Denali National Park & Preserve guide · 1 min read
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.
On some days the cloud settles over the range and the summit vanishes from view. One visiting group spent six days in the park and saw the peak clearly on only three of them. Planning several extra days improves your odds of a clear view.
Here the weather can turn quickly and give little warning. Within a single day you may see sun, wind, rain and clouds in turn. Snow has been known to fall in July, and light snow can come in July or August before true winter sets in. Lightweight layers that are easy to adjust, plus a rain shell, make the most sense.
The core season runs from late May into early September, when the park's services are in full operation. Daylight is generous. Around the June solstice, the sun can stay up for as long as 19 hours, which leaves plenty of time to wait for the clouds to part.
Many summer visitors spend their days on a sightseeing bus along Denali Park Road. The 92-mile road is the only route in, so the bus is the way to reach the interior. Stop at Mountain Vista, at mile 13, for views of the mountain when skies are clear. For a different angle, book a flightseeing trip, which carries you over Denali from the air.
