Denali National Park and Preserve is the well-known home of Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, which stands at 20,320 feet and is North America's tallest mountain. The Alaska Range also includes countless other spectacular mountains and many large glaciers.
Covering more than six million acres in Interior Alaska, it is also the largest protected ecosystem in the world, with 750 species of flowering plants, 39 mammal species, 165 bird species and 10 species of fish. Creatures commonly spotted are grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep and fox.
Activities and Attractions
The activities in this expansive park are nearly endless. Denali draws hopeful mountaineers from around the world. Visitors take bus tours, bicycle rides or long walks down the 90-mile Denali Park Road, which is closed to private vehicles after Mile 15. (For information on the park buses, visit the park website linked at the bottom of the page.) Hiking, camping, rafting, backcountry travel, fishing, wildlife viewing and flightseeing are also popular activities. Winter options include dog mushing, cross-country skiing, snow machining and Northern Lights viewing.
Accessibility
Denali is accessible by car on the George Parks Highway or via the Alaska Railroad from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Gateway communities to the park are Healy, Cantwell and Talkeetna. In summer a variety of private bus and van services and the railroad operate daily from Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Fees and Visitor Count
Entrance fee: $10 per individual; $20 per family. Camping, bus transportation and mountaineering permits are additional. About 400,000 people visit the park each year.
Weather and Climate
Expect sun, wind, rain and clouds, and expect them all on the same day. Average summer temperatures range from 33°F to 75°F. Winters can be extremely cold with temperatures ranging from -40°F to the high 20s on warm days.
Facilities
Denali National Park Visitor Center, Denali - 907-683-2294 - Located at Mile 1 of Denali Park Road (Open May 15-27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 28-September 15, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily)
Talkeetna Ranger Station, Talkeetna - 907-733-2231 - Located at corner of Main & B Street, Talkeetna (Open year-round, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
History
The area was first established as Mount McKinley National Park in 1917. It was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976, and the park was expanded and became Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980.
http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm