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 Eielson Visitor Center – Denali National Park, AK Posted by:  Lat34North
N 63° 25.877 W 150° 18.648
5V E 634171 N 7036459
The Eielson Visitor Center is located on Park Road inside the Denali National Park. Park road is a dirt road with no guard rail and is closed to private vehicles. You have to take a tour bus on one of the Nation Park busses to get there.
Waymark Code: WMJ1FT
Location: Alaska, United States
Date Posted: 09/09/2013
Views: 7
The Eielson Visitor Center in Denali NP is built in to the side of the hill. It has solar cell on the roof, a nearby stream turns a small hydropower turbine and the center has many water saving devices installed. There is a specially designed water fountain for refilling water bottles. It has achieved a platinum level certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Located at mile 66 on Park Road.
From the NPS web site: The Eielson Visitor Center
In the shadow of Mt. McKinley
Since 1934, some kind of visitor facility has existed along Eielson Bluffs. The first facility was a tent camp called Camp Eielson, and named after pioneer Alaskan aviator Carl Ben Eielson. In 1960, after four years of design and construction, an interpretive center and rest stop opened and replaced the tent camp.
Sporadic expansion and rehabilitation occurred in the decades after the 1960 opening, but visitor use outgrew the small center and, in 2004, the old Eielson Visitor Center closed for four years of demolition and sustainable reconstruction. The center re-opened in 2008.
Regardless of the structure, the area has always been famous for its amazing views of Mt. McKinley on clear days, and it is not uncommon to see wildlife on the surrounding hillsides.
How to get here, and what there is to do
Located at Mile 66 on the Park Road, you can reach Eielson Visitor Center with any shuttle bus except the Toklat shuttle, or with the Kantishna Experience tour bus.
Park rangers at Eielson are ready to answer your questions, provide information, or just spend a few minutes chatting as you take a break from the bus. Several ranger programs are offered throughout the day from Eielson.
There is a small gallery of art inspired by Denali's wilderness and wildlife in this visitor center. Meanwhile, the views from Eielson are likely to inspire you, particularly on a clear day, when Mt. McKinley dominates the view to the southwest.
Two trails exist at Eielson, one a short loop and the other a strenuous path up Thorofare Ridge. You are also welcome to hike off-trail.
Please remember that there is no food service in the park - bring all your food and beverages with you. You can, however, re-fill water bottles at Eielson.
Opening date: June 1, 2013
Closing date: September 16, 2013
Daily hours: 9 am - 7 pm
Learn more about bus trips
Learn about ranger programs
Learn about day hiking
View a map of trails around Eielson
Sustainable features of Eielson Visitor Center
As one of the leaders in sustainable design, the National Park Service made a priority of re-modeling Eielson Visitor Center using sustainable building methods and materials.
Building into the tundra
A main goal of the project was to design a low-profile building that blends into the landscape. The steep slope enabled the designers to partially bury the building, which visually screens the structure from the Park Road. The roof is literally "green," as tundra mats salvaged from the construction of the site were relocated to planters dispersed on the roof terrace. These camouflage the roof deck, helping it blend into the landscape. The green roof also assists in storm water run-off reduction and thermal energy conservation.
Other sustainable building techniques
The planning and construction of Eielson included strategies such as maximizing natural daylighting, selecting energy-efficient heating / venting systems, the use of renewable energies to power the building and thoughtful selection of recycled and locally produced.
Renewable energy
In the past, the remote location of the center spurred the park to implement various renewable energy strategies at the site, including a hybrid generator system with photo-voltaic panels and a battery bank. Information gained from analysis of this and other strategies led to expanding the solar panels and battery bank, installing a solar hot-water heating system for the restrooms, and constructing a small hydroelectric system in a nearby stream.
Commitment to environmental sustainability
Denali National Park and Preserve is a National Park System Center for Environmental Innovation. The park has committed to showcase new technologies, motivate and educate the public and park service employees about environmentally friendly practices, and install systems and alter behaviors to reduce energy needs and adverse environmental impacts. The design effort for the replacement Eielson Visitor Center embraces that challenge and exemplifies these goals.
In recognition of Denali's achievements, the Eielson Visitor Center achieved a platinum level certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Platinum is the highest level achievable.
Click here to download an in-depth flyer on sustainability at Eielson Visitor Center.
 | | Solar Panels on roof. |
Certification Level: Platinum
Website: [Web Link]
Rating: 
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Visit Instructions:
Please share your pictures and thoughts about the Certified Building. If you notice any features about the building that make it "green", or any information you can glean from websites or with talking with people in the area, please share that on your Visited Log Entry.
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