Denali / Denali National Park

Wonder Lake

Closed — Closed for the 2025 and 2026 seasons due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide at mile 43 of Denali Park Road. The road is closed beyond mile 43, preventing access to this mile 85 campground. Expected to reopen in 2027 once bridge construction is complete.

About

Wonder Lake Campground is located at mile 85 on Denali Park Road, making it the closest campground to Denali (Mount McKinley). Though still nearly 26 miles from the mountain, its sheer size makes it loom impressively over the campground. The 28 tent-only sites offer spectacular views on clear days that many consider the best in the park, though cloudy skies can obscure the mountain and mosquitoes are particularly fierce from mid-June through late August. The campground is accessible only via specialized camper shuttle buses—personal vehicles cannot drive beyond mile 15 at Savage River. Campers must book both a campground reservation and a separate camper bus ticket. The scenic bus journey takes approximately 5.5 hours one way. Bear-proof food lockers are provided throughout the campground for safe food storage. Wonder Lake tends to be cooler and wetter than the park entrance area. Expect overnight lows in the upper 30s to 40s Fahrenheit and daytime highs typically in the upper 50s to 60s, though sunny days can occasionally reach near 80°F. Paths between campsites vary from compact gravel to muddy, rocky surfaces, with some sites on a small hill above the main campground road and others at or below road level.

Directions

Accessible only via camper shuttle bus from the park entrance. Personal vehicles cannot drive beyond mile 15 at Savage River. Campers must reserve both a campsite and a separate camper bus ticket through the park concessionaire. The bus journey to Wonder Lake takes approximately 5.5 hours one way.

Nearby Campgrounds