Do I need a guide to hike in Denali?
I own and operate a hiking company in Denali, Alaska, so when I tell you that you absolutely do not need a guide to hike in Denali National Park, you might think I’m mad. Crazy. Insane. The jury’s still out on that, but that isn’t what this article is about. I’m writing this to equip you with the knowledge and certainty you need to plan the perfect trip for yourself, your family, your friends, or your fantasy soccer league.
While it’s true that you don't need a guide to hike in Denali, Alaska, it isn’t really that simple. For many people, hiring a guide is a great decision and will make your trip so much better. The fact that I own a hiking guiding company obviously makes me biased. I’m going to be as objective as possible, though, because I also know that a hiking guide isn’t for everyone. It may not be for you!
What I want to do here is give you all of the information so you can make the decision that’ll create the best possible vacation for you and your family. I’ll tell you why you don't need (and may not want) a guide, but also why hiring one could be the best decision on your vacation. I’ll also tell you where you don’t need a guide, and where I’d strongly recommend one.
Why you don’t need a guide to hike in Denali National Park
Why do I say you don’t need a guide? Simply speaking, hiking is one of, if not the most, accessible outdoor activities out there. There are hikes everywhere, and they’re for everyone. Your average hike also doesn’t require any real gear. While I’d recommend some sturdy hiking boots and comfortable clothes, being nude and shoeless is technically an option.
Denali National Park is about 6 million acres in size, so as you can imagine, there's a lot of room to roam. That said, there are only a few places where roads touch the edge of the park, and there's only one road that goes in. So, like most of Alaska, getting to the trailhead (or locating a trail) might be your biggest obstacle.
The Nenana River and the entrance to Denali National Park in fall.
Hiking trails you can access in Denali National Park
The Denali National Park Visitors’ Center makes this easy. From the parking lot, there are many hiking trails that are beautifully maintained by the park (shout out to the NPS). They range from leisurely strolls to long, strenuous hikes. These trails are super well-marked, making them easy to navigate while enjoying your hike.
Additionally, the park service put some serious time into designing these trails. There’s a lot more that goes into it than you might expect. Everything from the grade (steepness) to the types of vegetation is considered. The result is a trail that’s accessible, flows well, and has carefully selected (but not manufactured) sights, sounds, and smells the whole way. Long story short, anyone can take an amazing hike through Denali with no guide at all.
There aren’t any rules or policies saying you need a guide in Denali National Park, or practically anywhere else in Alaska. And we have an entire section of our website dedicated to all of the trails you can hike by yourself in Denali! Click here to access the Denali Hiking Hub.
Reasons you may not want a hiking guide!
Not only do you not need a guide, there are several reasons that you might not even want one! The first reason you might not want a guide is the cost. Hiking is (usually) free! That’s one of the best things about it. Hiring a guide is obviously not free. Later in this article, I’ll explain what you’re really paying for in a guide. If those things aren't important to you, don't spend your money on a hiking tour!
Another very important aspect of hiking is experiencing nature. We all do this in our own way, and sometimes, a guide isn't part of your way. If you like a silent hike, where you can absorb all of the natural sounds around you, having someone tell you all about the flowers might get in the way of that.
Or if you like to hike at a very specific pace, be it fast or slow, hiking on a guided tour might not be for you. Now, you can always book a private tour, where you can decide how much talking there is, and exactly what pace you’d like to travel. But this is going to be more expensive, and might not provide you with the peace and tranquility you’re after.
Why you might really want, or even need, a hiking guide in Denali
All that said, there are many reasons why having a guide on the very same trail you could hike by yourself is a GREAT idea! First of all, I am a hiking guide, and you might think that would mean I’ll never pay for a hiking tour. This is not true at all. In fact, I do it almost every year. I do this anytime I go hiking in a new place.
Your hiking guide will open new perspectives for you
This is because the main thing a guide provides is local knowledge. Guides can give you perspectives that you’d never get by visiting for a few days on your own. They can tell you all about the local plants and animals. They can point out small details in the ecosystem that you would never have known existed.
Knowing how all of that works can make every other hike you do way, way better. You’ll be able to appreciate the land in a completely different way. And they can tell you about all the cool places to go and people to meet in the place you’re visiting!
A hiking guide will make your hike stress free
This is not all a hiking guide can do (yes, we have many astounding abilities, and are known for being incredibly humble about them, too.) If you are hiking in Alaska, it's not the only thing you are doing. You’re on a schedule! But you’re also on vacation. Your guide will take care of that for you. From the moment the tour starts, you don't need to worry about where you are, where you've been, what time it is, or even what day it is. Your guide knows! And if they don't, you should call someone, because that's not your guide, and you're probably in danger.
Wolf scat found by a Northern Epics guide on a hiking our.
A hiking guide can keep you safer on the trail
Your guide will also be skilled and experienced in handling many situations that you might not be prepared for. Let’s say you bump into a bear while on a trail in Alaska (we are quite famous for these fuzzy guys). Your guide has been trained on all the right things to do, and will be able to calmly lead your group through the encounter to ensure that you and the animal stay safe and comfortable.
If it can’t be avoided, your guide should have the proper equipment and training to fend off aggressive animals. Now, of course, you can go purchase bear spray yourself (which I definitely recommend if you’re hiking on your own anywhere in Alaska). However, it may take some time and effort to track down, it’s expensive, and you can’t fly with it, so it’s just another thing your guide and outfitter has taken care of to make your life easier.
This is not a universal truth with all guides or guiding companies, but at Northern Epics (My Denali-based hiking company), every guide is certified as a Wilderness First Responder. This equips them with the skills to help you should any medical incidents occur. This isn't all; all of our guides prepare ahead of time for what to do with the most likely injuries and incidents. They also know the best ways to prevent them from ever happening. As I said, not every company requires this level of medical training, so when you book a tour, this might be something you’d want to consider.
Where you might actually need a guide (hiking off-trail)
I’ve given you all my reasons why hiring a guide is a great choice. But so far, we’ve been talking about places where it really is optional. Let's talk about some places where hiring a guide is a little less optional.
Let's start with the trails. Alaska doesn’t have many official trails, Denali included. I mentioned earlier that Denali is roughly 6 million square acres. And in this space, there are only about 140 miles of trails. This makes most of Denali severely lacking in marked and maintained trails (or trails at all, for that matter).
And, perhaps unsurprisingly, the rest of Alaska is hardly any different. This is another reason why you may need a guide to hike in Denali, or elsewhere in Alaska. Many of them are going to know local, less-traveled trails that they can take you on. And more importantly, they know how to navigate these often unmarked trails. This way, you can see the less explored parts of Alaska, without worrying about getting lost, or ending up on land you shouldn't be on.
Hiking off-trail on the Northern Epics Wilderness Wonders Tour.
It goes further than this! Guides can also take you off-trail completely! We do this at Northern Epics every day! In my opinion, this is the absolute best way to experience Alaska. You’ll see things that most people never get to. And you get to do it without worrying about getting lost or stumbling into a bear's den.
While it's possible to navigate yourself through an off-trail adventure, I really don't recommend it. It’s surprisingly easy to get disoriented and lost by just going out of sight of the trail. And even if you find your way back, forget doing it on time, and without encountering terrain you wish you hadn't. Even as an off-trail guide myself, I would not go on an off-trail journey in a place I’m unfamiliar with without an experienced navigator with me.
If you end up deciding you want to book a tour, you can take a look at what we offer. Otherwise, you can still get lots of great free resources from us like our Denali Hiking Hub and Epic Guide to Denali. Please take advantage of them, use them, and enjoy them! Happy trails!
