Denali is one of the places where the heart of the world can beat undisturbed. That is what makes it so important.
― Betsy Crawford, The Soul of the Earth
Date Created: Denali National Park and Preserve was established as Mount McKinley National Park on February 26, 1917, and it was later renamed Denali National Park and Preserve on December 2, 1980.
Location: The park is located in the interior of Alaska, USA, centered around the majestic Denali, the highest peak in North America.
Size: Denali National Park and Preserve covers an expansive area of approximately 6 million acres (2.4 million hectares), making it one of the largest national parks in the United States.
Denali National Park is named after the highest mountain peak in North America, Denali, and has been described as “the coldest mountain in the world.” Preservation efforts to keep this vast, pristine 6 million acres of wilderness is evident. Unless you have reservations for one of the remote campgrounds, the park road access ends at Mile 15. Shuttle buses are readily available and several tours can be reserved. With 1/2 million visitors a year it is wise to schedule your plans in advance. I took the Tundra Wilderness Tour. The interesting and knowledgable narrator provided information on history, plants, wildlife, weather phenomena, preservation efforts, along with some very entertaining stories. During the 53 mile journey, caribou rested on the swathes of ice, sheep grazed on the mountainside, ptarmigan shooed their young across the road and a bear ambled in the distance. Colorful wildflowers, glistening snow covered mountains, cascading waterfalls and streams kept our group mesmerized. What a fabulous experience!
