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Black Diamond Resort
The nine-hole golf course provides a midnight-sun experience for golfers, but even if you don't hit the links, a trip to Black Diamond might be in order. There are covered wagon and ATV tours and a full-service restaurant. The nine-hole course also offers tundra mini-golf and a pro shop. Midnight tee times are available. Horse-drawn wagon tours include breakfast, lunch or dinner at a rustic camp.

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A sow brown bear with three cubs walks along the Denali Park Road in Denali National Park and Preserve (AP Photo/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, John Hagen)

To-do list

Kris Fister's Top 5 "Things to Do" in and around Denali National Park:

1. Take the bus shuttle along the park road but be sure to get off for a day hike instead of just riding out and back.

2. Sign up for a ranger-led hike in the front country -- a great way to learn more about the area's natural history, especially for those less comfortable hiking alone.

3. Attend a sled dog demonstration at park headquarters -- "We're the only park with a working dog team, so that's very unique," she said.

4. Take a white-water rafting trip on the Nenana River.

5. If you have time, sign up for one of Murie Science and Learning Center's educational seminars, from one day to a weekend long. (www.murieslc.org)

Editor's Picks

• Get some info: Enjoy the Denali Visitors Center at the park entrance. It's packed with information. Stop by to get a preview of what you'll see in the park.

• Get on the bus: To really experience Denali National Park, you have to get deep inside it. The best way to do that is on a tour or shuttle bus. Expect a several-hour trip; seeing this magnificent part of Alaska is why you're here. Sit back and enjoy ... and keep your eyes open for animals. If you use the shuttle bus, you can get off and on at different points.

• Get wet: Several companies will take you for a white-water rafting trip on the Nenana River. It's an adrenaline rush you won't forget; they provide dry suits so the chilly water won't be too much to handle.

• Get in the air: If you haven't seen Mount McKinley from the air from another location, go on a flightseeing tour -- from a plane or helicopter.

• Get into mushing: Watch a dog sled demonstration in the park or with Iditarod musher Jeff King.

Where: Mile 1 Otto Lake Road, Healy

When: Opens May 10

Cost: Varies

Phone: 683-4653

Web: denalihorsetours.com

Denali National Park bus tours

The park's buses are the primary way to get into the heart of Denali National Park; there are several options. The Denali Natural History Tour is a four-hour fully narrated cultural history tour to Primrose Ridge at Mile 17 Denali Park Road. The peak-season Tundra Wilderness Tour is six to eight hours and goes to the Toklat River at Mile 53. The Kantishna Experience, offered once a day during peak season, travels to Kantishna, Mile 90. Shuttle buses stop at various locations along the road, with the final stop at Kantishna. Two free shuttles are offered near the park's entrance area. There also are private bus tours to lodges at Kantishna.

Where: Shuttles from Wilderness Access Center

When: Limited service starts May 20; full season begins June 8; season ends Sept. 17

Cost: Varies; tours are from $62.10 to $155 for adults; shuttle bus prices vary and start at $24.70

Phone: 683-2294 for information; 1-800-622-7275, 272-7275 for reservations

Web: nps.gov/dena for information; reservedenali.com for reservations

Denali National Park visitor centers

At the park's entrance are the Denali Visitor Center, the Wilderness Access Center and the Murie Science and Learning Center. The visitor center offers general information, ranger-guided walks, interpretive programs and the park film "The Heartbeats of Denali." The wilderness center sells bus tickets and campground permits, shows the film "Across Time and Tundra" and is where all shuttle buses depart. The Murie center has an exhibit area and classroom.

Where: Park Road entrance area

When: Wilderness Access Center: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily; Denali Visitor Center: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; Murie Center: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily; May 15 to Sept. 22

Cost: Free

Phone: 683-2294

Web: nps.gov/dena, murieslc.org

Denali Park Resorts

In addition to rooms at four hotels, Denali Park Resorts offers a variety of tours, white-water rafting and a dinner theater. The Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theater is at the McKinley Chalet Resort. The dinner theater includes a show with stories and music about the Gold Rush. There are two seatings nightly.

Where: Denali Park area

When: Daily

Cost: Varies

Phone: 1-800-276-7234, 276-7234

Web: www.denaliparkresorts.com

Denali Saddle Safaris

Explore the majesty of Denali and let horses do most of the work. The company offers a variety of rides from one, two and four hours to several days. Lunch is included on longer day rides. Wildlife-viewing opportunities abound.

Where: Mile 4 Stampede Road, Healy

When: Daily, mid-May through September

Cost: Varies

Phone: 683-1200

Web: farthernorth.com/denalisaddle safaris

Denali Sightseeing Safaris

Take an off-road, four-wheel-drive trip into Denali National Park aboard specially outfitted trucks. The six- to seven-hour trip follows an old mining road in the Dunkle Hills area along the park's southern boundary. There are several river crossings and opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing.

Where: Mile 188.5 Parks Highway

When: June 10 to Sept. 15

Cost: $160 adults, $80 children 12 and younger

Phone: 240-0357

Web: denalisights.com

Husky Homestead Tours

Visit four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King's Husky Homestead. Trips include visits with puppies, a glimpse of summer training and a 112-hour narrated tour.

Where: Eight miles from Denali National Park

When: Three times daily

Cost: $49 adults, $29 children younger than 12

Phone: 683-2904

Web: huskyhomestead.com

FLIGHTSEEING

Denali Air

The company has a private airstrip in the heart of the Alaska Range. The flight circles Mount McKinley, weather permitting.

Where: Mile 229.5 Parks Highway

When: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Cost: $295

Phone: 683-2261

Web: denaliair.com

Era Helicopters

The company's helicopter base is one mile from the park entrance. Land on a glacier, have a heli-hiking adventure or enjoy a 50-minute flight around the park.

Where: Park entrance area

When: Daily May 15 to Sept. 15

Cost: Varies

Phone: 1-800-843-1947

Web: eraflightseeing.com

Talkeetna Aero Services

The company offers all-weather aircraft with a variety of tours, including one over the summit of Mount McKinley.

Where: Denali Park

When: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

Cost: Varies

Phone: 683-2899

Web: talkeetnaaero.com

Other operators

A variety of other companies offer Mount McKinley flightseeing trips from many locations around the state. Each company has its own specialty; some make glacier landings. Try one of these: Talkeetna Air Taxi (talkeetnaair.com; 1-800-533-2219, 733-2218), K2 Aviation (flyk2.com; 1-800-764-2291, 733-2291), Rust's Flying Service (flyrusts.com; 1-800-544-2299, 243-1595), Take Flight Alaska (www.takeflightalaska.com; 274-9943) and Hudson Air Service (hudsonair.com; 1-800-478-2321, 733-2321). Prices and trips vary.

RAFTING

Denali Raft Adventures Inc.

Denali Raft has two-hour, four-hour and full-day trips on mild water and white water. The company offers seven departures daily with paddling or just riding.

Phone: 1-888-683-2234, 683-2234

Web: denaliraft.com

Denali Outdoor Center

The company has three locations in the Denali area and offers rafting, kayaking and mountain biking adventures. Activities include two-hour, four-hour and half-day white-water and scenic river trips. Mountain-bike tours and rentals are available. Campground and cabin rentals at Otto Lake in Healy, with kayak and canoe rentals.

Phone: 1-888-303-1925, 683-1925

Web: denalioutdoorcenter.com

Nenana Raft Adventures

Nenana offers raft trips suitable for children as young as 5 and Class IV white-water trips on which visitors can sit back and enjoy the scenery or paddle. It offers other rafting trips.

Phone: 1-800-789-RAFT, 683-RAFT

Web: alaskaraft.com