Denali bathed in alpenglow in Denali National Park/NPS, Kent Miller

Six million wild acres, a mountain that tests the world's best mountaineers, and a landscape that can reach deep into your heart with its character are phrases that help define Denali National Park and Preserve, but it can take a lifetime to truly understand and appreciate this place.

Many, if not most, visitors connect the park to its majestic mountain, Denali, or McKinley, as a group of Ohio politicians would like to see the peak renamed. It is a staggering mass of rock, ice, and snow that rises to 20,310 feet, and which the native Athabaskan peoples called "Denali," which translates to "the Great One." Justifiably so.

There is no road that reaches the base of Denali, North America's tallest mountain, and those who strive to stand atop its summit must either hike in or hire a bush plane to get them close to their starting point. But most of the nearly 650,000* visitors who reach the park each year come not to climb, but to admire the mountain from Wonder Lake, watch for wildlife that includes grizzlies, wolves, moose and caribou, or explore the backcountry, which is no easy feat as there are no designated trails.

Traveling and camping in this expansive terrain is special. You will find that Denali is different from other national parks. There are no trails, designated routes, or backcountry campsites to guide your wilderness adventure. Our goal is to provide visitors with the means of self-reliance and self-discovery; to encourage hikers to find what appeals to them rather than following specific routes.

Rangers working here will provide you with the knowledge to make your trip as safe and enjoyable as possible - but, the path you choose in the backcountry will be your own. The more effort your group invests in planning your trip, the larger the reward. Come prepared to travel cross-country through remote terrain in harsh weather, and to rescue yourself in the event of problems.

For those who desire a multi-day stay that doesn't involve sleeping on the ground, base camp might be Camp Denali & North Face Lodge, Kantishna Roadhouse, Denali Backcountry Lodge, or Skyline Lodge, private operations located on private inholdings in the park. There also are quite a few options located outside the park within reasonable driving distance for day trips.

For those who enjoy sleeping on the ground, there are a half-dozen campgrounds to choose from. But only the Riley Creek Campground is open year-round. Be sure to check the park's camping page to see what regulations and expectations you should be aware of, such as: no electrical or water hookups in park campgrounds, first-come, first-served when it comes to campsite selection, you can collect downed firewood, but leave your hatchet or saw at home or in your rig.

Thinking of taking your RV to the park? Here's what the park staff has to say about that:

People may camp with RVs and other vehicles at Riley Creek, Savage River or Teklanika River; the other three campgrounds are open only to tent-campers, and are accessible by bus. No campground in Denali can accommodate an RV over 40' long - if you have an RV larger than this, you will want to look outside of the park for a campground big enough to accommodate your rig.

Denali captured on a clear day/NPS, Tim Rains

While national parks often seem extremely user-friendly, having a guide to help figure out what to do and where to go is always helpful. And if you have a young family, there's a guide that can help you get more out of a trip to Denali.

Denali With Kids was jointly produced by the National Park Service and Alaska Geographic, which produces many interpretive materials for exploring the national parks within Alaska. This free travel guide is designed for parents and guardians who are traveling to Denali and are hoping to make lasting memories. Denali with Kids unlocks Denali's secrets by covering everything from the best places to camp and hike with your family to important safety and logistical information. This guide not only serves to help you plan your trip, but also includes parent testimonies and fun family photos that will inspire you.

Many who have their heart set on visiting Denali hope to be able to drive their own rig down the entire length of the park's only road, the 92-mile-long Denali Park Road (the first 15 miles are open to all comers). Each year the park conducts a lottery in the spring to award up to 400 permits for motorists desiring to drive this road in September. 

Caribou are among the "big five" animals visitors to Denali hope to see. The other four our grizzlies, wolves, moose, and Dall sheep/NPS

Denali can be a photographer's paradise, if you have time and patience in case of bad weather. 

"The views were incredible. And vast. Mind-blowing, even," contributing photographer Rebecca Latson said after returning from a summer trip to Denali back in 2014. "The play of light and shadow from the sun and clouds added a touch of the surreal to each composition.

"... There's more than just mountains to photograph out there (although, as I wrote earlier, they *are* the star of the show)," she added. "There's wildlife (bears, caribou, moose), wildflowers, and the land itself.  Ever hiked on tundra? Put your hiking boots on and tromp around on your bed's mattress and you'll get an idea of what it feels like to walk on tundra: a spongy feel with ankle-twisting opportunities if one is not careful. It's a great workout for the legs if you've spent an entire day walking on this stuff."

A morning view of Denali from Nugget Pond/Rebecca Latson

Photographer Jean Bjerke and her husband, Randy, visited Denali back in 2015 and came home with glowing stories about the park's wildlife.

Opportunities for wildlife viewing in Denali are as awesome as its spectacular scenery. You can see a surprising amount of wildlife from the park shuttle bus, including grizzlies, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and even wolves. Although shooting photographs from a bus window is not the photographer’s ideal (at least the windows open!), the shuttle drivers stop briefly whenever wildlife is sighted, and they try to give passengers an opportunity for photos.

But the best photographic opportunities in fall might be if you camp at Wonder Lake, or when you cruise the first 13 miles of the park road daily in mornings and evenings during the moose rut - or if you are fortunate to be able to drive the entire length of the park road in your own vehicle with a road lottery permit.

On clear days, Denali can be seen shimmering from nearly 100 miles away. But many days it's shrouded or even hidden in the clouds.

For all who head to the park, keep in mind that it is a wild place, and can be dangerous. There are bear maulings, other dangerous wildlife, such as moose, climber deaths, and the wilderness, which can be unforgiving. But if you're properly prepared, Denali can be a spiritual place that tightens your connection to the landscape and wildness.

Traveler's choice for: Wilderness experience, wildlife photography, mountaineering

*2017 visitation was 642,809