Alaska has earned its name “The Last Frontier.” We have the most unexplored wilderness, the tallest mountain peaks, and the most fantastic spread of wildlife you’ll find in any state in America. To combine these all in one spot, well, we’re not surprised that Denali National Park was named the most dangerous park in Alaska. It ranked the sixth most dangerous park in America, from data collected from the National Park Service by Outforia. This stunning, amazing, beautiful park has a darker side because much of the beauty here is from its untamed, unexplored wilderness. Here’s more on why visiting Denali National Park is considered one of the most dangerous places in Alaska.

If you’re planning a visit to this incredible national park, there’s no better time to visit than during National Park Week. Learn all about this celebration of America’s great outdoors — including fee-free days throughout the year!

Denali National Park is at the top of many people’s bucket lists.
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The park boasts the largest mountain in North America, its namesake Denali. It also covers 6 million acres of untouched wilderness, taking you back to a time before man made its mark on much of the United States.
The number one cause of death in this park? Environmental exposure.
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Accidents happen, and the weather can change rapidly. How dangerous is Denali? With those out exploring the backcountry of Denali, being unprepared for a change of weather could spell out death.
The second greatest cause of death is actually from falls.
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This isn’t too surprising, as we have a healthy community of mountaineers who love to summit our great peaks in the Alaska Range, especially Denali herself.
One death so far has been attributed to drowning inside the park.
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Two have been caused by motor vehicle crashes. It’s so important to take stock of where you are, and what’s around you when you drive into Denali National Park. Even though you can only access 13 miles in your private car, there’s still tons of wildlife on the road, as well as other drivers, and perilous conditions.

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With the reputation Denali has of seeing incredible wildlife, you’d think there would be dozens of reports of animal attacks, possibly resulting in death.
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But visitors will be relieved to find out that only one death has occurred from a wild animal in the park. More surprisingly, eight deaths have been attributed to transportation: that could be flight seeing, or even riding a bicycle in the park.
Denali National Park may rank in sixth place nationally, but this is calculated by counting how many deaths the park has seen in total.
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Denali National Park should actually be considered far more dangerous. The over 600,000 annual visitors to Denali are a mere fraction of the amount of visitors that the larger parks see. The percentage of visitors to Denali National Park who have been killed, out of the total annual visitors, would actually push this national park to the number one spot as most dangerous national park in the United States. You may be wondering, “is it safe to visit Denali National Park?” Yes, if you take the right precautions.
In fact, there are a number of easier areas to visit if you want to avoid much of the danger.
Megan McDonald / Only In Your State
The Savage River Trail is right off the road system so you can drive there in your own car. Because this is a populated trail, you are less likely to see dangerous wildlife.
Many families love exploring this area, mine included!
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We have seen bears occasionally, but they tend to keep their distance. The Savage River Trail is short, sweet, and does not have a lot of elevation gain, so it’s a good way to safely see the park up close.
So the next time you head out into Denali National Park, make sure to do so with plenty of information and knowledge about where you’re headed. It could be said it’s the most dangerous place in Alaska.
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You’ll want to be well prepared and advised of the weather and your route, and with a safety person back home who knows where you are. Make sure to practice common sense while exploring our gorgeous national park! Check out the tamer areas, or join an easy National Park guided bus tour.

Did you know one of the most dangerous places in Alaska was Denali National Park? What did you think – do you agree or disagree? Did finding that out surprise you? Let us know in the comments below — we’d love to hear your thoughts!

If you want to learn more about this incredible national park, make sure to check out these 15 Fascinating Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Denali National Park.

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Visiting Denali National Park

Beth C. | December 16, 2021

What are the most dangerous wild animals in Alaska?

Alaska sure is beautiful, but with such untamed wilderness, caution is vital. Now that you've learned about one of the most dangerous places in Alaska -- Denali National Park -- it's time to focus on the wild animals that you'll find both within the park and other places throughout the great state. The list includes:

While it's always a good idea to be cautious, it's also important to remember that many of these animals simply want to keep to themselves, so be sure to give them plenty of space so they, too, can stay safe!

Are there any poisonous snakes in Alaska?

You may be surprised to hear that there are no poisonous snakes in Alaska! While it's possible to find the occasional snake in Alaska, it won't be poisonous. In fact, there's even a list of reptiles you won't find in Alaska:

In fact, the only common reptile in Alaska is the sea turtle, and even those are pretty rare.

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