Camping at Denali with dogs

Wondering if camping in Denali (Savage) will be like camping in the Canadian Rockies. I understand that dogs are only allowed to walk in the campgound. Are there any specific areas that you know of at this campground to walk them, or can we walk them anywhere in the campgound. Also, we have a hard sided trailer with two push out beds that have canvas around them (similar to a tent trailer around beds only) Would we be able to leave our food in the fridge/freezer and canned foods in the cupboards, or do we need to store everything in our vehicle at night? I have never done that even in the Rockies. I know not to leave out dog food and clean cooking equipment immediately.

Camping at Denali with dogs

I%26#39;m sure Denalicat will know the answer, but until she comes along, this is the info I found:

';All food and ice chests must be stored in hard-sided vehicles or in the food lockers provided.';

My interpretation is that when the push-out beds are in use, your vehicle no longer qualifies as hard-sided. Bears can and do come through the camps (Tek was closed for years to tenters for that reason, only RVs were allowed).

Camping at Denali with dogs

Dogs can be walked on leashes anywhere around the campgrounds. Bring plastic bags for clean-up. Dogs cannot be left outside on lines unattended. Dog food cannot be left out. Dog food is a big attraction for bears. I have always seen a lot of dogs in Savage. The camp hosts for Savage have dogs themselves.

The stringency of soft-sided camper rules fluctuates all the time in Alaska. I have been in Tek when tents %26amp; soft-sided campers were banned, yet quasi-soft-sided campers like yours were there.

If you look on the reservation line the rules delineate keeping food in the bear lockers at Tek if you have a soft-sided camper but it does not clarify that for Savage CG:

www.reservedenali.com/campgrounds/index.cfm

Your best bet is to call directly to Denali National Park to get clarification.

Of course, it is always prudent in Alaska to keep a clean kitchen, avoid strong fishy food smells, %26amp; never keep food or grills with drippings outside.

My friends got warnings at Tek for leaving their boots outside %26amp; for moving a tent pull-out stake off the designated tent pad (the pad was too hard into which to drive a stake). So the campsites lately have been carefully patrolled.

I for one am thankful for Denali%26#39;s caution. Russian RIver CG is a nightmare with brown bears walking through campsites next to ours chewing on grills, beer cans, drink containers, etc. left out on picnic tables.

Thank you so much for the info. I have never had a problem staying in the Rockies, which also have bears. But I don%26#39;t want to do anything to attract the wildlife to my trailer. I like to see wildlife at a distance, not when I am sleeping.