Viewing Denali in October
About My October Visit to Denali
I am going to focus this entire page on my October visit to Denali and spare you a lot of the background information on the mountain. Many different pages provide detailed geographic and historical data about Denali, the mountain formerly known as Mt. McKinley.
In late October, I visited Alaska and made a goal of photographing Denali, the tallest peak in North America. Seeing the peak of Denali, which is at 20,310 feet, is not always a sure thing. Alaskans often joke that you are more likely to see the Northern Lights than the peak of Denali due to cloud cover and the ever-changing weather conditions.
During my visit, I drove from Seward, AK to Healy, AK stopping at various viewpoints. While Denali can sometimes be seen from Anchorage, I chose to focus this section on my two favorite Denali viewpoints.
Viewing Denali in October - Table of Contents
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Viewing Denali in October - Talkeetna Viewpoints
The first set of viewpoints that I’d like to provide information on is the Talkeetna viewpoints. Talkeetna, Alaska, is located 114 miles from Anchorage and 152 miles from Denali National Park. This viewpoint provides an unobstructed view of Denali from two different viewpoints.
Talkeetna Spur Road Viewpoint
The first good view of Denali during my October visit was from a viewpoint on Talkeetna Spur Road. After exiting AK-2 onto Talkeetna Spur Road, the viewpoint comes up about two or three miles before the town of Talkeetna. If you want to type this viewpoint in your GPS, the coordinates are (62.30579076730244, -150.10027426027884).
This viewpoint provided a decent view of Denali, although some pine trees provided a small obstruction. When zooming in on Denali, be sure to use a tripod as the mountain is many miles away.
Talkeetna Riverfront Park Viewpoint on the Susitna River
The second viewpoint in Talkeetna was at Talkeetna Riverfront Park. If you continue on Talkeetna Spur Road, the road eventually deadends at this park.
By October, the parking lot was icy, as were parts of the trail. Below, you will see two sets of photographs. The first is from the banks of the Susitna River which, are obstructed by some vegetation. The second photographs are taken from about 200 yards upstream, where the Susitna River meets the Talkeetna River. This location provides a much better view of Denali.
From what I experienced, October is the perfect month to photograph Denali as the trees no longer have leaves to get in the way, and the temperatures are still often above freezing.
When you leave Talkeetna, there is no way to get back to AK-2 without retracing your route.
Viewing Denali in October - The South Viewpoint
After leaving Talkeetna, it was about a two-hour drive to my next viewpoint. I arrived at the Denali Viewpoint South about 30-minutes before sunset. Being the only one there for most of the time once again made me glad I visited in late October.
I set up my tripod and took multiple photos as the sun began to set. The shadows made it difficult to get the perfect shot, and there was one cloud that was blocking the peak of Denali. Still, I considered myself lucky as many visitors travel to the area without ever seeing the summit.
I planned to return the next day, during daylight hours, to get better photographs. If you continue reading, you will see why that didn’t happen in the next section.
Issues with Viewing Denali in October
After spending about 30-minutes at the Denali South Viewpoint, I drove another 90-minutes or so to my hotel in Healy, Alaska. I had planned to spend some time looking for other viewpoints the next day. When I woke up the next morning, I was greeted with whiteout conditions and between five to eight inches of snow.
I decided to begin driving back towards Anchorage as I didn’t know how long the drive would take in these conditions. That night, I had an 11:45 pm flight home to Minneapolis. As I drove, I did stop a few times along the way to photograph the Denali National Park sign and to attempt to see if I could see anything from the Denali North Viewpoint. Unfortunately, the Denali North Viewpoint was inaccessible due to the snow, and the gate was closed.
Although I couldn’t see Denali, I did have one fun nature encounter. As I was driving down AK-2, I thought someone had lost their horse. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a horse but a giant moose. I was able to pull off the road and get some good photographs from the safety of my car.
It took almost eight hours to drive back to Anchorage. The snow continued until I was within 20 miles of Wasilla. I did stop a few more times to get some beautiful winter photographs. October is a great time to visit Alaska and view Denali, but you must be ready for disappointments as it can be sixty degrees and sunny or below freezing and snowing.
Denali Tours and Packages
Tours of the Denali Area are very seasonal. By late October, most of the tours are closed for the winter season. Below is a list of tours that caught my eye. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you book using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Prices are accurate as of April 2023.
 Denali Highway Photography Tour - $477.00 Welcome to your next photography tour adventure. Come with us on a leisurely photography road side tour as we travel from Fairbanks to Fairbanks via the interior passage of the Denali Highway. Your photography guided tour will provide multiple stops tailored to take in the majesty and beauty of the Alaskan Range both with eye and camera. |
 Denali Peak Flight - $466.34 Fly with the original flightseeing company in Denali for your best odds of seeing The Mountain "face to face." Passengers on this flight see more of Denali, more often than anyone else. Your highly experienced pilots possess the skills and knowledge to take advantage of the unique airstrip location just outside the road entrance into Denali NP. 99% of the flight is within Denali National Park, giving you a comprehensive tour of its wild and majestic beauty. Fly among jagged mountaintops and over tumbling glaciers on a stunning 200-mile flight to get within ½ mile and circle Denali to see every spectacular corner (weather permitting). |
 Private Denali Photo Walk - $135.00 Our tour is designed to benefit all skill levels with any type of camera (smart-phones welcome). No matter what gear you have, our guides will be able to help you progress as photographer. Professional tripods and filters are provided. Digital cameras with long zoom lens are available to rent, and guests keep the memory card. Guides will take guests to the best locations given the current weather conditions, light, and wildlife activity. Safety and quality of experience are our top priorities. |
 Denali Aurora Quest - $129.00 Search the skies for the Northern Lights on a guided 3 hour tour in the Denali area. The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are one of the world’s most spectacular natural phenomenons, and Alaska is one of the best places in the world for viewing. The area around Denali makes an ideal spot for stargazing and catching the sometimes elusive Aurora Borealis. Your Alaskan guide will provide commentary and conversation on the area’s unique history, formidable climate, dynamic geography, and separate scientific facts from fictional myth. Learn all about Mother Nature’s fireworks display from a local guide, sip a warm drink, and learn how the Lights are the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere. This bucket list experience lets you hop out at select locations with your camera in hand with pointers from your guide. The Northern Lights are visible only during the winter months (September to April) and sightings are not guaranteed. |
 Denali National Park Walking Tour - $125.00 Embark on a moderate 3-hour walk through in the Denali area with an informative naturalist guide and a small group limited to seven people. Explore both within and outside the wilderness of Denali National Park, moving slowly through the boreal forest of the Alaska Range. Choose a morning, afternoon or midnight sun walk. |
 Denali Hiking Tour - $165.00 Hike the wilderness trails at the entrance to Denali National Park with an experienced naturalist guide on this tour. This narrated tour spends five hours hiking through boreal forest, taiga, and tundra. Geology, botany, natural and human history of Denali National park is explained in detail in the fresh air and sweeping landscape. |
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