Q: Is the Denali Backcountry Lodge open year round? Can we take the Denali Backcountry Adventure in December?

A: The entire towns of Denali and Kantishna shut completely down from around September 15- May 15th.  The traffic lights even shut off.  There is no lodging in or around the Park Entrance during this hiatus.  The Denali Park Road goes unmaintained after the first snow, and the wildlife in the park get a well deserved reprieve from human visitors.  There are plenty of other activities you can partake in while you are staying in this winter wonderland though.  One of the most treasured is seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Fairbanks.  There are also plenty of winter sports to enjoy including snowmachining, dog mushing, and skiing!