What to Bring to Denali National Park: Ultimate Packing List

Packing for Denali National Park can be a bit challenging, especially if you’re not used to Alaskan weather. Informed by our recent visit to the park, we’ve compiled this Ultimate Denali Packing List to help you come prepared. From clothing to camping essentials, this list covers it all! As the park sees the majority of its visitors in summer, this article focuses on what to bring from June through August.

👕 12 Clothing Essentials for Denali National Park

The key to effectively packing for Denali National Park is being prepared for sudden weather changes. Below, we’ve outlined the clothing pieces that kept us warm in the morning, dry in the rain, and comfortable on the trail.

1. Your Favorite Socks – Start off by packing a few pairs of your best active socks. Jen loves these socks, and Elliot loves these socks.
2. Hiking Shoes – If you plan on hiking, a solid pair of hiking shoes is a must. Here are Elliot’s favorite trail runners and Jen’s favorite hiking boots.
3. Long underwear – Elliot has had this REI base layer for almost 10 years, and the same for Jen! Jen wore this pair of long underwear under her hiking pants in the mornings to stay warm.
4. Hiking Pants – We wore long pants our entire time in Denali, so you don’t have to worry about shorts, even in August. These are Elliot’s favorite hiking pants and Jen’s favorite hiking pants.
5. Sports Bra – Jen loves her Vuori sports bra.
6. Underwear – A few pairs of moisture-wicking, breathable underwear for comfort on the trails.
7. Long-Sleeve UV Shirt – Elliot’s favorite long-sleeve sun shirt and Jen’s favorite long-sleeve sun shirt. We both have these sun shirts and love them! This sun shirt was our go-to, especially on sun-exposed trails in Denali like the Mount Healy Overlook Trail.
8. Long-Sleeve Base Layer – On cooler days, Jen wore this long-sleeve base layer. This was Elliot’s favorite long-sleeve base layer.
9. Fleece Sweater – Elliot loves his Vuori PowerGrid jacket as a midlayer, whereas Jen loves her Patagonia Fleece Pullover.
10. Rainjacket – A waterproof layer is essential in Denali National Park, as Alaskan weather is known to change several times throughout a day. This is Elliot’s favorite rain jacket and Jen’s favorite rain jacket.
11. Wide-brimmed hat – As part of sun safety, we love pairing sunscreen with wide-brimmed hats.
12. Sunglasses – Sunglasses are a must-have for sun protection.
13. Pajamas – Don’t forget your favorite pair of pajamas! Choose a warm pair that you can layer under a sweater if you plan on tent-camping.

🥾 13 Hiking Essentials in Denali National Park

Beyond a solid pair of hiking boots and a few comfortable, layered outfits, here’s everything else that will come in handy on Denali’s hiking trails. These non-clothing items are the must-haves we bring with us on every hike.

1. GPS SOS Device – If you plan on hiking in Denali’s backcountry, make sure to bring a GPS SOS device. There are no maintained trails past Mile 15 of Park Road, so once you travel off into the wilderness, there is little to orient you.
2. Bear Spray – Whenever hiking in Alaska, bear spray is recommended. We bought ours as we travel in our van and were in Alaska for a while, but you can also rent them from the Backcountry Information Center (BIC) near the park entrance or at the Alaska Geographic store next to the Visitor Center. If you’re passing through Anchorage, you can also rent it from a spot like Alaska Bear Spray Rental. Also, if you plan on flying at any point, you’ll have to dispose of your bear spray anyway, so it’s better to rent.
3. Lightweight backpack – Elliot carries this backpack with the included rain cover, which comes in handy if it rains, while Jen carries this backpack. Another option is to bring a hydration pack, which holds all your water, with some extra room for snacks and other hiking essentials.
4. 2 Liters of Water Per Person – We carried our water supply in this lightweight 2-liter water bladder for longer hikes. When not hiking as far, we used this water bottle featuring all of the US National Parks.
5. Hiking Poles – We both love these hiking poles for extra stability when hiking. We found we didn’t use our hiking poles as much in Denali, but if you have stability concerns, they always come in handy!
6. Trail Maps – We love using AllTrails+ to decide which hikes we’re going to do when we travel to a new place.
7. First Aid Kit – It’s one of those items we hope to never use but always carry, just in case. More often than not, we’re opening our first aid kit for others on the trail.
8. Flashlight & Signaling Device – NPS recommends carrying a flashlight and signaling device (like a whistle or mirror), especially on remote, backcountry hikes. Always inform someone of your route and expected return time, especially if hiking solo.
9. Snacks or Packed Lunch – Our go-to hiking snacks include dried fruit, protein bars, or meat sticks.
10. Toilet Kit – Whether it’s packing pre-divided toilet paper in a plastic baggie (and a second baggie for the dirty toilet paper to Leave No Trace) or a Kula Cloth, a toilet kit for Denali’s backcountry is a must! In most Tundra ecosystems, including Denali’s, you should not bury your waste matter because of the cold temperature and slow decomposition rates. If you have to go #2 on the trail, you need to pack a wag-bag and pack it out. We didn’t bring wag-bags and instead just prioritized going at the pit toilets located at the trailheads. If you’re someone with digestive issues and sometimes you just have to go, we’d recommend carrying one.
11. Portable Charger – If we’re going on a long hike (longer than 3-4 hours), we make sure to bring a portable charger to charge our phones since we use AllTrails+ for maps.
12. Binoculars – Great for wildlife watching, birding, and taking in distant views.
13. Camera – If you’re into photography, bring your camera along to capture some of Denali’s iconic Alaskan wildlife and sweeping backcountry views. Here is our full list of camera gear.

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⛺ 11 Camping Essentials in Denali National Park

Camping is a popular accommodation when visiting Denali National Park. Whether you’re staying in one of the park’s 6 campgrounds or booking a campground outside the park, these are the camping essentials you need to stay comfortable.

1. Bug Protection – We recommend bringing a Thermocell or bug tent to deal with the mosquitoes.
2. Sleeping Bag – An insulated sleeping bag is best for Denali’s cool summer mornings and nights.
3. Sleeping pad – A sleeping pad offers extra comfort and insulation from the ground when tent camping.
4. Tent – Choose a weather-resistant, 3-season or 4-season tent for wind and cold. We love this half-dome 2-person tent.
5. Tarp or Ground Cover – Useful for extra protection under your tent or for shade, we love this lightweight Trailbreak tarp.
6. Pillow (optional) – A small camping pillow or stuff sack with clothes works well.
7. Earplugs – Help block out noise from neighboring campers in campgrounds.
8. Food for meals – Pick up food from a supermarket in Anchorage or Fairbanks before heading to Denali to save money. We also always have a few Backpacker’s Pantry Meals on hand for quick and easy meals.
9. Cooking equipment – Bring a Jetboil Stove, cooking pots, utensils, fuel, matches, and/or a lighter if you plan to cook at the campground. Be sure to check with the Park Rangers about current fire restrictions.
10. Trash Bags – Leave no trace! Pack out all waste, including toilet paper.
11. Toiletries – Don’t forget your toiletries bag! Some of our go-to essentials include quick-drying towels, shower shoes, SPF 50 sunscreen, shower and oral care items, Strong Bugspray, and any other small personal items like medication, contacts, etc.

ℹ️ Packing Tips for Denali National Park

1. Buy Food Before Arriving

Before you leave Anchorage or Fairbanks, make sure to buy all of your food for the duration of your stay in Denali. Although there is a grocery store in Healy (Three Bears), it is very expensive.

2. Bring a Change of Socks for the Backcountry

If you plan to hike in the backcountry, whether on a Discovery Hike or by yourself, make sure to bring some Chacos or, at the very least, a change of socks. Your feet will probably be soaked by the end of your trip from the wetness of the bog.

3. Layering is Key

Denali’s weather is notorious for changing several times within the same day. Even in the summer, temperatures can range from 30° to 80° F (-1° to 27° C). It can be pleasant in the morning, rainy in the afternoon, and then cold in the evening. Make sure to wear layers every day that will keep you warm if the temperature changes, and dry if it starts to rain.

🎫 Consider investing in the America the Beautiful pass for $80 like we did if you’re planning on travelling to several parks within the year.

Read Next:

Our 7 Favorite Hikes in Denali National Park, Alaska

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