Q: I’m a hiker, and would like to explore Denali on foot—but I’m not sure I want to go completely on my own. Are there hikes I can take with a guide that won’t make me feel like I’m part of a huge herd?

A: A guided hike is a great way to walk—or hike—that fine line between being off the beaten path but not being totally left to yourself, either. There are a few organizations that do 3-to4-hour guided hikes for groups as small as two, and as many as 12 people. One is Denali Park Resorts' Explore Denali hikes, which cost $80 per adult and $40 per child.

The National Park Service also offers a number of low-key, ranger-guided hikes on trails near both the Denali Visitor’s Center and the newest visitors’ hub, the Eielson Visitors Center; some hikes only cost the price of the park shuttle. Also check out the Denali Education Center, a research and outreach group that offers guided hikes for any group for $275—not bad if you have at least 4 or 5 people in your own traveling party.

The most in-depth way to explore Denali is to stay inside—out at Kantishna, about 95 miles from the park entrance. To read more about staying there for guided hikes and other activities, as well as more details on the above hikes, see Denali Guided Hikes on Alaska.org. For details on staying inside Denali, see Alaska.org’s page on Lodges Inside Denali.