Denali National Park and Preserve

Denali National Park and Preserve is a protected area in Alaska encompassing the highest peak in North America and wide tundra plains that stretch over more than six million acres. Grizzly bears, wolves and caribou herds roam these open landscapes between glacier valleys and arctic plateaus.

The government created the protected area in 1917 as Mount McKinley National Park to preserve wildlife and landscapes from excessive hunting. Congress expanded the area considerably in 1980 and restored the current name.

The Athabascan term means the high one and connects to thousands of years of indigenous stories about the towering mountain. Today this respect shows in local place names and in how visitors approach the land with care.

A single road opens up the area for 92 miles (148 kilometers), with private vehicles allowed only on the first 15 miles (24 kilometers). Buses carry visitors deeper inside, where views of wildlife and mountains often become clearer.

The mountain rises about 18000 feet (5500 meters) from its base, making it the tallest freestanding elevation on Earth. This massive height difference creates its own weather systems and temperature shifts that can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius).

Location: Alaska

Inception: 1917

Operator: National Park Service

Website: https://nps.gov/dena

GPS coordinates: 63.20000,-150.30000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 22:22