Fodor's Expert Review Denali Visitor Center

Open from mid-May through mid-September, the center is a mile-and-a half beyond the park's entrance, and includes two floors’ worth of displays detailing the park's natural and cultural history along with several life-size representations of the park's largest animals. A theater on the main floor plays the 20-minute film TheHeartbeats of Denali twice an hour. The center is the starting point for most interpretive ranger hikes and several other trails you can explore independently. This is also the place to go for your backcountry camping permits (permits aren't necessary for day hikes). Nearby facilities include the railroad and bus depots, the Morino Grill, and the Alaska Geographic bookstore.