There aren’t enough superlatives to describe Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, a landscape covering over 6 million acres (2.4 million hectares), through which runs a single dirt and gravel road. There is as much history as there are acres in the park. Thirty-nine species of mammals, 169 species of birds, and one lonely little amphibian species call Denali home or at the very least, have been documented as passing through. Park ecosystems range from lowlands with taiga forests, braided glacial stream floodplains, and meandering sloughs; to subalpine woodlands, meadows, and scrub tundra; to alpine low-shrub tundra slopes and steep peaks, including Denali. The geology of this national park and preserve checks off just about all the chapters you would find in a geology textbook, from tectonics and faults, to paleontology, to volcanism, to glaciation.

And then there’s “The Tall One.” A mountain by any other name is just as majestic, right? People have applied different names (Denali, Densmore Mountain, Densmore Peak, Bolshaya Gora, Mount McKinley) to North America’s tallest peak (20,310 feet / 6,190.5 m). It wasn’t until the eve of the National Park Service’s 100^th anniversary in 2016 that this mountain changed names from Mount McKinley to Denali, a Koyukon Athabascan word meaning “the high one,” or “the tall one.” It’s said only 30 percent of visitors to Denali ever get to see the entire mountain, since it makes its own weather and is usually shrouded in clouds. If you are one of the 30 percenters, then you’ll understand why it’s called Denali, towering over the other rugged, jagged, snowcapped mountains of the Alaska Range.

There’s so much to do at Denali. You can hike the few marked trails or take off over the tundra and hike where your heart desires. You can view the plentiful wildlife including the Big 5: moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly bears. You can fish, bicycle, flightsee, attend a ranger program, or visit the park’s sled dog kennel. Travel here during the winter and you can mush, snowmobile, winter camp, or just gaze at the brilliant night sky and Northern Lights. Don't forget to pack your camera, because Denali National Park and Preserve is a photographer’s dream.

There’s something for everyone at Denali … you just must get there, first.

You see, as mentioned above, there’s only a single dirt and gravel road stretching 92 miles (148 km), east to west. During summer, the park road is open for personal vehicles only to Mile 15 (Savage River). Anything beyond Savage River is limited to transit and tour buses. You can bicycle the Denali Park Road, and that’s an adventure in itself (watch out for those Big 5). You can backpack this landscape without trails, but, like bicycling, you’ll need to do plenty of preparation ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey.

In addition to just one road through the park, there’s another caveat to visiting Denali and it’s associated with that same road: at Mile 43, the park road is closed due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide. The closure is expected to remain in place through summer 2026, while the Polychrome Area Plan is implemented. So, to get into the park further than Mile 43, you’ll need to use a plane.

While this may sound daunting, don’t scratch Denali off your national park bucket list. The articles listed below can help you with your plans to make this national park and preserve bucket list item a reality.

Traveler's Choice For: wildlife viewing, photography, geology, outdoor activities