising in the distance

Park news · Denali

Denali Shifts Into Winter Mode: The Visitor Center Moves to Mile 1.3

As of September 24, 2026, Denali's visitor services move to the Murie Science Center, and private vehicle access to mile 30 closes soon.

By Erika Müller,

If you're planning a winter trip to Denali, the way the park runs just changed. According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and ad-hoc-news.de, the winter visitor center opened on September 24, 2026 at the Murie Science and Learning Center, at mile 1.3 of the Park Road. It's now your single point of contact, since the main visitor center is closed for the season, per ad-hoc-news.de. To get a handle on how the park works, keep the Denali park guide close by.

For backcountry hiking, the logistics are simple. Since September 24, backcountry permits are free to pick up at the winter center, along with the latest practical information, according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and ad-hoc-news.de. The same spot loans out snowshoes and crampons at no charge, a real help if you're not geared up for the snow.

A snowy path marked by tire, ski and boot tracks leads to a wooden barrier surrounded by tall evergreen trees

The road, meanwhile, is closing down bit by bit. Private vehicle access as far as Teklanika, at mile 30, ends by October 15, 2026 at the latest, depending on the weather, per ad-hoc-news.de. Beyond mile 3, the winter road is closed to motor vehicles and snowmachines, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner notes. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and skijoring are still allowed. Out here, winter runs on leg power.

Two bits of good news to round out your stay. The Riley Creek campground stays open year-round, free in winter but with minimal services, according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. And if you love sled dogs, the kennels are open for visits Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. on the winter schedule, per the same source. That's enough to set up a weekend with no nasty surprises.