Denali National Park

Overview

Many people feel that a Denali trip is an essential part of their Alaska adventure vacation. Indeed, few things can compare with seeing the highest peak in North America. At 20,320 feet, the Denali massif is such a stupendous geologic feature that it creates its own weather and its own ecosystems. While the mountain itself is only visible about 20 percent of the time, Denali National Park is home to 6 million acres of pristine Wilderness and a stunning array of wildlife, including caribou, moose, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, foxes, wolves, golden eagles and many other fauna.

History

We know that humans have inhabited the Denali region for over 11,000 years. Athabascan Native people thrived in the area for 1,000 - 1,500 years. In 1906 Charles Sheldon visited the area and began lobbying for a hunting and wilderness preserve. In 1917 Mount McKinley National Park was established. In 1980 the Park boundaries were expanded to 6 million acres and the name was changed to Denali National Park and Preserve. In 2015 Mount McKinley's name was changed to Mount Denali, an Athabascan term meaning "The Great One."

Great Alaska Involvement

At Great Alaska Adventures, we have several itineraries that include Denali trips- The Bucket List Adventure and the 10-day National park Safari. These itineraries overnight in the quirky town of Talkeetna, the jumping-off point for most Denali mountain climbers. All our Denali trips include a flightseeing trip over Denali from Talkeetna. Day two of our Denali swing brings us to Denali National Park, our home for the next two nights. The following day, you'll hop on the famous Denali Park buses for an extended Denali Wildlife Tour along the restricted Denali Park Road, where private vehicles are not allowed (to maximize Wilderness character and wildlife viewing opportunities).

On the final day of your Denali adventure, we'll stick to our Denali trip strategy of not retracing our path - so we'll visit the incredible Denali National Park Visitor Center in the morning, then your guide will put you on the historic Alaska Railroad for a comfortable and casual trip back to Anchorage through incredible wilderness and scenic views.