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DENALI NATIONAL PARK:
An Alaskan High

Denali--it was The High One to the Athabascan Native Americans centuries ago and, today, it remains North America’s highest point. It’s definitely a part of the Alaskan experience that shouldn’t be missed.

But Denali is much more than the name given to the crown of the 600-mile Alaska Range. It’s also the name of the huge national park and preserve that is the quintessential Alaskan interior experience.

This immense preserved and protected area started with about two million acres in 1917 as Mount McKinley National Park, named for then-U.S. Representative (and later President) William McKinley. In 1980, park boundaries were enlarged by four million acres and the name was changed to Denali National Park and Preserve; the highest peak is still known officially as Mount McKinley. At its current six million acres, the park is actually larger than the entire state of Massachusetts.

The park and its surroundings came into being largely due to the work of two men: Charles Sheldon, a conservationist, naturalist, and hunter; and guide Harry Karstens, with whom, between 1906 and 1908, Sheldon explored the region that would eventually become the park. Sheldon got the park established after working diligently for a decade, while Karstens went on to make the first ascent of McKinley and become the park’s first superintendent.

As it did then, the Denali experience involves more than getting a glimpse of Mount McKinley. In fact, many visitors never even see Mount McKinley: it’s ‘out’ from the clouds only one in three days, on average. But with so much more to see and do, a Mount McKinley sighting is just the jewel in the Denali crown.

The Landscape

It all starts with the incredibly beautiful and diverse scenery. Sitting below the peaks of the McKinley massif is a land of rivers and landscape unmatched in North America.

Situated about 240 miles north of Anchorage and less than half that distance south of Fairbanks, Denali National Park spreads to the west of bustling George Parks Highway and into a wilderness rarely matched in the world.

Mount McKinley is an ever-present part of the landscape. It's height of 20,320 feet makes it one of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on the world's continents. The formation of this majestic mountain and the rest of the Alaska Range began tens of millions of years ago, thanks to a massive collision of two tectonic plates. Today, more than 75 percent of Mount McKinley is covered in snowfall and glaciers year-round and conditions are virtually always harsh.

Below McKinley and the other towering mountains, the plant life of the park has adapted over thousands of years to the quite -old winters and short summers. But there are still more than 650 unique species of flowering plants and dozens of species of moss, lichen, algae, and more along the valleys and slopes of Denali.

The Wildlife

Many visitors remember their wildlife viewing long after seeing (or not seeing) Mount McKinley. Quite simply the sheer variety and uniqueness of Denali’s wildlife make each trip into the park special.

From spring to fall, wildlife viewing in Denali is simply spectacular. Just listing them here doesn’t do the experience justice, but a trip can include grizzly bear (and cubs), moose, caribou, and Dall sheep. In fact, these four animals are know as the ‘Big Four’ of Denali wildlife viewing and any visit that includes all of them is considered a big-time success.

Wolves, who usually travel in packs, are rarely seen. Park rangers concur that a wolf spotting makes a park visit even more special.

Smaller animals often seen during a Denali visit include red squirrel, ground squirrel, porcupine, beaver, hoary marmot, weasel and snowshoe hare. More than 35 different mammal species live in the park and preserve.

At around 160 species, the bird life is also incredibly varied; birdwatchers travel thousands of miles to Denali in order to add to their life lists. The possibilities include ptarmigan, Lapland longspurs, owls, eagles, and other raptors. Many birds travel phenomenal distances to summer in Alaska, including wheaters from Africa and Arctic terns from Antarctica and southern South America.

Seeing It All

Visitors can choose from many different ways to explore the Denali area. From a simple hike in the shadow of Mount McKinley to a helicopter tour of the area, from river rafting to naturalist-led activities, the possibilities seem as infinite as Denali’s landscape and wildlife.