Hikers in Denali National Park and Preserve. NPS Photo/Alex Vanderstuyf
Alaska’s vast wilderness areas offer a stunning reprieve from the bustle of daily life, but without proper preparation and information, you can easily put yourself in a dangerous situation. Be sure to read up before your trip, prepare for extreme and rapidly changing conditions, and let someone know of your plans ahead of time. Remote locations in Alaska’s parks carry an additional set of risks in that help is not immediately available should something go wrong. Satellite phones, adequate first-aid and survival gear, and a group member with experience in wilderness first-aid can significantly improve outcomes in an emergency situation. Read the NPS Know Before You Go trip planning principles, check the Alerts page for information about current conditions in the parks, and learn more from the sections below.