If you’re looking to get away from busy city life, or would just like to experience somewhere unlike anything else, Denali should be at the top of your list.

Most people associate Alaska with frigid weather and endless ice, but in the warmer months, it’s simply spectacular. Untouched parkland, stunning views of wildlife in their natural habitats, and miles of breathtaking beauty.

One of the best ways to see Denali is by ATV, as you can get up close and personal but still cover a lot of ground in a fun way. We’re here to bring you the top ATV tours in Denali Park available, ensuring you choose one that’s worth your time and money!

Be sure to see our reviews of Denali Flightseeing Tours.

Best ATV Tours in Denali Park

	Denali ATV Trailblazer 3.5 Hour Tour	2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour	Classic ATV Adventure w/ Back Country Dining
Departure Point:	Denali National Park and Preserve, 238 Parks Hwy, Denali Park	238 Parks Hwy, Denali Park	247 Otto Lake Rd, Healy, AK or hotel pickup/drop-off
Departure Time:	10:00 am	Variety Available	Variety Available
Duration:	3.5 hours	2.5 hours	3 hours
Includes:	Guide, all necessary equipment, hotel pickup and drop-off (select hotels)	Guide, all necessary equipment, hotel pickup and drop-off (select hotels only)	Beverages, meals as per itinerary, professional guide, round-trip hotel transport, helmet, goggles, gloves & rain gear
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Denali Park ATV Tours For 2024

1. Denali ATV Trailblazer 3.5 Hour Tour
2. 2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour
3. Classic ATV Adventure with Back Country Dining
4. Wilds of Alaska Classic ATV Adventure
5. Alaskan Back Country Side by Side ATV Adventure with Meal

Denali Park ATV Tour Reviews

1. Denali ATV Trailblazer 3.5 Hour Tour

First off, we have the Denali ATV Trailblazer 3.5 Hour Tour. This tour is a ton of fun, and includes everything you could need to have a great time. Made for all experience levels and ages, it’s a fantastic way to see the Alaskan wilderness and Denali National Park.

Your tour will start off by them picking you up at your hotel or by you meeting them at the tour location in Denali. However, we recommend the former, as it’s much more convenient and you don’t have to figure out transport there and back to your hotel.

Once you arrive, you’ll meet up with your guides who will first get you acquainted with the ATVs and make sure you know how to confidently operate them. You can choose from either a single-rider ATV or a 2-passenter option where you sit side-by-side.

If you’re traveling with children, they can ride in the passenger side in a multi-seat vehicle which is also a blast and a great way to enjoy it together as a family!

However, all vehicles have 4-wheel-drive and automatic transmission. You can expect to get wet and get some mud splashed on you with the single-rider configuration, but the 2-rider has roofs and windshields if that’s not your thing.

Capable of traveling up to 30 MPH, they place a great focus on safety and following trail rules, keeping wildlife safe and undisturbed, as well. You’ll spend a total of about 2.5 hours on the trail, and in this time you can expect to cover around a whopping 20 miles!

However, your guide will make sure to take stops throughout for the best photo ops around while stopping to ensure you see any wildlife that may be hanging out and about.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. 2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour

Next up, we have a slightly shorter tour which is great if you have a packed schedule planned. The 2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour is a fantastic way to check out the Alaskan wilderness, including Otto Lake, Healy Valley, and the Alaska Range.

Make sure to keep your eyes peeled while zooming through the trails to try and catch a glimpse of a bear, moose, and other creatures! You’ll either be able to meet up at the departure point at the park, or choose to be picked up and dropped off at your hotel.

The former seems to be the preferred choice by most, as you don’t have to deal with arranging transportation outside of the tour. There are various departure times, making it ultra-simple to fit into your schedule.

Just like with the previous tour, this one also gives you the option of selecting either a single-rider or double-rider vehicle. The latter comes with a roof and windshield, which is nice if you don’t want to risk getting dirty!

However, that’s all part of the fun and if you dress accordingly will only add to the experience!

Once you get to the location, your guides will show you how to drive the vehicles and give you the rules of riding on the trails. The safety of the local wildlife and you are always top priority, especially considering you’ll be crossing over rocky creek beds, splashing through water, uneven terrain, etc.

However, all safety equipment is included so you don’t have to worry about renting it. As you ride, your guide will make intermittent stops to teach you about the history and ecosystem of the park.

Not only that, if they spot wildlife, they’ll also have you stop so you can see them from a distance. Moose are ever-present in the area, so don’t be surprised if you see one of these furry giants!

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Classic ATV Adventure with Back Country Dining

Not only does Alaska have incredible views and wildlife, the state also boasts delicious eats! Depending on your schedule, you can add either breakfast, lunch, or dinner to your ride and really ramp up the fun.

Check out the Classic ATV Adventure with Back Country Dining tour, that always seems to be a crowd favorite. This 3-hour tour not only involves zooming around the park, you’ll also learn about the plant and animal life in the area, and enjoy a mouth-watering backcountry meal.

With various departure times available, it will work into just about any schedule. You can choose to either be picked up at your Healy hotel or meet the crew at the Black Diamond Resort.

This 3-hour tour not only involves zooming around the park, you’ll also learn about the plant and animal life in the area, and enjoy a mouth-watering backcountry meal.

With various departure times available, it will work into just about any schedule. You can choose to either be picked up at your Healy hotel or meet the crew at the Black Diamond Resort.

Once you arrive, you’ll receive a comprehensive safety briefing from your guide to ensure you drive confidently and minimize risk. At this time, they’ll also fit you with proper safety gear, such as a helmet, gloves, safety goggles, and rain gear if it’s wet outside.

Before you set off with your guide, they’ll give you a few practice runs on the Polaris ATV. Made for all experience levels, it’s a fun time for absolute newbies to seasoned pros.

Head out to your off-road tour where you’ll ride along old coal mining trails, a legendary dry creek bed, an old abandoned cabin, and the pristine wilderness with unmatchable views of the mountains.

You’re sure to work up an appetite, so afterward, enjoy a freshly-prepared meal of soft biscuits and gravy, bacon, reindeer sausage, fresh fruit, flapjacks, and more! Don’t forget some fresh fruit cobbler and coffee, tea, or hot chocolate!

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Wilds of Alaska Classic ATV Adventure

Are you searching for a unique way to learn all about Alaskan wildlife, wilderness, and its history? If so, then check out the Wilds of Alaska Classic ATV Adventure! This is yet another 3-hour tour that will have you venturing through all kinds of trails to experience more of this remote area.

Just like the others we’ve covered so far, it comes with the option of either hotel pickup in Healy, or meeting at the tour’s starting point at Black Diamond Peak. If you have your own transportation arranged or have your own vehicle, then the latter may be preferable.

Otherwise, we recommend the hotel pickup and drop-off option. Once you arrive, you’ll learn all about proper safety precautions to take, how to drive your vehicle, and be outfitted with safety gear like helmet, goggles, gloves, and rain gear, depending on the weather.

If you don’t feel comfortable driving on your own, you can opt to ride with someone else in your group or your guide!

You’ll head down old coal mining trails that end up in an old dry creek bed which is known for being the site where various Athabascan Native American artifacts were discovered many years ago.

Moreover, you’ll pass by an abandoned cabin which was built by pioneers, and as you can imagine, has quite the history itself. There are many other notable sights and places you’ll get to see and learn about, and will likely see some critters as well!

Throughout the tour, you can count on your guide taking you on little stops in order to see wildlife around the area as well as take time for photos.

They’re all about respecting nature and its inhabitants, so you can feel safe and so can the animals around you.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Alaskan Back Country Side by Side ATV Adventure with Meal

No Alaskan ATV tour guide would be complete without our next tour! The Alaskan Back Country Side by Side ATV Adventure with Meal is a fully-comprehensive tour that’s perfect if you want to try some delicious local food!

It’s also a nice option if you’d like to go with a significant other or buddy instead of riding by yourself on the ATVs. Lasting 3 hours, you’ll be able to choose to be picked up from our hotel or arrive at the Black Diamond Peak location by your own means.

However, being picked up from the hotel is super convenient and means you just have to head down to your hotel lobby at your predetermined pickup time. No need to haul around a jacket and other clothes, nor worry about planning separate transport.

Once you arrive on site, you’ll learn how to drive the ATV Side-by-Side vehicles – even if you aren’t the one planning on driving it. You’ll also be fitted with a helmet, safety goggles, and gloves.

Everyone learns about how to stay safe on them, and you’ll get a bit of time for some practice runs before heading out on the tour.

Starting out near Otto Lake, the air is fresh and just a little bit chilly – perfect for zooming in and out of the area! Start off along the Alaska Range, which consists of high mountain peaks, deep valleys, bubbling streams, and expansive tundra.

You’ll stop throughout the adventure to take some photos so don’t worry about that! You may even get lucky and see some moose or other critters! After speeding around, head back for a full-service backcountry meal consisting of excellent company and delicious food.

The all-you-can-eat breakfast is absolutely incredible, with fresh-baked biscuits and gravy, thick bacon, sausage, fruit, eggs, flapjacks, and more. If you’re going later in the day, you’ll be served tender ribs, chicken, steak, salmon, potato salad, fruit cobber, and more.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Denali National Park Tour Guide

Getting There –

There are 3 major methods of transportation to Denali National Park: car, train, or bus. There are no local airports, but Fairbanks is 120 miles a way and Anchorage is 240 miles.

You could fly to one of them and then rent a car, or take the train or bus to get to Denali. However, you’re likely going to be staying in Healy, which is just about 15 to 20 minutes away from Denali.

We recommend the train, just because it’s so cozy, smooth, and comfortable. Plus, it’s a great way to see Alaska from large windows!

Getting Around –

Getting around Denali Park is surprisingly easy, considering the varying and sometimes extreme terrain. However, there are very well-paved paths throughout a large portion of the park and during the summertime, private vehicles can drive through the first 15 miles of the road out to Savage River. This is a great way to potentially see wild animals hanging around in their natural habitats, along with the obvious natural beauty that the park has to offer.

Aside from private vehicles, there’s also the option of taking the affordable transit buses that stop intermittently to view wildlife, for rests, and more. Alternatively, you have free buses and narrated tour buses.

In order to get past the first 15 miles, you’ll have to be on a bus, bike, or on foot. Biking is a lot of fun in the summertime, with soft, paved hills. Walking is nice too, but can genuinely get tiresome after the first few miles.

Where to Stay –

Despite being pretty remote, there are quite a few lodging options if you’re going to be exploring Denali Park. You can find something to fit just about any budget, from hostel cabins and more affordable roadhouses to luxury hotels on the side of the mountains.

If you’re going with a significant other, the Denali Crow’s Nest Cabins are romantic, luxurious, and have fantastic views. If you have your RV with you, the Denali Rainbow Village RV Park & Motel is the way to go. If you’re going with the entire family, check out the Healy Heights Family Cabins. They’re family-friendly and have a lot of extra space and beds.

Restaurants and Eating Out –

We said it before, and we’ll say it again: Denali has some incredible food. Let’s take a look at some of the best-rated restaurants that we also approve of!

229 Parks Restaurant and Tavern – Located inside a charming little log cabin on the side of the road, it shows off a wide array of different Alaskan cuisines, from rich seafood to seasonal produce. It may not look like a big deal from the outside, but it is high in demand so make sure to book ahead.

Rose’s Café – Made to refuel during long trips, it’s family-owned and operated and is perfect for starting your day off early. They’re always ready to serve you delicious coffee, soup, eggs benedict, and more at the crack of dawn with a smile on their faces!

Moose-AKA’s – This restaurant manages to transport you to Europe, with Serbian/Eastern European influences! Fried crepes and schnitzel are a couple of the most popular dishes here, but you’re sure to try something you’ve never had before.

The Black Bear – Featured on Food Network as the “Best Coffee House in Alaska”, it’s been going strong for over 2 decades now. Always busy in the mornings, it’s known for its avocado toast, freshly-baked pastries, and rich coffee.

Nightlife and Entertainment –

Denali and the surrounding area isn’t going to be your typical city where you find clubs and bars everywhere. However, there are still some solid entertainment options available. You’ll find that the Denali Park Salmon Bake is the place to go for live music and dancing in the evening, and honestly it’s worth it!

Fannie Q’s Saloon offers more of that old-school saloon feel with a modern twist! Delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner is available and in the evening they always book talented live entertainment.

Karstens Public House is perfect if you’re a craft beer aficionado (or just enjoy a good brew). With 12 local brews on tap and fresh cocktails available, sip on something new while enjoying the view outside or chatting with the friendly locals.

For tourists, the Cabin Nite Dinner Theater is a must-see, with a top-notch musical revue about the gold rush era. Not only do they provide a show, but dinner as well. Oh, and they don’t skimp on the food! If you’re looking for a good time for the whole family, this is it.

Princess Cruises has a big influence in the area, and they have their own evening show called ‘The Music of Denali’. Each show lasts about an hour, and the dinner 2 hours. It’s a fun time and a great excuse to get dressed up.

Weather –

While Denali is undoubtedly beautiful no matter the time of year, we highly recommend going in the summer months. Summers can get to over 75 degrees Fahrenheit, but can be a bit chilly and overcast at times as well. However, during the colder months it’s outright frigid, icy, and snowy and can drop down to around -11 degrees!

Tips –

1. You can’t travel the entire Denali Park road by private vehicle. However, there are times where the weather is really nice and they open up the first 30 miles!
2. Expect any type of weather, at any time. This means we highly recommend packing a warm coat or jacket, warm gloves, head coverings, along with boots that will keep your feet dry. Even in the middle of summer, it can snow.
3. Visit the sled dogs! Did you know that Denali is the only national park that has a team of working sled dogs? If you visit during the summer you can go and see their kennels! They’re so adorable and friendly, and it’s a can’t-miss.
4. Plan for more than 1 day. Denali is just so massive and has so much to offer, you’re sure to want to go back and check out even more. Although you’ll undoubtedly see a lot through your ATV tours, you’ll likely want to go hiking or even take a bus deeper into the park.
5. Try a Flight over Denali. A great way to see the spectacular Denali Park is with a flightseeing tour. To truly appreciate the mountains you need to see them from above.