Denali National Park and Preserve guide
Dominated by the magnificent Mount McKinley, Denali, one of the world’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries, is the most visited of all Alaska’s national parks.
A one-day trip through the park will almost certainly allow you to see grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, moose and perhaps a wolf. Denali Park is, for many, the ultimate Alaskan adventure.
Visiting Mount McKinley
Alaska’s Athabascan Indians called the mountain by several names, but they all meant essentially the same thing: “The Great One.” Denali was the most common of those names and it’s the one preferred by many Alaskans today, though the peak’s official name remains Mount McKinley. Whether Denali or McKinley, North America’s highest peak (20,320ft/6,195 meters) is also among the continent’s most spectacular. In one sense it is among the highest mountains in the world: the north face of Denali rises almost 18,000ft (5,500 meters) above its base, an elevation gain which surpasses even Mount Everest.
The shuttle bus system
The adventure of experiencing Denali National Park by road really begins when you step on a shuttle bus for an all-day trip into the park. There are several different bus trips, which all start at the Wilderness Access Center. The rangers can give you a bus schedule, and will explain how the system works.
What to do in Denali National Park and Preserve
Spot bears at Sable Pass
Sable Pass is prime grizzly country. So many bears use this area that the Park Service has prohibited all off-road hiking here. Denali Park’s total grizzly population is estimated at 200–300 bears. Grizzlies are omnivores: like humans, they eat both meat and vegetation. They would prefer to eat large animals such as moose, caribou, and Dall sheep but they are not often successful as hunters. The tundra vegetation in places like Sable Pass offers a dependable, easily obtainable source of nutrition, while Arctic ground squirrels, nicknamed “bear burritos” by some park naturalists, make up much of the difference.
Get your camera out at Polychrome Pass
Next, your bus will ascend the heart-stopping Polychrome Pass at Mile 45, where it will stop at summit’s rest area. The visually stunning, brightly colored Polychrome cliffs are volcanic rocks formed around 50 million years ago. The spectacular view to the south includes part of the Alaska Range, as well as a vast area of tundra.
Admire the view from Stony Hill Overlook
As your bus approaches Stony Hill Overlook, Mile 61, be prepared for a spectacular view of Denali. From the overlook, it is 37 miles (60km) to the summit. On a cloudless day, the crystal-clear Alaskan air makes the mountain appear much closer. After a stop at Stony Hill, the bus will continue 4 miles (6km) to the recently remodeled Eielson Visitor Center. Park rangers here can answer your questions and suggest good hiking routes in the area.
Go "flightseeing" over the park
No other mode of exploration will give as good an overview of all that makes this land so extraordinary as a flightseeing tour in a small plane. Soar over mountain peaks, swoop low over glacier-laden fjords, land on a glacier, peer down into deep, icy crevasses and get a bird’s-eye-view of wildlife, rivers, forests, and scenic alpine meadows you’ll otherwise only see in travel brochures. For more information, check with the Convention and Visitors Bureau in the city nearest your destination. In Denali, both Talkeetna Air Taxi (tel: 800-533-2219 or 733-2218) and Kantishna Air (tel: 683-1223; winter 303-449-1146) offer spectacular tours of Mount McKinley.
If you want to explore other US national parks...
• Discover the iconic Grand Canyon
• Hike amidst the granite spires of Grand Teton National Park
Read more from the travel guide to United States
