Denali Travel Guide

Welcome to Denali, Alaska

Some call Denali the crown of North America. Located in Central Alaska, Denali is both the name of the national park and its centerpiece, the continent’s tallest mountain. Meaning “Great One” in the native language of Alaska’s Athabascan people, Denali is indeed great. The national park and preserve measure some six million acres (2,428,000 ha) in size and feature what is arguably the continent’s most stunning and pristine wilderness–arctic tundra covered with wildflowers, spectacular glaciers and the towering peaks of the Alaska Range. Its focal point–also called Mount McKinley–is North America’s tallest peak at 20,320 ft (6,194 m). On and around the mountain lives a wide array of wildlife, including what are commonly described as Alaska’s big five–moose, caribou, grizzly bears, wolves and native dall sheep. In summer, visitors can discover Denali via interpretive bus tours, ranger-led walks and cycling along the park’s single access road or explore its peaks and valleys through backcountry hiking and mountaineering. In winter, some of its animals retreat and hibernate, but visitors need not do the same. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and ski jouring are all popular activities but the true spirit of Denali is best captured by dog mushing. Considered the stars of the park, sled dog teams take rangers and tourists alike through the splendor that is Denali under a blanket of snow.