About All ToursPlane Flightseeing ToursFrom Anchorage ToursRailroad ToursFrom Talkeetna ToursATV ToursFrom Fairbanks ToursNature & Wildlife ToursHiking ToursSherp Fat Truck ToursZipline ToursRafting Tours Directions Hours & Fees
Find Tours 
Explore the rugged backcountry of Denali National Park in a climate-controlled Sherp Fat Truck. Choose from a three-hour off-road ride or a full-day winter adventure departing from Fairbanks.
Free Cancellation Ride a search-and-rescue Fat Truck through rugged Alaskan mining trails for mountain views near Denali National Park.
Free Cancellation Explore Denali and ride a rugged SHERP through Alaska's backcountry on a full-day guided adventure from Fairbanks.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Denali — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Experience the rugged Alaskan backcountry in a specialized, climate-controlled Fat Truck. These off-road search-and-rescue vehicles effortlessly navigate steep mining trails and rough terrain, keeping you comfortable while offering spectacular wilderness views just outside Denali National Park.
Ride in a fully enclosed SHERP vehicle that protects you from unpredictable sub-arctic weather, freezing temperatures, and summer mosquitoes.
Traverse rugged, off-road terrain and historic mining paths that standard vehicles simply cannot access.
Take in sweeping vistas of the Alaska Range and pristine wilderness near the boundaries of Denali National Park.
Wear noise-reduction headsets with built-in microphones to easily converse with your expert guide and fellow passengers over the engine noise.
On full-day tours, enjoy a guided winter visit to the Denali Visitor Center when the park is quiet and covered in snow.
Planning a Fat Truck adventure requires a few practical considerations to ensure a smooth trip. Here is what you need to know before securing your spot.
You can choose between a focused 3.5-hour backcountry excursion near Denali or a full-day winter adventure originating from Fairbanks with 4 hours of total driving time.
Due to the bumpy nature of off-road travel, these tours are not recommended for pregnant travelers, or those with spinal injuries and poor cardiovascular health.
Summer tours offer complimentary shuttles from local Denali hotels between May 1st and September 30th. Full-day winter tours include round-trip transport from Fairbanks hotels within 10 miles of the airport.
Tours include noise-reduction headsets and local guides. Full-day tours include national park fees, but lunch at a restaurant in Healy is at your own expense, typically costing $15 to $25.
Both the 3-hour and full-day SHERP tours offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled departure time.
Specialized infant seats are available upon request for families traveling with babies. However, availability is limited, so bringing your own car seat is highly recommended.
| 3 Hour SHERP Tour | Full Day Winter Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3.5 hours | Full Day (incl. 4 hours driving) |
| Starting Point | Denali area hotels | Fairbanks |
| Key Inclusions | Headsets, local hotel shuttle | Denali Visitor Center stop, Fairbanks transport |
| Price from | $249 | $499 |
Denali National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day, though visitor services change drastically by season.
Denali is located in the interior of Alaska, accessible via several modes of transportation.
Summer (Late May - Mid-September): This is the most popular time to visit. The park road is accessible via shuttle buses, visitor centers are fully operational, and wildlife is highly active.
Autumn (Late August - Early September): A spectacular brief window where the tundra turns vibrant colors and the summer mosquitoes disappear.
Winter (October - April): The park is quiet and covered in snow. While most park facilities close and the road is only plowed for 3 miles, winter SHERP tours from Fairbanks offer a unique way to experience the frozen backcountry.
Park Facilities: The Denali Visitor Center and Bus Depot feature paved routes, automatic doors, and accessible restrooms. Accessible trails like the Spruce Forest Trail offer compact gravel surfaces.
SHERP Tours: The Fat Truck tours are rated as suitable for all physical fitness levels. However, because the vehicles traverse steep, rough off-road terrain, they are strictly not recommended for pregnant travelers or individuals with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.
Inside Denali National Park, visitors have access to the main Denali Visitor Center during the summer and the Murie Science and Learning Center during the winter.
For dining, options inside the park are limited. Tour groups often stop in the nearby town of Healy (11 miles north of the park entrance) for lunch. Healy offers year-round accommodations and local restaurants where visitors can expect to spend $15 to $25 for a meal.
Wildlife Distances: Federal law requires visitors to stay at least 300 yards away from bears and 25 yards from all other wildlife, including moose and caribou.
Drones: Drones are strictly prohibited inside Denali National Park.
Food Storage: All food and scented items must be stored in approved Bear Resistant Food Containers (BRFCs) if you are camping. Never leave food unattended.
Plastics: Single-use plastic water bottles are highly discouraged to reduce landfill waste; bring a reusable bottle.
A Fat Truck, or SHERP, is a highly specialized amphibious search-and-rescue vehicle designed with massive tires to navigate extreme off-road terrain. They are fully enclosed and climate-controlled, allowing for comfortable travel over steep mining trails, mud, and snow.
The Fat Truck tours operate in the rugged backcountry just outside the boundaries of Denali National Park. This allows the vehicles to navigate historic off-road mining trails that are not permitted inside the protected national park borders.
No, you will stay warm. The SHERP vehicles are fully enclosed and climate-controlled, protecting you from the freezing sub-arctic temperatures and harsh winds while you enjoy the scenery.
Because the Fat Trucks are fully enclosed and climate-controlled, you are completely protected from the heavy mosquito activity that is common in the Alaskan backcountry during the summer months.
No, it is not recommended. The vehicles travel over very steep, bumpy off-road terrain, which poses a risk for pregnant travelers, as well as those with spinal injuries.
The 3-hour summer tours offer shuttle pickups from local Denali hotels 30-45 minutes before start time. The full-day winter tours provide pickup from Fairbanks hotels located within 10 miles of the airport between 8:00 am and 9:00 am.
Food is not included in the ticket price. The full-day tour stops for lunch at a restaurant in the nearby town of Healy, where you should plan to spend about $15 to $25 at your own expense.
Every passenger is provided with a high-quality noise-reduction headset equipped with a microphone. This allows you to easily hear your guide's commentary and chat with other passengers during the ride.
Yes, infants are allowed and specialized infant seats are available upon request. However, availability is limited, so the tour operators highly recommend bringing your own car seat.
Both the 3-hour and full-day SHERP tours offer a full refund as long as you cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled departure time.
Browse verified tours with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
Find Tours
Head into the backcountry near Denali National Park on a three-hour tour inside a climate-controlled Fat Truck. These search-and-rescue vehicles are built to navigate steep mining trails and rough terrain, keeping you comfortable and protected from the weather and insects while you take in the views. Your guide will lead you to several overlooks and explain the local history and geology of the area. If you are booking during the summer and using the hotel shuttle service from select locations, plan for the entire trip to take between 3.5 and 4 hours.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
This full-day excursion begins with a shuttle pickup in Fairbanks between 8:00 and 9:00 AM. We travel south to Denali National Park, arriving at 11:00 AM for an hour-long visit to the park's Visitor Center. After exploring the center, the group stops for lunch in Healy before heading into the backcountry for the afternoon's main event. Our guides are specifically trained to navigate Alaska’s unpredictable road and weather conditions, ensuring a safe trip through the interior. At 1:00 PM, you will board a climate-controlled Search and Rescue SHERP for a 2.5-hour off-road expedition. These specialized vehicles are built to traverse steep trails and cross frozen rivers and lakes while keeping passengers warm and protected from the elements. Following the off-road tour, we drive to Nenana to visit the historic Coghill's Store and Trading Post. The day concludes with a return trip to Fairbanks, with drop-offs at local hotels and the airport scheduled between 6:30 and 7:30 PM.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English