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Denali National Park And Preserve

The early-morning view of Denali from Nugget Pond, Denali National Park and Preserve / Rebecca Latson

Featured Photographer

Rebecca Latson's picture

Contributing photographer and writer for the National Parks Traveler since 2012, Rebecca Latson has ventured out to units of the U.S. National Park System, as well as national parks within Canada, on behalf of the Traveler. With her writing and photography, Rebecca authors the Traveler's monthly Photography In The National Parks column as well as various other national park-related articles (hiking, itineraries, photography guides, quizzes) for the Traveler.

There aren’t enough superlatives to describe Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, a landscape covering over 6 million acres (2.4 million hectares), through which runs a single dirt and gravel road. There is as much history as there are acres in the park. Thirty-nine species of mammals, 169 species of birds, and one lonely little amphibian species call Denali home or at the very least, have been documented as passing through. Park ecosystems range from lowlands with taiga forests, braided glacial stream floodplains, and meandering sloughs; to subalpine woodlands, meadows, and scrub tundra; to alpine low-shrub tundra slopes and steep peaks, including Denali. The geology of this national park and preserve checks off just about all the chapters you would find in a geology textbook, from tectonics and faults, to paleontology, to volcanism, to glaciation.

And then there’s “The Tall One.” A mountain by any other name is just as majestic, right? People have applied different names (Denali, Densmore Mountain, Densmore Peak, Bolshaya Gora, Mount McKinley) to North America’s tallest peak (20,310 feet / 6,190.5 m). It wasn’t until the eve of the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary in 2016 that this mountain changed names from Mount McKinley to Denali, a Koyukon Athabascan word meaning “the high one,” or “the tall one.” It’s said only 30 percent of visitors to Denali ever get to see the entire mountain, since it makes its own weather and is usually shrouded in clouds. If you are one of the 30 percenters, then you’ll understand why it’s called Denali, towering over the other rugged, jagged, snowcapped mountains of the Alaska Range.

There’s so much to do at Denali. You can hike the few marked trails or take off over the tundra and hike where your heart desires. You can view the plentiful wildlife including the Big 5: moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly bears. You can fish, bicycle, flightsee, attend a ranger program, or visit the park’s sled dog kennel. Travel here during the winter and you can mush, snowmobile, winter camp, or just gaze at the brilliant night sky and Northern Lights. Don't forget to pack your camera, because Denali National Park and Preserve is a photographer’s dream.

There’s something for everyone at Denali … you just must get there, first.

You see, as mentioned above, there’s only a single dirt and gravel road stretching 92 miles (148 km), east to west. During summer, the park road is open for personal vehicles only to Mile 15 (Savage River). Anything beyond Savage River is limited to transit and tour buses. You can bicycle the Denali Park Road, and that’s an adventure in itself (watch out for those Big 5). You can backpack this landscape without trails, but, like bicycling, you’ll need to do plenty of preparation ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey.

In addition to just one road through the park, there’s another caveat to visiting Denali and it’s associated with that same road: at Mile 43, the park road is closed due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide. The closure is expected to remain in place through summer 2026, while the Polychrome Area Plan is implemented. So, to get into the park further than Mile 43, you’ll need to use a plane.

While this may sound daunting, don’t scratch Denali off your national park bucket list. The articles listed below can help you with your plans to make this national park and preserve bucket list item a reality.

Traveler's Choice For: wildlife viewing, photography, geology, outdoor activities

Getting To Denali

You can arrive at Denali National Park and Preserve’s front door via a variety of transportation methods. You can fly into Fairbanks or Anchorage then continue your trip via car, train, or bus. The park is 240 miles (386 km) north of Anchorage and 120 miles (193 km) south of Fairbanks. Of course, you can skip the flying and just drive or take the trail or bus straight to Denali, too.
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Lodging In Denali

There is no NPS-operated lodging within Denali National Park and Preserve, but there are private inholdings within the park offering once-in-a-lifetime stays to experience Denali’s wilderness. Visitors to the park also stay at the various communities outside of the park.
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Denali Wildlife

Denali National Park and Preserve was the first national park created to protect wildlife. With 39 species of mammals – including the Big Five (grizzly, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, wolf) – as well as 169 species of birds and one lonely little amphibian, you are certain to spot something during your visit.
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Hiking In Denali

There are 6 million acres (2.4 million hectares) of landscape within the borders of Denali National Park and Preserve, and two ways to explore on foot: hiking one of the few established trails in the park, or simply setting off and hiking where ever your sense of adventure takes you.
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