Denali National Park & Preserve guides
12 in-depth guides to Denali National Park & Preserve, in reading order: what to see, how to get around, and what to know before you go. Back to the Denali National Park & Preserve overview.
Riding the Bus Down Denali Park Road
The Denali Park Road runs 92 miles from the park entrance to Kantishna, an old mining community at its far end.
Seeing the Mountain Through Denali's Clouds
Denali, at 20,310 feet, is the tallest peak in North America, but clouds can hide it completely.
Denali, the High One: A Still-Rising Peak
Denali's summit rises to 20,310 feet, the highest point on the North American continent. The mountain sits within Denali National Park and Preserve, a park that was once known as Mount McKinley National Park.
Off-Trail Hiking: Denali's Open Wilderness
Off-trail hiking is allowed throughout Denali National Park and Preserve, which sets it apart from most national parks.
Climbing Denali (Mount McKinley)
Denali, federally designated as Mount McKinley, is the highest peak in North America, and climbing it asks a great deal of anyone who tries.
Dark-Season Stargazing in Denali
From fall into early April, nights in Denali run long, which makes the darker months a strong season for stargazing.
Spotting Denali's Big Five
Alaska's Big Five are caribou, moose, Dall sheep, bears, and wolves. Each group lives in a different part of the park, so the most reliable way to see all five is a ride on the park bus along Denali Park Road.
Taiga to Tundra Above 2,500 Feet
Denali's landscape changes with elevation, and travelers on the Park Road can watch it happen.
From Mount McKinley Park to Denali
Congress created Mount McKinley National Park in 1917, with protecting Dall sheep as its main purpose.
Athabascan Peoples in the Shadow of Denali
Human beings have lived in the Denali region for more than 11,000 years. The Athabascan peoples are part of that long story.
Campgrounds from Riley Creek to the Road
Riley Creek Campground lies just inside the park entrance and is the largest campground in Denali, with 142 sites.
Savage River: The Road's Paved End
Savage River sits near the end of the paved, publicly accessible section of the Denali Park Road, about 15 miles in from the park entrance.
