In a state that boasts dramatic geography, Denali National Park stands out as truly awesome. Home to the highest peak in North America, Mount McKinley (now known as Denali, the high one) (20,320), the park is also home to pristine wilderness, fascinating history, and an abundance of plant (650), mammal (37) and bird (156) species.
Denali National Park and Preserve defines the Alaskan Experience. Towering above it all is Mt. McKinley, the highest point in North America. At 20,320 feet, its summit beckons more than 1,000 climbers each year who brave the elements for the chance to scale its majestic face. Denali encompasses 6 million acres of forests, tundra, glaciers and mountains. Moose, caribou, sheep and bears free to roam a wide area of land untouched by man. There are ample opportunities for animal watching, whether it is a grizzly foraging for berries or a golden eagle soaring through the crisp, clean Alaskan air. Denali is one of the few places where visitors come in contact with the Alaskan tundra – a “vast, rolling, treeless plain.” The tundra starts at 2,500 feet and extends up along the massive Alaska Range. Muldrow Glacier, which descends 16,000 feet from the upper slopes of Mt. McKinley, comes within one mile of the road.
Set aside by the federal government as a protected wilderness area in 1917, today Denali is the most popular tourist destination in Alaska. It is a place of inconceivable diversity. Winter is nine months long, yet the area is considered a subarctic desert. The ground is covered in extremely rare plants which grow only in earth that never completely thaws. Majestic mountains—including Mt. McKinley, the continent’s tallest—are covered in glaciers. And throughout every corner of the park is abundant wildlife ranging from grizzly bears to sheep. All this flora, fauna and terrain combines in one of the world’s few (some say the only) examples of an unaltered subarctic ecosystem.
So how does a park so rare and popular keep so pristine? Cars are all but banned, substituted instead with a fleet of guided tour buses. There is virtually no pavement either—just gravel. Teams of scientists monitor everything from the introduction of non-native plant species on the soles of visitors’ shoes to air quality. And all the diligence has certainly paid off. Denali has Alaska’s highest-quality air, making Mt. McKinley, the star attraction of Denali, visible on a clear day from as far as Anchorage, some 130 miles away.
All the painstaking preservation has not made Denali the look-but-don’t-touch place you might imagine. There is river rafting of the serene and heart-palpitating variety on a number of incredibly gorgeous waterways. There are camping areas so remote and quiet you would swear you were the only people around for miles. There is wildlife everywhere you turn—bears, elk, moose, sheep, fox, wolves, caribou, not to mention the husky kennel where Iditarod champion Jeff King raises his prized canines. You can hop on a helicopter and be dropped off on the nearest glacier. Or, you can hike. And hike. And hike. Most of the park has a trailless hiking system, which means the route you take is the one along which your curiosity leads. And what better way can there be to experience this precious land than meandering along with Mt. McKinley’s peak to guide you?
The early 1900s gold rush brought a surge of population to the Kantishna Hills, but the Denali area has been occupied for at least 12,000 years. Established as a National Park in 1917, the region is and irresistible lure to those who seek the challenge of the mountain or the sheer beauty of its undisturbed surroundings. From river rafting and mountain climbing to casual strolls along manicured paths, the Denali wilderness attracts and rewards those who step outside. The air is crisp, the water surges along in the Nenana River and vertical walls of rock and ice soar majestically overhead.
Located just one mile from the Denali National Park entrance, the Denali Priness Wilderness Lodge is a great place to stay. It features vaulted ceilings, exposed timbers, 30-foot high glass windows and an expansive deck that overlooks Denali National Park and the Nenana River. You’ll also find fabulous fine and casual dining options, peaceful nature trails, comfortable accommodations and unbelievable views at every turn.
You can visit Denali National Park on a cruise tour or for those who have cruised you can also take just an Alaska land tour.
