Climb Mount McKinley | Denali with Alpine Ascents
Unreal. Breathtaking. All the details of the expedition were thought through and there was never a moment where I doubted the leadership. And the food was delicious.
Our Denali expedition was meticulously planned and flawlessly executed. Our guides were knowledgeable, engaging, friendly, fun, and incredibly supportive. This was my fourth attempt at Denali and my 16th AAI trip in the last twenty years. I’ve come to expect high levels of service and professionalism from the company, and my expectations are always exceeded!
There are certain mountains that need no explanation as to “Why Climb.” Mount McKinley* | Denali is such a mountain. Its tremendous size and beauty generate a magnetism that continually draws climbers from around the world. An ascent of Mount McKinley | Denali touches the psyche of all alpinists, and for those who have undertaken its challenges, it rewards them with an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Highlights of our Expedition
- Parallel side by side expeditions (of 3:1 ratio) with up to 6 guides to allow max support and resources in the field and on summit day.
- Expedition Success: we have been guiding Denali since 1993 with high expedition success each year
- Convenience: Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners provided
- Guide Expertise: Alpine Ascents Denali guides have historic achievements in the range, and many have earned Denali Pro Pins for their climbing and rescue efforts
- Training: rigorous screenings ensure all climbers are well prepared for the rigors of the expedition
- Instruction: curated Mountaineering School and Denali Prep courses designed for expedition success and led by Denali guides
- Ground Support: Denali operations are based out of Talkeetna
Alpine Ascents has been running successful Mount McKinley | Denali expeditions for over 30 years and is extremely well regarded among concessionaires and climbers. We are proud to share that our guide teams have some of the most depth of experience on the mountain as it gets, with many of our lead guides having 10 plus expeditions on their resumes and experience on other 6000m+ expeditions globally. Alpine Ascents is traditionally known to have some of the highest success rates on the mountain, which we attribute to our guide staff and screening process.
Climber to guide Ratio: 3:1 (9 Climbers with 3 Guides per trip) Denali can be a complex mountain, and Alpine Ascents believes having as many guides as possible to helps solve the logistical problems that are associated with this climb. Alpine Ascents schedules paired expeditions to launch one day apart so a total of six guides can be utilized to best allow teams to move up the mountain. (In some cases where teams are not paired, we move to 2:1 or similar.)
We can also arrange private trips for smaller group sizes. Please note: it is imperative for groups of any size that all climbers be in excellent physical condition and well-trained in the necessary climbing skills to ascend Mount McKinley | Denali. Please see our expedition screening page.
- 2025: 4 of 9 expeditions reach the summit it what was considered to be one of the most challenging weather seasons in 50 years. NPS reported the lowest recorded climber success in 2025.
- 2024: 12 of 12 expeditions reach the summit, 100% team success in the 2024 season. We guided 61 climbers to the summit of Mount McKinley | Denali.
- 2023: 8 of 10 expeditions reach the summit (two teams did not summit due to weather)
- 2022: 10 of 12 expeditions summit (two teams aborted their summit attempt to aid a rescue effort)
We look forward to having similar accomplishments in 2026 and — as always — we are happy to put you in touch with former climbers. We are committed to keeping up our high standards for food and logistics, and we look forward to the 2026 season.
I spent time with Don’s team at Camp 14 and descended with Ari’s team. Both groups took me in right away and made me feel part of the team. Hannah did a great job bringing me down the mountain. I was surprised with the way the teams were able to integrate me quickly and make me part of the other team. . The flexibility to move between teams for someone not going to the summit was great and somewhat of a pleasant surprise without interfering with teams going to the summit.
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the expedition; from the independence, the physically demanding nature of the mountain and the environment, the camaraderie from the team and, of course, the exhilaration of achieving the summit!
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Excellent short film by Alpine Ascents climber Andrew McCarthy :
Alpine Ascents has climbing concessions on both Mount McKinley | Denali and Mt. Rainier, and we offer training courses in both locations. These mountaineering courses are an excellent way to make sure your climbing skills and physical conditioning meet the necessary requirements to attempt Mount McKinley | Denali. Alpine Ascents has very high prerequisites for our Mount McKinley | Denali climbers because we know your climb will be more enjoyable, risk aware, and have a greater chance of success if all members are well-prepared for the rigors of the mountain.
Please contact us with any questions. Our Mount McKinley | Denali climbs fill early every season.
I was very impressed by the whole experience. It lived up to all of my expectations. It has been my dream to climb Denali for quite a while now and AAI and the awesome guides made it possible. I can’t say enough good things about the guide team I had.
*In January 2025, the National Park Service reinstated the name “Mount McKinley” for the tallest peak in North America. As an authorized guide service on federal land, we are required to use the name designated by the National Park Service.