Taiga to Tundra Above 2,500 Feet

Lower down lies the taiga forest, which gives way to high tundra as the land climbs. Treeline is generally around 3,000 feet above sea level, and much of the road runs near or above that height. Above it, the trees thin out and low plants cover the slopes.

Permafrost, or permanently frozen ground, lies beneath much of Denali, though not as one unbroken layer. Only the top layer thaws each summer, and that active layer can measure from about 1 inch to 10 feet thick. The frozen layer itself sits 30 to 100 feet below it. On a lower slope, the white spruce of the Drunken Forest lean at odd angles because the soil slides as it freezes and thaws.

Above treeline, the tundra takes two forms. Brushy tundra is crowded with willow and alder that can top six feet, especially along drainages, and the thick growth often blocks the view. In fall, much of it turns red, orange and yellow. Alpine tundra climbs higher, generally above 3,000 feet, with very short plants and firm footing that makes for quick walking.

Wonder Lake sits at Mile 85 of the 92-mile Denali Park Road, and from its campground the mountain is about 26 miles away. The soggy terrain here, wetter than much of the road, draws waterfowl. On clear, calm days, Denali's reflection appears in Reflection Pond, and hikers can also try the McKinley Bar Trail. Mosquitoes can make summer visits unpleasant for long stretches.

Much of the high country has no trails, so hikers pick their own way. Skirting the pockets of spruce and alder makes route-finding simpler, and the road can still be seen after hours on foot. In dense brush, talk or yell as you go so wildlife hears you coming.