Frequently Asked Questions

We have several tour options depending on what you want. All are day hikes, and some have a focus on Alaskan survival.

● Naturalist Walking Tour - Easy, family-friendly walk focused on sub-arctic flora, fauna, and ecology inside Denali National Park.

● Wilderness Wonders Tour - Moderate walk discovering off-trail terrain and hidden landscapes.

● Into the Mountains Tour - Strenuous 5-hour alpine trek ascending mountain ridges for high-elevation views of the Alaska Range.

● Half Day Denali Hike and Survival Tour - Interactive off-trail experience teaching shelter building, berry/plant foraging, and outdoor skills.

All ages are welcome for our Naturalist Walking Tour, Wilderness Wonders Tour, and Denali Survival Tour. However, we require travelers to be ages 12 and up for our Into the Mountains Tour.

Our hikes are based on time instead of mileage. Each group goes at their own pace. This is so that no one ends up feeling rushed or disappointed by how long or short the hike was! The duration of each hike is listed on its tour page.

Make sure to bring comfortable hiking shoes, water, sunscreen, bug spray, and anything else you may need for your hike. Some tours have specific recommendations, so keep an eye out on the “What to Bring” section of your confirmation email. Keep in mind that you will be carrying whatever you have on your back; pack accordingly.

Free hotel pickup is included with each tour purchased. Specific pickup and drop off times will be arranged personally with your guide.

Our professional guides are very experienced with the local terrain, and are constantly adventuring and exploring new areas. They are also well-versed in natural navigation - feel free to ask them how they do it! In addition, they have Wilderness First Responder certifications. They carry GPS and SOS devices on every tour to safely navigate through the dense forest.

Yes! Northern Epics has a Commercial Use Authorization agreement with the National Park Service that allows us to operate inside of the Denali National Park boundaries! However, not every tour takes place inside the National Park boundaries.

Absolutely! Our Denali hiking tours are crafted specifically to work well for groups of mixed abilities! We run our tours based on time rather than distance, so we can go at the pace of the group. Companies that guide a set trail often end up having to rush or slow a group to make it to the end on time, and we want to avoid that. We also have a position called the Falcon, whose job it is to swoop in in the event that a group that has such mixed abilities that they’re incompatible. In this case, the Falcon can take part of the group at a different pace so no one feels left out and everyone gets a personalized pace and guide. The Falcon is always a fully trained guide as well, so if they need to jump in it’s only going to make the experience better for everyone!

The best way to experience the beauty of Denali is to get off the bus and onto the tundra. Taking a guided hiking tour with Northern Epics is widely considered the top activity for those seeking an immersive experience. Our expert-led tours provide safe access to off-trail wilderness, in-depth education on sub-arctic ecosystems, and a personalized pace that you won't find on other tours. Whether you choose a Naturalist Walk or a challenging mountain trek, a guided hike is the definitive 'must-do' for any Denali itinerary.

Absolutely! While Denali offers many adventures, finding activities suitable for the whole family is key. Northern Epics specializes in guided hiking tours that cater to various age groups and abilities. Our Naturalist Walking Tour, Wilderness Wonders Tour, and Denali Survival Tour are welcoming to all ages, providing an engaging and educational experience for children and adults alike. Our guides are experts at making the wilderness accessible and exciting for families, ensuring everyone can safely enjoy Denali's unique environment.

We would love to hear from you and answer your questions on all things Denali! You can call us at (907) 687-2070 or email us at info@northernepics.com.

Northern Epics offers a 100% full refund on all cancellations made anytime right up until your guide arrives for pickup. If your flight is delayed, the weather turns, or you get sick, you won't lose a penny. Additionally, our Ultimate Confidence Guarantee promises that if you don't love your tour for any reason, we’ll give you a full refund plus $100 toward your next tour anywhere in Alaska.

Yes! Northern Epics holds an official Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) with the National Park Service to guide inside Denali National Park. Our Naturalist Walking Tour takes place guaranteed inside park boundaries. Other adventures, like our mountain treks or survival tours, may take place on premier trails just outside the park boundaries to provide the best views, off-trail freedom, and wildlife viewing away from crowds.

We focus on small groups (8–10 max) and immersive, educational experiences. Our expert naturalist guides teach you how the tundra, permafrost, wildlife, and geology interconnect. Beyond the trail, we pay our guides twice the industry average and donate 5% of net profits to land conservation in the areas we guide.

Yes. Northern Epics offers round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off from major accommodations in the Denali National Park area. Your guide will text you the day before your hike to confirm your exact pickup location and timing.

Naturalist Walking Tour: Easy, family-friendly walk focused on sub-arctic flora, fauna, and ecology inside Denali National Park.

Wilderness Wonders Tour: Moderate walk discovering off-trail terrain and hidden landscapes.

Denali Survival Tour: Interactive off-trail experience teaching shelter building, berry/plant foraging, and outdoor skills.

Into the Mountains Tour: Strenuous 5-hour alpine trek ascending mountain ridges for high-elevation views of the Alaska Range.

Absolutely. Our Naturalist Walking Tour and Denali Survival Tour are family-friendly (suitable for ages 5 and up) with gentle or customizable walking paces. Because our small-group cap is 8 to 10 guests maximum, guides adapt each excursion to the comfort level of the group.

On our Denali Survival Tour, guests learn practical outdoor skills used in Alaska for generations. This includes shelter building using natural forest materials, finding and identifying edible plants and berries, reading game trails, and understanding historical Alaskan wilderness survival techniques.

Yes! Foraging for edible plants and seasonal wild berries (such as blueberries and lingonberries) is a popular, hands-on highlight on our off-trail tours. Guides teach you how to safely identify and sample native Alaskan flora, an important traditional food source in the sub-arctic ecosystem.

Our tours are designed to actively teach you how Denali’s ecosystem works using a hands-on, five-senses approach. Rather than just walking past scenery, your guide will explain how permafrost supports thick peat moss, let you feel the ice-cold temperature inches under the soil, point out local wildlife signs, and share the cultural history of the indigenous Athabaskan people who have inhabited the region for centuries.

Most travelers spend 2 to 3 days in Denali. This provides enough time for a day of wildlife viewing via the park transit or tour buses, one full day of guided hiking or off-trail exploration with Northern Epics, and a half-day for river rafting or flightseeing.

While you can walk the handful of frontcountry trails near the visitor center on your own, hiring a guide is highly recommended for exploring Denali's vast backcountry. Because Denali has very few established trails, joining a local outfit like Northern Epics allows you to safely navigate off-trail terrain, avoid bear-human conflicts, and receive hotel pickup and gear (like trekking poles and rain coats) included.

Yes. Joining a guided hike with a local naturalist company like Northern Epics transforms a simple walk into an educational experience. Guides teach you how to read animal tracks, forage for wild berries, and understand sub-arctic ecology. Plus, companies like Northern Epics provide small groups (under 11 guests) and a Zero-Risk Booking Policy allowing full refunds up until your guide arrives for pickup.

Easy: Horseshoe Lake Trail (1.6 miles, scenic lake loop).

Moderate: Mount Healy Overlook or Triple Lakes Trail (great forest and ridge views).

Challenging: Savage Alpine Trail (4 miles, ~1,400 ft elevation gain, panoramic views of Mt. Denali).

Best Guided/Off-Trail: Northern Epics' Into the Mountains Hike (5-hour alpine ridge trek) or their Wilderness Wonders Tour (off-trail boreal forest exploration).

The Into the Mountains Tour by Northern Epics is widely considered the top strenuous day hike in the Denali area. This 5-hour, small-group trek (capped at 8 people) ascends 1,500–3,000 feet up steep mountain ridges, offering views of the Nenana River valley and the Alaska Range.

Yes, Alaska weather changes quickly, and off-trail terrain is uneven. High-quality rain jackets and trekking poles are recommended for all Denali hikes. Northern Epics includes trekking poles and rain jacket rentals free of charge on all of their guided tours.

Guided Off-Trail Hiking: Join Northern Epics for an educational walking tour or off-trail survival excursion.

Nenana River Rafting: Whitewater rafting with local operators like Denali Raft Adventures.

Flightseeing Tours: Scenic flights over the glaciers and around Mount Denali’s peak.

Visiting the Denali Sled Dog Kennels: Free National Park Service demonstrations featuring working Alaskan Huskies.

The Denali Survival Tour by Northern Epics is one of the most unique family activities near the park. Suitable for ages 5 and up, this 4-hour off-trail experience teaches guests how to forage edible berries, build natural shelters, identify animal game trails, and learn historical Alaskan survival skills.

The 3-hour Naturalist Walking Tour by Northern Epics is an easy, low-impact option that takes place inside Denali National Park boundaries. Designed for all fitness levels, it focuses on five-senses learning about permafrost, moss ecosystems, and wildlife signs at a relaxed pace.