Wildfires that close Denali National Park put a stop to ‘trip of a lifetime’ plans for thousands of tourists

Firefighters continued to work Monday to contain the Riley Fire in the Denali Borough near the entrance to Denali National Park. (Photo courtesy of Denali Borough)

The wildfires, which closed Denali National Park and Preserve Sunday afternoon and into Monday, shattered the dreams of thousands of travelers who had made the park a key part of their Alaska travel itineraries.

Tourism officials said the Riley Fire, which started near the park’s entrance, caused power outages and cut off electricity and water to nearby Glitter Gulch, a jumping-off point into the park lined with hotels, shops and restaurants, forcing many people to change their travel and lodging plans.

As there are no flush toilets, the lodge operators have provided portable toilets and toilets in large buses.

The fire also forced the cancellation of train services that carried cruise passengers from Anchorage and Fairbanks to the park, but the Alaska Railroad worked with major bus companies to transport many evacuated travelers to their next destinations.

A chimney jumper packs up his gear while another crew descends to fight the Riley Fire near the entrance to Denali National Park on Sunday afternoon. (Bradley Hagstrom/National Park Service)

Denali Borough Mayor Chris Noel said firefighters are getting the blaze under control and he hopes the closure will be short-lived and the park can reopen on Tuesday.

“This is a huge disruption to our area and it’s going to have a ripple effect,” Noel said. Shops and restaurants have been forced to close and travelers have had to make new plans. “But everyone is doing everything they can to help us and to save us.”

[Denali National Park closed as crews fight wildfire at height of tourist season]

New Jersey residents Ken and Kathy McKenna unexpectedly ended up spending two extra nights in Anchorage after the fire shattered their plans to visit the park.

He said his reason for coming to Alaska was to see Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America, so he was disappointed when he arrived at the train station early Monday morning to find that the train to the park had been canceled.

“It’s pretty disappointing,” Ken McKenna said, “but apparently there’s not much that can be done about the fire and from what we’re hearing, everyone is doing fine over there.”

Luckily, he said, he was able to extend his stay at a midtown Anchorage hotel by two nights.

“So we’ll be here for a few days and then head to Seward as originally planned,” he said.

But given the distance to Alaska, he said it’s unlikely he’ll return to see Denali.

Cindy and Rick Williams, left, of Salt Lake City, were scheduled to travel by train to Denali National Park on Tuesday, while Donna and John Montana, of New Port Richey, Florida, had their Denali-bound trip canceled Monday morning. The couples waited on Fourth Avenue for a sightseeing trip with Anchorage Trolley Tours. (Bill Ross/ADN)

Florida residents John Montana and his wife, Donna, said they learned early Monday that the train they were due to take for a two-day trip to the park had been canceled. They were taking a package tour with Holland America and were also waiting for a trolley tour in Anchorage.

Suitcases containing much of their clothing had already arrived in Fairbanks, their planned departure point from the state.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, if we’ll make it to Denali,” Montana said. “They might send us straight to Fairbanks.”

The fire occurred during the park’s busiest time of year, when the park sees more than 4,000 visitors a day, park spokesman Paul Orig said.

Most of the tourists who were denied entry were understanding, he said, in part because they had seen the fire at the entrance.

“Some of the guys were frustrated, but we just point over our shoulder and say, ‘Do you see that?'” he said.

“I understand it’s frustrating because this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and people want to see Denali,” he said. “But our number one priority right now is the lives and safety of the public and our firefighters.”

Vanessa Jaszak, director of the Denali Chamber of Commerce, said she believes at least 2,000 visitors were affected by the lack of electricity, water and restrooms at Glitter Gulch.

The chamber has acted as a point of contact for families searching for loved ones who have lost cell service and can no longer be reached, she said.

“We’re telling them everyone is safe, but there’s no electricity,” she said, adding that no one was injured in the fire or smoke.

The Alaska Railroad station in Anchorage sits empty after passenger service to Denali National Park was halted due to the Riley Creek wildfire near the park entrance, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Bill Ross/ADN)

Josh Howes, president of Premier Alaska Tours, said after rail services between the park and Anchorage and Fairbanks were discontinued, the rail company hired a bus company to transport travelers to their next destination.

He said bus companies have been busy ferrying tourists to new hotels outside Glitter Gulch after trips to the park were canceled.

“It’s very disappointing but of course our guests have been very understanding,” Howes said.

Kathy Kannenberg and her family, who were visiting Alaska from Florida and Wisconsin, were driving through the park in a rental car on Sunday when they saw the fire before it closed. They had planned to go to the park, but realized firefighting efforts would soon begin and headed to Anchorage instead.

“We decided not to put even more stress on an area that’s already under enough stress,” she said. “They can contain the stress and we can come back another time.”

ADN photojournalist Bill Ross contributed to the report.

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