Best Activities in Denali National Park
Dog Tours
Husky Homestead - 4.8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2,170)
Husky Homestead is a dog kennel run by Jeff King. Jeff has won 4 Iditarod races, and is often considered the winningest musher in the world. He’s famous for treating his dogs exceptionally well, and now provides tours and demonstrations for Denali travelers. I will note that you’ll need to find your own transportation to get to Husky Homestead. It’s about a 15 minute drive from the National Park entrance.
1.5 Hour Husky Homestead Tour - 4.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (2,253) Price/person: $64
Husky Homestead doesn’t do much in the way of marketing, instead leaning on their reputation as one of the best dog kennels in Alaska. When you arrive to tour their facility, you’ll be greeted by puppies. If you’re not sold already, I don’t know what else to tell you. But there’s more. You’ll get a look into authentic rural Alaskan life, get to watch champion sled dogs do a demonstration on a 50-foot treadmill, and get behind the scenes of how a winning sled dog is raised. You’ll also hear harrowing and compelling stories from the trail. There’s a bunch more too, but if you like dogs, just book this tour.
DogGoneIt - 4.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (460)
This is the kennel and home of Iditarod musher Mike Santos. Visit with their puppies, witness sled dogs in action, and experience running the Iditarod through their multimedia presentation. Enjoy stories of the adventures of living an ever-growing dream both on and off the trail. The intimate visit to their Alaskan home gives you the chance to learn about the real experience of living in Alaska and make personal connections with their family. This authentic atmosphere combined with a professional tour experience have made DogGoneIt winner of numerous awards including Activity of the Year and Highest Rated Attraction.
3 Hour DogGoneIt Tour - 4.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (559) Price/person: $65
Begin with a snuggle and photo with a sled dog puppy, then watch an energetic dog team on a summer training run. Enjoy a multimedia presentation on the Iditarod, complete with videos, photos, and stories from musher Mike Santos. Conclude with a Q&A, more time with the mushing equipment and souvenirs, and a final look at the dogs and puppies. A big bonus for this tour is that transportation is included. Unlike Husky Homestead, Dog Gone It will pick you up from you hotel for no extra cost.
Squid Acres Kennel - 5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (110)
Squid Acres is run by Paige Drobny and Cody Strathe. They named the kennel after Paige’s masters thesis project on squid in the Bering sea. Since starting the kennel, They’ve competed in 10 Iditarod races between the two of them, with Paige placing 5th in the 2024 race. They’re located in Cantwell, and love to show off their dogs - but they do it in a different way than Dog Gone It or Husky Homestead. They have two locations, but only one is within 30 minutes of Denali, so I’m only going to include tours at that location here. If you want to learn more about Squid Acres or check out their other location at the Susitna River Lodge, look at their website.
2 Hour Cantwell Summer Mushing Experience Price/person: $150
As with most other dog tours, you’ll start with meeting the dogs. You’ll get to know these amazing athletes one on one and take a tour of their kennel. Then you’ll help hook them up to a 5 passenger ATV (there isn’t any snow in the summer) and take them on a training run. This is the only dog tour where you actually get to run with the dogs. You’ll to experience what it’s like to be riding behind a dog team in real life. Also, they have adorable puppies.
Driving Tours
Denali Jeep Excursions - 4.6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (592)
Locals have a fond name for the long and colorful line of Jeeps they see on the road all the time thanks to this tour: The Skittles. Denali Jeep Excursions began exploring the Old Denali Highway in 2013 to showcase the area's untouched beauty. This remote, often overlooked route offers glaciers and mountain views with limited amenities and maintenance. Denali Jeep Excursions aims to provide guests with comfortable access and knowledgeable guides, offering a unique exploration of the severely underrated Denali Highway.
4-5 Hour Denali Highway Jeep Excursion - 4.6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (592) Price/person: $189
Experience the Denali Highway, ranked the #2 “Drive of a Lifetime” by National Geographic Traveler, on a 100+ mile Jeep tour through breathtaking landscapes of mountains, glaciers, and vistas. This guided tour allows you to drive new Jeeps along the 135-mile gravel road with stops for photography and wildlife viewing, with each Jeep equipped with a CB radio to stay connected with the guide. Snacks, drinks, and child seats are included. They put a lot of effort into making sure their guides are top-notch, but there is one notable complaint about the Jeep Excursion: The dust. If it’s a very dry day, you may find yourself in a dust cloud behind 10 other vehicles. This does not happen often, and in my opinion having the opportunity to explore the Denali Highway is worth it, but the dust is a frequent enough complaint that it’s worth noting here.
Fishing Tours
Denali Fly Fishing Guides - 4.8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (108)
While there aren’t many fish in the main river that flows through the Denali area, the Nenana, there are plenty of tributaries teeming with Arctic Grayling. These tributaries are where Denali Fly Fishing Guides operates. They specialize in catching Arctic Grayling. Grayling are a beautiful fish. They have an enormous dorsal fin with iridescent stripes. Denali Fly Fishing Guides are truly experts when it comes to fly fishing in the Denali area. If you’re a fisherman, I highly recommend them.
6 Hour Guide's Choice Trip, May 12 - Sep. 1 Price/person: $189
This trip targets the native Arctic Grayling in their summer habitat. The longer time allows you to get to further away, less fished streams. This both helps avoid overfishing, and gives you an opportunity to fish in more remote and beautiful streams that aren’t fished as often.
