visiting denali national park
Explore the rugged wilderness of the USA’s cold north.
The home of the tallest mountain in North America, Denali National Park named after the 6,190-metre (20,310-foot) peak is a semi-Arctic wilderness roughly the same size as the entire land area of Massachusetts. Visitors with keen eyes are likely to see grizzly bears, caribou and moose. Those with luck on their side might spot wolves, black bears and wolverines.
Considering its vast size, almost 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 square miles), Denali National Park contains only one road with a handful of destinations marked by mileposts. Private motorists can go as far as the Savage River Trailhead at mile 15 before being turned around, but most visitors stop at the Wilderness Access Center at the start of the road to buy a ticket for the buses that travel its full 146-kilometre (91-mile) length. Tour buses offer a guaranteed seat and a set itinerary, whereas shuttle buses will stop on request to set down and pick up passengers at the side of the road. Many of the shuttle-bus drivers are just as happy to share their love of the national park as their tour-bus equivalents, although prospective passengers may have to be patient until a bus with space aboard arrives.
All should aim to make it as far as Eielson Visitor Center at mile 66. This eight-hour round trip on the unpaved road might be tough on the buttocks, but it includes one of the most dramatic views of Denali. Even if the mountain is shrouded in cloud a common occurrence during the summer months it is a majestic sight. If the mountain is fully out, take full advantage and go crazy with your camera.
Photographers with stamina might like to extend their journey to mile 86 and Wonder Lake. A short distance away is Reflection Pond, possibly the best place to shoot images of the mountain when it peeks out from the mist. A little closer to home, at mile 46, is Polychrome Pass. This multicoloured bluff is particularly spectacular at dusk, and a dedicated shuttle bus departs the Visitor Center daily at around 5pm.
If the thought of a day on a bus seat doesn’t appeal, why not step off the bus and into the wilderness? There are surprisingly few marked trails, so most hikers simply pick their own path. The sparse vegetation of the flat tundra and taiga forest makes it difficult to get lost, although those who choose to push further into the park may go for hours, even days, without seeing another person. There are campsites and lodges to rest at night, although be sure to book a spot at the Wilderness Access Center beforehand since spaces fill up quickly. Ensure you take plenty of supplies with you, as there are few services within the park itself.
Whether you choose off-road adventure in the backcountry or the comparative comfort of on-road travel, you’ll be left with memories and photographs galore of the stunning scenery and wondrous wildlife of Denali National Park.