For nearly five years, visitors to Denali National Park could only see half the show. The park's single 92-mile road has been cut off at mile 45 since August 2021, when an active landslide forced a closure that stranded the Eielson Visitor Center, the Kantishna lodges, and Wonder Lake — the spot where North America's tallest peak famously mirrors itself in still water — behind a wall of unstable ground. Businesses that stayed open had to fly staff and guests in by helicopter.
That changed with the completion of the Pretty Rocks Bridge, a roughly 475-foot span built by the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration to leapfrog the landslide entirely. The $230 million project was no small feat: engineers wrestled with steep terrain, tricky geology, permafrost, a remote site, and Alaska's short construction window. With the bridge finished, the western half of the park road has reopened to hikers and cyclists right away, with full public bus service slated to return for the summer 2027 season.
Here's the practical bit: private vehicles are only allowed a short way into the park, so the transit buses are how most people get deep into Denali. Once full service resumes, those buses will run the entire length of the road for the first time since 2021. Fares for 2027 haven't been set, but rides on the eastern half currently cost $33.50 per adult, so budget accordingly. Bookings for buses and campgrounds for the 2027 season open December 1, 2026, at ReserveDenali.com — worth marking in the calendar, because prime summer spots go fast.
In the meantime, the roadless western end is now reachable under your own steam. Cyclists and hikers can cross the bridge immediately, which is arguably the best way to experience a park where the wildlife outnumber the crowds. If you've ever wanted to see Wonder Lake without a window between you and the view, this is your window — literally, on foot or by bike.
For anyone planning an Alaska trip, this is big news. Denali's west end holds some of the park's best scenery and its most remote lodges, and the restoration of full bus access means the classic full-day road journey is back on the menu from 2027. Reserve early, pack layers, and give yourself more than one day in the park — weather around the mountain is famously moody.
