How to Elope in Denali National Park
The perfect place to elope and a photographer’s dream landscape, Denali National Park has a plethora of magnificent backdrops for anyone’s wedding. On a clear day, the tallest mountain in North America can be seen all the way from Anchorage. Denali’s snowy peak high amongst the Alaska Range is a breathtaking sight to behold, but the park also incorporates fabulous fall colors, crystal clear glacier waters, majestic lakes, and furry friends. This captivating terrain absolutely is one to consider for your elopement. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park.
To elope in Denali National Park and Preserve, a special use permit must be secured first. The permit itself has a $200 application fee, and you can contact the park rangers for the application. Depending on the size of your ceremony, the application fee may be waived. If your event is big enough, however, the permit fee covers administrative costs to review and plan for your wedding. Additionally, each person sixteen and older must pay an entrance fee of fifteen dollars; this will cover entrance to the park for seven days.
The permit must be received in a timely manner, at least a month before the requested elopement date is preferred. The rangers are typically easy to get a hold of to ask questions about the permits, approved ceremony locations, approved props/décor, etc. In Denali, there are no sites available to reserve ahead of time, but the first three miles have several areas approved for up to seventy-five people: Riley Creek Amphitheatre, Riley Creek Day Use Picnic Area, and Savage River Campground Amphitheatre. Since those areas are the only available places in that area of the park available for large gatherings, the earlier you are able to turn in your permit, the better. Some people choose to forgo the permit, simply winging it or risking it, but even in Denali National Park I strongly advise applying for the permit and communicating with a Park Ranger to secure that site. You certainly would not want to be fined or asked to leave on your wedding day because of a permit that was not required.
Some of the restrictions in Denali National Park are the types of props/décor that can be used; typically throwing rice/birdseed/other non-native seeds are not permitted, among others. There are over 1,500 species of plants native to Denali, so I suggest making a gorgeous flower arrangement from the beautiful plants this region in Alaska already has to offer. Denali does not allow food and drink for a formal reception in the picnic areas or campgrounds, and there cannot be a larger group of people gathered in a campsite that is only allotted for the allotted maximum of people. The use of alcohol, playing instruments, and amplified sounds are also typically on the restricted list. These are in place to protect the park and its flora and fauna, as well as the experience of other park guests, and these are great questions to ask a Park Ranger when you ask about your permit (Dawn in the office is very helpful!).
None of the preapproved ceremony locations should require strenuous hiking, but to venture into other areas of the park to take photos may require a fair amount of hiking. Some of the approved locations for your ceremony are also extremely popular, I suggest planning your ceremony time for either sunrise or sunset to avoid high traffic times of the day. This will also give you the most flattering light of the day! During the summer season, a narrated tour bus will take you throughout the park in style. The summer season spans between May 20th and mid September, but even in the summer months, plan for the unexpected. Denali’s mystical landscape can incorporate a heavy snowfall almost any month of the year. If you are planning an elopement outside the summer season, the roads might be closed or blocked due to snowy or icy conditions. Denali is incredibly accommodating, with many tour busses along Denali Park Road’s 92 miles, and even providing a daily train and bus into the park from Anchorage and Fairbanks starting in mid-May. There are also many wild animals in Denali, such as dall sheep, moose, bear, beavers, caribou, eagles, and other beautiful birds and wildlife. Be on the lookout for these creatures not only to be prepared, but also to observe!
Planning your ceremony for sunrise or sunset also allows for lots of time to travel around the park and take photos. If you have a sunrise/early morning ceremony, you will be able to enjoy the sunset afterwards. You will also have plenty of time to see the tallest mountain in North America (provided it is not too foggy)! You can see the mountain reflected just beyond mile eighty-five from the Reflection Pond. The Kantishna transit will also take you throughout park locations to see the mountain. The magnificent sight of Denali and the Alaska Range can also be seen near the Eielson Visitor Center within the park. For couples that are looking to pamper themselves and celebrate with an intimate group of people, I always recommend making a reservation at a local restaurant. King Salmon Restaurant, Tonglen Lake Artisans Café, and Prospectors Historic Pizzeria and Alehouse are definitely restaurants to consider. You and an intimate group of people can even go back to your campsite to celebrate if you are staying within the park for the night. Riley Creek Campground is open year-round, and has no nightly fees between mid-September and mid-May. Providing your photographer and Park Ranger with the details about the time and location of your ceremony will help determine where you should have time to see and where you might want to take additional spectacular photos in the beautiful scenery of Denali National Park!
Here are a few things to be sure to bring with you as well:
Hiking shoes, as well as the shoes you’ll be wearing for your ceremony
Sweater/jacket – the mornings and evenings in Denali tend to be cool, especially if you’re eloping outside the summer season
Water/snacks, maybe some bubbly?
Any easy, cute props, like a rug/blanket to stand on
Headlamp or flashlight if you are shooting at sunset and need to hike down in the dark
If there is a chance of rain, bring a jacket and/or umbrella. KLEM Studios is all for embracing the weather and running around in the rain—it can be so dreamy! Just be sure to have a jacket or blanket along to warm up afterwards
Have a few locations in mind to take photos after the ceremony (your photographer can help you with this as well)
A Denali National Park elopement provides a spectacular and majestic venue for one of the best days of your lives, filled with breathtaking scenery and jaw-dropping photo opportunities. It’s perfect for the adventurous couple that wants to start their forever with an unbeatable view. If you’re looking for an adventurous photographer to take along your journey, we’d love to support you! Reach out to us on our contact page to share more of your elopement vision.
Stay bold,
Kate