Denali Park Road Opens to Teklanika on April 28

F or Immediate Release: April 27, 2026

DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, Alaska - Denali National Park and Preserve will open the Denali Park Road to private vehicle traffic as far as Mile 30, the Teklanika Rest Area, on Tuesday, April 28.

Visitors planning trips in mid-May should note that temporary closures west of Teklanika are expected May 11-15 during a scheduled bear capture operation.

Recent warm weather and below average snow levels allowed spring road crews in their efforts to open the park road. Visitors may still encounter snow, ice, and mud on some portions of the road, particularly in shaded sections.

The road will remain open, weather permitting, through May 19. Beginning May 20, seasonal transit buses will resume service and private vehicle access will return to Mile 15 at Savage River.

The Teklanika Rest Area is wet but accessible. The restrooms at Teklanika, the Savage River, and Mountain Vista will be open. All campgrounds west of park headquarters will remain closed until May 20.

Visitors should also expect heavy equipment traffic between the park entrance to East Fork as a part of the Pretty Rocks bridge project. Drivers should use caution and remain alert in work zones.

The Park Road remains closed to all entry from the East Fork Bridge to the Polychrome Overlook location. There is no bicycle/pedestrian access through the Pretty Rocks Landslide, and the road beyond the closure hasnot been plowed.

Visitors seeking access west of the closure by hiking around Polychrome Mountain should expect difficult conditions, no open facilities, and limited emergency response. Anyone traveling beyond the closure must be fully self-sufficient. Please monitor the park website for current closure information.

Visitors traveling beyond the closure, which is accessible only by hiking around Polychrome Mountain, should expect challenging conditions, no open facilities, and limited emergency response. Anyone traveling beyond the closure must be fully self-sufficient. Please monitor the park website for current closure information.

The bear capture operation will necessitate a closure for all bikers and pedestrians along the park road west of the Teklanika River bridge, as well as all backcountry units west of the Teklanika River.

The closure will start May 11 and remain in effect until three days post capture of the last bear, so possibly through May 15. The capture operation allows the park's wildlife biologists to check collars on young and growing bears and to replace any collars that might have dropped off or malfunctioned. Check the park website at www.nps.gov/dena for possible earlier opening of the area.

Keep in mind that bears are becoming active after the long winter. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. Never feed any wildlife. Keep all food secure from wildlife. Stay at least 300 yards away from bears and 25 yards from all other wildlife.

Check out the Denali National Park website for hiking and biking safety information. Weather conditions can change rapidly at this time of the year, and the road may open and close several times. Visitors are encouraged to contact the park for updated road and weather information.