National Park Service Expands Visitor Access at Denali National Park and Preserve

WASHINGTON - The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service today announced a final rule updating vehicle use regulations on the Denali National Park Road to expand visitor access and bring the regulations in line with the park's longstanding management plan. The action supports President Trump's Executive Order 14314, "Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks," which calls for expanding opportunities for Americans to enjoy the nation's public lands.

The final rule brings the vehicle limit on the restricted section of the Denali Park Road in line with the park's 2012 Vehicle Management Plan. The plan was developed with public input and established standards for protecting park resources and maintaining a high-quality visitor experience.

"America's national parks belong to the American people, and we should be looking for every responsible opportunity to make these incredible places more accessible," said Secretary Doug Burgum. "At Denali, we're cutting red tape, honoring a management plan shaped by years of public input, and expanding access while protecting the extraordinary landscape that makes this park so special."

Under the final rule, up to 160 vehicles may travel each day on the restricted section of the park road (from mile 15 to mile 90) during the park's visitor season as long as standards for desired resources conditions and visitor experience are met. The season runs from the Saturday before Memorial Day through the second Thursday after Labor Day. The new daily limit replaces the current seasonal limit of 10,512 vehicle permits.

"This commonsense update will improve opportunities for more Americans to experience Denali National Park and Preserve," said Jessica Bowron, Comptroller Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Director of the National Park Service. "By modernizing these regulations, we are improving visitor access while continuing to protect the extraordinary resources that make Denali one of our nation's most iconic national parks."

The final rule also removes regulatory language that could end the visitor season on Sept. 15 when that date occurs before the second Thursday after Labor Day. Under the revised regulation, the season will always end on the second Thursday after Labor Day, providing additional opportunities for recreation and visitor access in years when the season otherwise would have ended earlier.

"Updating the Denali Road vehicle limit allows the NPS to meet visitor demand while maintaining a high-quality experience," said Denali National Park Superintendent Brooke Merrell. "It will make the extraordinary landscapes and wildlife of Denali more accessible, while preserving its natural and cultural resources for future generations."

The regulatory update comes as the NPS prepares to restore public bus access to the west end of Denali Park Road in 2027. In September, the NPS and Federal Highway Administration announced completion of the Pretty Rocks Bridge, which reconnects the eastern and western portions of the road following the 2021 landslide and road closure.

Built over 16 years, from 1922 to 1938, the 92-mile Denali Park Road is the primary means of access into the park and one of the best places in the world to observe large northern mammals in their natural habitat. Visitors traveling the road may see Dall sheep, caribou, wolves, grizzly bears, moose and foxes, along with smaller mammals and birds, some of which are rarely seen elsewhere in North America. The road also offers views of Alaska Range features, including glacially carved mountains, Mount McKinley and dynamic alpine landscapes, and provides opportunities for wilderness recreation, discovery, adventure and connection with nature.

To view the final rule, please visit www.federalregister.gov and search for document #2026-21222.