How to Elope in Denali National Park
Welcome to Denali National Park! First thing’s first, let’s start with the indigenous history of the land! For thousands of years, indigenous peoples have called this beautiful land their home. Denali sits right at the center of five traditional native lands: the Ahtna, Dena’ina, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, and the Tanana. Each of these groups has a rich history steeped in the land and has their own language and traditions. Together, they’re known as the Athabascan or Dené language group. The Koyukon people are the original namers of Mount Denali, meaning the great or tall one.
Indigenous history has a beautiful legend about Denali. The late chief Mitch Demientieff tells us the legend here: “Long before Denali was created, there lived in Alaska an Indian named Yahoo. He possessed a great power but had no wife. Yahoo built a canoe and paddled west to find one. As he approached the raven chief village, he began singing a song that explained that he was seeking a wife. The wife of the second chief spoke softly. "You may have my daughter for your wife, but take her and go quickly. The raven chief is preparing to kill you!" Yahoo began to paddle away with the young woman. The raven chief was right behind him. The raven chief caused a great storm. The water became very rough. Yahoo took out a powerful stone and threw it ahead of him, calming the waters, but mountainous green waves continued to roll behind him. Next the raven chief threw his great spear at Yahoo, but Yahoo, using medicine, changed the large wave behind him into a mountain of stone just in time. The great spear glanced off the crest of the stone mountain. There was a second tremendous wave of water, even greater than the first. Yahoo used all his medicine to turn this wave into a tremendous mountain of stone. When the great spear hit the top of the mountain there was a crash of breaking rock and the great spear flew off into the sky. The raven chief was paddling so quickly his canoe struck the second great mountain of stone. The raven chief was thrown onto the rocks where he changed instantly into a raven and flapped to the top of the mountain. Exhausted, yahoo fell asleep. When he awoke he was back at home with his new wife at his side. Gazing around, Yahoo saw the two mountains he had created. There was a smaller one to the west now called Foraker, but the larger one, the one the great war spear glanced off before shooting into the stars, that mighty dome would be called - Denali! The great one! Yahoo looked at the sky to see the great raven happy to be back with his people, dancing his approval in the wind.”
A gold rush in 1905 gave way to the first non-native settlement in Denali, settling the town of Kantishna. A year later, naturalist Charles Sheldon vowed to protect the beauty of the land and starting surveying it for national park boundaries in 1907. The park was officially established in 1917. President Obama renamed the park and returned the former Mt. McKinley to it’s Athabascan name, Denali, and we’ve been enjoying the park ever since!
AN OVERVIEW OF DENALI
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
There are two distinct climates in the park, because the park is separated by the Alaska Range. Not only do they have different physical measurements, but their environments and atmospheres are very different as well. The south side is influenced by the weather patterns from the Gulf of Alaska. It usually has more moderate temperatures and less change with the seasons, but more precipitation because of its location facing the gulf. Temperatures on the north side of the park are very sunny in the summer, but very cold in the winter. There’s a lot less precipitation in the north because it’s shielded by the Alaska Range. Spring temperatures range from 20-40 degrees, summer from 40-60 degrees, fall from 16-30 degrees, and winter from -3-14 degrees.
The weather can change with the altitude so if you’re interested in doing activities closer up the mountain, be prepared for the weather that can occur at the 7,200-foot and 14,2000-foot camps. Winter can bring extreme temperature changes in the park and having days that see a 60-degree drop in temperature are not uncommon! The northern side is much more susceptible to volatile weather. Make sure you prepare and know how to handle all the weather changes that can happen in the backcountry!
PEAK SEASON
Conditions are best from the end of May to the middle of September. Starting in the spring, tour buses offer treks through the park along the 92-mile Denali Park Road. Wildlife is most active during this time and the weather is temperate enough for most outdoor activities!
AIRPORTS, TRAVEL, AND GETTING AROUND
The two closest airports to Denali are Fairbanks (120 miles north of the park) or Anchorage (240 miles to the south). It’s also possible to charter a private plane into a few closer private airports, but that’s a pretty costly option. Rent a car and make your way up to the park, passing through a bunch of cute little towns, then stay at one of the amazing lodges in the area or hit the trails for some backcountry camping!
The Alaska Railroad is a unique option for traveling across Alaska! The route takes you through a bunch of towns and through Denali National Park. Jump on at Seward and head north through Whittier, Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Denali, ending at Fairbanks, or start from Fairbanks and work your way back down.
There is only one road in Denali and private vehicles are only able to drive a small portion of it. Take a bus tour along Denali Park Road for an amazing experience! There’s narrated tours where you listen to a detailed program on the drive, or a non-narrated tour that gives you the freedom to get on and off wherever you like. By exploring by bus, you help to reduce congestion and pollution in the park!
SAFETY INFORMATION
Perhaps the biggest piece of safety equipment you can bring with you is a portable satellite communicator for relaying your GPS location to park authorities in case of emergency. My personal favorite is the Garmin inReach Mini — it provides off the grid contact, 2-way messaging, tracking, SOS capabilities, and it’s super lightweight making it perfect for your pack.
Denali is one of the wildest parks in the National Park System, and there’s a few important things to note when it comes to safety:
Wildlife = DO NOT approach wildlife! Stay 50 feet or more back from any animal.
Plants = Don’t eat any berries unless you know for sure what they are! There is no poison oak, poison sumac, or poison ivy in the park, but there are other plants that will make you very sick and cause allergic reactions.
Hypothermia = Always dress in layers made of wool or synthetics, not cotton, that can keep you warm even if you get wet. Hypothermia is always possible in the subarctic!
Injuries = Falls are the most common cause of serious injury in Denali. Don’t go alone, and prepare someone to alert authorities if you’re not back when you say you will be. Know your limits and don’t be afraid to turn back if you can’t handle it. The Denali entrance is a few hours away from a hospital and the backcountry makes help even further. Make safe decisions and always carry the 10 Essentials.
BEAR AND MOOSE SAFETY IN DENALI
The best way to practice bear safety in the backcountry is to always assume you’re going to encounter a bear. Don’t start a trip hoping to avoid them — plan to see one and know what to do when it happens. It’s the best way to be prepared! Study bear behavior and know how to react correctly. Read about bear behavior, watch some YouTube videos, and prepare accordingly. A few starter tips: carry and know how to use bear spray, make lots of noise often (it helps scare the bear away while you’re hiking/camping), hike with others, NEVER run from a bear, stay calm if you see one, don’t try to distract them by throwing something or dropping your pack.
Moose can weigh three- to four- times more than the average bear, up to 1600lbs! Moose charge when they feel threatened. Unlike with bears, you should run as fast as you can from a moose if it begins to charge.
ENTRY FEES
Unlike other parks, Denali doesn’t have a per-car entry fee. Kids 15 years old or younger are free. There’s a $15 fee for a 7-day entrance pass and it’s charged year-round. There is no entrance station in the park, so keep your receipt for your pass with you so you can show it to a ranger when they ask. You can also use an annual parks pass. The National Park Pass (it’s official name is The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass) grants you access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites including national parks, wildlife refuges, some standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These passes are good for one vehicle.
The Annual Pass: $80; Available to everyone; Can purchase online from the USGS store or at most national parks.
The Military Pass: NO COST; Available to all current US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Gaurd, Space Force, and all Reserve and National Gaurd members, as well as US military veterans and Gold Star Family members; you’ll need to show a Common Access Card (CAC), or Military ID or exchange a Gold Star Voucher to get one of these.
Senior Pass: $80 for a Lifetime Pass, $20 for an Annual Pass; Available to US citizens or permanent residents 62 years or older, with valid proof of residency and age (a driver’s license will do); Can purchase in person, online from the USGS store, or by mail using an application form.
Access Pass: NO COST; Available to US citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities with documentation of disability; Can purchase in person, online from the USGS store, or by mail using an application form.
Volunteer Pass: NO COST; Available to volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program; Can obtain this pass by contacting your volunteer coordinator for more information.
NPS
HOW TO ELOPE IN DENALI
HOW TO GET A WEDDING PERMIT FOR DENALI
This information is current as of March 2022, but is subject to change without warning. Always contact the park office to ask about permits.
For a wedding or elopement of any kind within the park boundaries, a special use permit is necessary. There are two different kinds of permits that you can get depending on how many people are going to be at your elopement, but each have a fee of $200. Make sure to contact the park office at least three months in advance of when you’d like to elope (or really, as soon as you’re set on traveling to Alaska!) to give them time to review your request and get your application filed. Be sure to ask about which permit you’ll need, and bring your accepted permit with you to the park when you get married in case a ranger asks for proof of permission.
HOW TO GET A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN ALASKA
Both you and your partner must be at least 18 years old. There is a three-day waiting period that begins once a mailed or faxed application and payment is received by the issuing office. If you need it quicker than that or you’re unable to pick it up in person, you can have it shipped with Priority Mail. The license is valid for 90 days from the date it was issued. If you’ve been divorced before, you’ll need to state the beginning and ending dates of your previous marriage on the application.
VALID OFFICIANTS IN ALASKA
Since each state has different rules on who can marry you, let’s talk for a minute about Alaska. There are five different kinds of people who can legally marry you in Alaska: 1) A minister, priest, rabbi, or recognized leader of any church in the state, 2) a commissioned officer of the Salvation Army, 3) a marriage commissioner, 4) a judicial officer of the state, or 5) a friend or relative, as long as they get a marriage commissioner appointment from an Alaskan court as authorized by AS25.05.081.2.
VENDORS FOR DENALI
LOCAL DENALI FLORISTS
LOCAL DENALI HMUA
BEST CEREMONY LOCATIONS IN DENALI
GRAND DENALI LODGE
The lodge sits on Sugarloaf Mountain and has the most incredible views! It’s owners are indigenous and have worked to show off the beauty of their homeland. There’s a restaurant that features Alaskan seafood, organic meats, and seasonal fruits and veggies, plus a cocktail lounge! A ton of tours leave from the lodge and you’re close to shopping and sightseeing as well.
WONDER LAKE
Situated near mile 85 of Denali Park Road, Wonder Lake earns its name! There’s a campground here that is tent-only and usually books up pretty fast. THere’s plenty of opportunities for hiking, kayaking, rafting, or just admiring the views nearby. You’re also only seven miles from Kantishna if you’d like to hike in but prefer to spend the night back in (relative) civilization.
THOROFARE RIDGE
One of the few marked trails in the entire park, this one is just short of a mile… but you’ll gain 1000 feet in elevation along the way! If you manage the grueling hike up to the top, you’ll be rewarded with views of Denali and the wide-open tundra. The switchbacks are pretty wild, but the Alaska Range are incredible and well-worth the adventure!
TALKEETNA ALASKA LODGE
This lodge is only 2 hours from the entrance of Denali and is perfect for relaxation! There’s a full-service bar, bistro for lunch and dinner and a dining room for breakfast and dinner, shuttle to downtown Talkeetna, huge patios, rooms with amazing views of the mountains, and so much more! The lodge is only open from May to September, though, so plan accordingly!
SHELDON CHALET
Easily the most incredible locale I’ve ever seen, the Sheldon Chalet is AMAZING. The chalet has 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and can house up to 10 guests for a minimum of three days. The all-inclusive price includes the helicopter sightseeing tour to and from the chalet, all food made by a private chef, adventure gear, and a guided exploration of the 35-mile natural Don Sheldon Amphitheater.
THE BACKCOUNTRY
Denali is one of the few parks in the National Park System that not only allow you to go off-trail, but actively encourage it! There are only 35 miles of hiking trails here, but with 7408 square miles, there’s incredible views and adventures to find when you leave the trails behind! get out there and find your perfect elopement spot to celebrate your love!
WHAT TO PACK FOR DENALI
GENERAL PACKING
Because Denali comes with it’s own set of unique challenges with being almost entirely in the backcountry, there’s some pretty important things to pack!
Sturdy hiking boots and at least a few pairs of wool or synthetic socks to keep your feet warm. Also consider bringing gaiters for river crossings!
A backpack that is fitted correctly and can carry your personal gear, a tent, and a rain fly for your pack.
A rain jacket and pants, NOT a rain poncho.
Warm, quick-drying clothing is very important! Cotton won’t keep you warm if you get wet, so stick to wool or synthetics like polypropylene or nylon. Bring quick-drying pants, at least one long-sleeved shirt, long underwear, a winter hat, waterproof gloves, and a fleece jacket. If you’re coming in the winter, know how to dress for sub-zero temperatures.
A stove, fuel, cookware, water bottles, and water purifying tablets or a water filter.
A sleeping bag and a pad.
Emergency gear and The Ten Essentials.
Bear Spray
Always bring a map! While apps like AllTrails are great, your phone could die or you could drop it in a puddle and poof — there go your maps. Paper maps are still a thing, I promise.
Be prepared with the bug trifecta: the right clothes, bug repellant, and something to treat bug bites. If you can stand it in the summer, pants will help shield you from ticks, black flies, and mosquitos. The same goes for long-sleeved shirts (you can even find some with SPF!).
Remember that sunburns can happen even on cloudy days, and especially on snowy (but sunny) days. Protect that beautiful skin of yours.
PACKING FOR YOUR ELOPEMENT
You wouldn’t forget your dress or your suit (hopefully), but what about all the other little things? Here’s a short list of extras you might be forgetting:
A way to transport your ceremony clothing (whether by wearing it on a hike, packing it in a backpack, or just using garment bags)
Your rings! (A pretty important part, tbh.)
Vow books, clothing accessories (ties, cufflinks, belts, safety pins, stain remover), jewelry, perfume and deodorant, letters to each other, small trinkets, and anything else you plan on including during your elopement.
All of your legal documents, including park entrance passes, park wedding permits, IDs, and your marriage license (you’ll also need your passports if you’re coming from out of the country).
HOW TO ENJOY DENALI
WHERE TO STAY
The Alaskan wilderness has no shortage of amazing lodges! Besides the few listed above, there’s a bunch more you could explore! Try out Tonglen Lake Lodge, set on five acres of wilderness. The lodge is only ten years old and offers the lodge itself, cabins, a cafe, and a safe-haven for artists and people looking to recharge through the arts. The owner, Donna Gates, worked at Denali in 1980 and absolutely fell in love with the area, striving to create a beautiful place for all. “Donna was inspired to create Tonglen Lake Lodge as a tribute to her community and to Denali; a place where visitors can share in an authentic, Alaskan experience while building an awareness of respect and awe for both.”
The Denali Grizzly Bear Resort is perfect for anyone looking for a bit of the backcountry with a little bit of a relaxed vibe, too. There’s 119 cedar rooms spread over several building, and every single one has a balcony overlooking the Nenana River. While there’s not a single man-made structure obscuring your view, you can see the Alaska Railroad cruise along the other side of the river from your deck. The resort also offers RV and tent sites
The McKinley Chalet Resort is the height of luxury in the area. There’s 483 rooms here and the lodge sits only one mile from the Denali park entrance. All the buildings are connected by boardwalk and tucked into the woods along the Nenana River. Deluxe rooms offer the standard 4-person bed arrangement, or you can upgrade to a mini-suite! There’s a Denali Dinner Theatre every night serving Alaskan seafood, plus a coffee shop and wine bar. Fire pits are the perfect place to spend the nights, and start your morning with one of the excursions leaving from the complex!
WHAT ELSE TO DO
Denali is an adventure-seekers paradise! Only for experienced mountain climbers, plan a mountaineering expedition to the top of Denali and take in “the top of North America.” For something a little more relaxing, try backpacking and camping in the park — there’s everything from backcountry camping to established campgrounds in the area. If you’re a photographer like me, you can help scientists with their studies of alpine wildlife by sharing your high-quality photos of pika, marmots, Dall sheep, and Arctic ground squirrels (yay photography with a purpose!). If you have a little extra cash, one of the best ways to see Denali is by air. Hire a bush pilot and head out for flightseeing trip of one of the most incredible parks in the country. If you have a car, you can drive to Mountain Vista and Savage River in the spring, summer, and fall to take in the beautiful colors. Head out with a ranger for a guided “Discovery hike” to learn about the parks from the experts — park rangers are some of my favorite people! And now for my dream excursion in the park… head out to meet the National Park System’s only pack of working sled dogs! You can meet the dogs, see their kennel and learn about their history in the park (it’s currently the 100-year anniversary of the sled dog program), and attend a ranger-led mushing demonstration to see the dogs in action!
READY TO BOOK YOUR DREAM ELOPEMENT IN DENALI?!
*All photos courtesy of the National Park Service