A single, 92-mile stretch of road is the only way in or out of Denali National Park and Preserve. In August 2021, a fast-moving landslide severed Denali Park Road at its center (mile marker 43, better known as Polychrome Pass). Conditions created by permafrost and climate change led to "unprecedented" landslide movement across the road, as described by Don Striker, Denali's superintendent at the time.
Harsh Alaska winters and the nesting seasons of various protected animals on the preserve have limited repairs, which means that the road isn't expected to reopen until 2027.
For Alaska cruise passengers with a pre- or post-voyage extension to Denali, this means that the typical daylong bus tour into the park is cut shorter. But for adventurous travelers looking for a rare opportunity to have one of the world's most famous national parks "to themselves," there are still lodges offering fly-in service beyond the road system to reach the western portion of Denali -- also referred to as the backcountry.
For clients, this adds a thrilling aerial tour along the spine of the Alaska Range to their wilderness retreat. Just be sure to book them for a stay at one of these three lodges before the end of 2026. Once the road has reopened to the public, the floodgates will also open, and this extraordinary window to enjoy Denali without the crowds disappears.
Camp Denali
Camp Denali (mile marker 89) has been hosting guests for 75 years -- since before statehood. As a longtime operator, Camp Denali has grandfathered access to portions of the park, which means that in 2025, it's the only property with vehicles on this stretch of Denali Park Road.
"As the saying goes, 'The real Alaska experience begins where the road ends,'" according to Simon Hamm, who co-owns the lodge with his wife, Jenna. "Our client demographic has shifted when we went from road access to exclusive fly-in access ... but I think we're going to look back on these as really special years."
The current cap at Camp Denali is two dozen guests. "We can actually handle double that when the roads open, but we really like the intimacy and the ambience," Hamm said. "Spontaneous camaraderie [between the guests] tends to happen."
Camp Denali is currently operating Monday and Friday flights that typically consist of a mix of independent travelers with an occasional group booking.
The Pursuit Collection's Denali Backcountry Lodge offers spa treatments at its Nest Wellness Center. Photo Credit: Frank P. Flavin
Denali Backcountry Lodge
As part of the Pursuit Collection, which operates five lodges and a Kenai Fjords tour, the Denali Backcountry Lodge (mile marker 92) is the place to be if you also desire a spa treatment while in solitude. The Nest Wellness Center offers hot stone massages in the woodlands at the end of Denali Park Road.
"Guests fly in [via helicopter], get dropped off, and you are in the wilderness," said Brittney Nordin, media relations manager for Pursuit. "This property enables guests to choose whether they wake up at 7 a.m. and hike all day or relax on a deck with a glass of wine and a book and then head to the spa."
Nordin emphasizes that while visiting the lodge right now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, there are only a dozen cabins on the property, so it should still feel like an intimate experience for anyone staying the night -- even after the crowds return.
Kantishna Roadhouse is an Indigenous-owned and -operated wilderness lodge. Photo Credit: Steve Zmak
Kantishna Roadhouse
Kantishna (mile marker 92) is the only Indigenous-owned and -operated lodge in the backcountry.
"We have Indigenous staff who share their story, so we're providing an authentic and immersive experience in that we don't create a presentation on the culture," said Jordan Sanford, president of Doyon Tourism. She also noted that it's significant for one national park to claim five different Indigenous groups who once traveled through this region.
In an average season, Kantishna Roadhouse offers 33 cabins that sleep up to five (165 guests total), not including daytrip buses that can bring in more than 200 guests per day for lunch and activities. But the lodge is currently accepting just 15 overnight guests at a time -- less than 10% of maximum overnight capacity.
"The opportunity to experience Denali without the crowds enhances everything," according to Zach Dunlap, operations director for Doyon Ltd., the parent company of Doyon Tourism. "Bringing a guest out and letting them understand and have a deeper connection with the area is what has been most powerful for me."
Kantishna, like the other backcountry lodges, wants to make sure travel advisors are aware of this exclusive experience beyond the landslide.
"When the roads are open, we're booked out a year in advance," Sanford said. "The entrance of Denali Park is seeing record numbers. We just need to get the word out that we're open on the other side of the road."