What Is Denali National Park?
Denali National Park and Preserve is the third largest national park in the USA at over 6 million acres centered around Denali, the tallest mountain in North America!
What Makes It Beautiful?
Even when the mighty Denali is shrouded by clouds, as it is for 70% of the year, everything about this park is impressive in size: the mountains, the glacial river valleys, and the wildlife! My goodness, the moose and bears here are enormous, though this park was originally founded to protect Dall’s sheep from overhunting (saw some of them too)!
When I visited at the end of summer, the trees had started to turn yellow, and the tundra was exploding with shades of red for the coming chill! Down at my height, the whole forest floor was covered by an amazing assortment of fairytale mushrooms! One of the most amazing parts of this park, though, is that there are very few trails, so almost every mountain and valley is open to responsible exploration! I can’t wait to come back and wander some more!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer with Denali National Park & Preserve!
- Donate to the National Park Service!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
Unless you’re flying in from Talkeetna, there’s only one park entrance, which is at the intersection of Highway 3 and Park Road, 6.8 miles north of McKinley Park and 11.5 miles south of Healy!
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit the Park?
Your best best is to go between late May and early September when the full park road is open to Wonder Lake! That will give you the most comprehensive access to this amazing park!
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