Denali
North America's highest peak and a six-million-acre wilderness with grizzlies, moose and caribou.
8 national parks in Alaska
National Parks in Alaska
Alaska has 8 national parks. Here's when each one is at its best, and the months that work for seeing several on one trip.
July and August are the best overall for Alaska's parks. Denali: Jun–Aug; Gates of the Arctic: Jul–Aug; Glacier Bay: Jun–Aug; Katmai: Jul, Sep; Kenai Fjords: Jun–Aug; Kobuk Valley: Aug–Sep; Lake Clark: Jun–Aug; Wrangell–St. Elias: Jun–Aug.
Season calendar
The parks
Gates of the Arctic
No roads, no trails. Pure Arctic wilderness north of the Arctic Circle.
Glacier Bay
Tidewater glaciers calving into a bay full of humpback whales.
Katmai
The bears of Brooks Falls catching salmon in midair.
Kenai Fjords
Glaciers you can walk to and fjords full of whales, puffins and sea otters.
Kobuk Valley
Arctic sand dunes and one of the great caribou migrations on Earth.
Lake Clark
Coastal brown bears, active volcanoes and turquoise lakes, an hour's flight from Anchorage.
Wrangell–St. Elias
The largest national park in America, with a ghost copper-mining town on a glacier.
Road trips through Alaska
Alaska by Road
Glaciers, whales and grizzlies on the three Alaska parks you can reach by road.
Questions
How many national parks are in Alaska?
Alaska has 8 national parks: Denali National Park, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, Katmai National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kobuk Valley National Park, Lake Clark National Park, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.
When is the best time to visit national parks in Alaska?
July and August are the best overall for Alaska's parks. Denali: Jun–Aug; Gates of the Arctic: Jul–Aug; Glacier Bay: Jun–Aug; Katmai: Jul, Sep; Kenai Fjords: Jun–Aug; Kobuk Valley: Aug–Sep; Lake Clark: Jun–Aug; Wrangell–St. Elias: Jun–Aug.
Last reviewed October 4, 2026. Ratings are editorial. Rules and road openings change each year, so confirm on the official NPS site before you go.