Denali National Park and Preserve
Alaska
Denali is truly a park on an Alaskan scale: six million acres—a plot of magnificent land larger than the state of Massachusetts—interrupted by just one road. And at that, the byway is gravel and all but closed to private vehicles. In other words, Denali sees less traffic than many suburban streets.
Mount McKinley
Photo © copyright Kennan Ward.
Across the park's largely treeless expanse, the views are of a scale unknown in the Lower 48. Rivers rush wide and milky white with rock pulverized by glaciers. Flower-studded tundra spills away in all directions for tens of miles. Marquee wildlife like caribou, Dall sheep, moose, and grizzly bears roam freely. And, if the weather cooperates, Mount McKinley swallows the horizon.
 At 20,320 feet, Mt. McKinley is North America's highest mountain and the crown of the 600-mile-long Alaska Range. The indigenous Athabascan people dubbed the massif "Denali", or the "Great One," and it more than lives up to the name. From base to summit, the mountain's vertical relief is greater than that of Mount Everest. On those rare occasions when its shroud of clouds rolls back, Mount McKinley's grandeur will steal your breath away.
For the most fun in Denali, try these GORP picks:
Hike the Backcountry
The park is a nearly trailless wilderness; head in any direction (with a backcountry permit in hand) and you'll be off the beaten path and traipsing on tundra. If trails are more your thing, then clamber up the Mount Healy Overlook Trail near the park's entrance. At 2.5 miles, the route to Mount Healy is practically the only marked hiking path of substantial length in the park. Plan on devoting four hours for the round-trip, and count on sweating a bit along the way—the trail gains 1,700 feet in elevation. You're rewarded with photo-worthy views of the Nenana River coursing below and the Alaska Range towering above.
 More on Hiking in Denali National Park
Raft a Glacial River
The Nenana River on the park's eastern border is not a waterway to be trifled with. Where it passes through Nenana Canyon, the icy, milk-colored river churns and froths with Class III and IV waters just right for white-knuckle rafting. Not an adrenaline junkie? Then sign up for a scenic float trip on the river's placid sections.
Go on a Safari
Your chances of seeing wildlife up close perhaps rate better than your chances of glimpsing the elusive Mount McKinley, which is to say they're good but not guaranteed. Your best option: Ramble along Park Road on foot, by bike, or by bus. Park buses are managed on a hop-on, hop-off, space-available basis, so passengers can get out whenever they see something that needs to be photographed, hiked, or generally experienced. Another bus is sure to come along soon. Although Denali's big wildlife could very well remain out of sight on a park safari, a keen eye and roving binoculars will usually yield a spotting.
More on Safari in Denali National Park
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| BEEN THERE?
Favorite Denali hike, camping spot, or useful tip? Submit to the Denali thread in the Destinations Forum, or e-mail to host@gorp.com. Entries will be added to a People's Choice compendium.
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Bike the Tundra
Denali ranks as one of the most bike-friendly national parks. Although bicyclists are restricted to designated roadways, the Park Road is 90 miles long and bikes are allowed on the whole length. You can even take your bicycle with you on a camper shuttle bus. During the spring and fall, when road closures are in effect, bicyclists are permitted to ride beyond closed gates. Try riding straight from Kantishna/Wonder Lake—the end of the Park Road and the final bus stop—back to the park entrance. Doing it at night, by the light of Alaska's midnight sun, avoids a lot of bus traffic.
Soar above Denali
Each year, more than 1,000 climbers brave avalanches, bitter temperatures, and fierce storms for the chance to summit Mount McKinley. The few who top out on a rare cloudless day are rewarded with one of North America's best views. You can attain an even better view from the heated comfort of a rented bush plane or helicopter. Soaring high above the park on a flightseeing trip offers visitors spectacular views of the mountain—not to mention the rest of Denali. Rangers at the Eielson Visitor Center keep a chart on what portion of McKinley has been visible an how often, so you can check your odds before reserving a flight.
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