Denali National Park and Preserve is one of the jewels of the National Park System. It is a unique and beautiful place to explore in our own last frontier.
Originally christened Mt. Mckinley National Park in 1917, the lands that are now part of Denali were originally used by five different groups of Athapascan peoples at various seasons. The area has been inhabited for around 12,000 years. Park boundaries were enlarged in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), creating Denali National park and preserve.
There are millions of activities available for an adventurous park visitor. Tour the Denali Park Road by bus, attend ranger programs, mountaineer, hike, backpack, camp, ski or snowshoe. Bike, fish, take pictures, visit the Murie Science and learning center. Mush sled dogs, snowmobile, attend seasonal festivals and celebrations, hunt, flight-see, or participate in the road lottery.
The park is open year-round for recreation, however the visitor center and tour bus only operate from May to September, the peak season.
400 private cars are allowed to drive into the park on roads usually reserved for buses during a four day period each fall. Permits are awarded by lottery, which is open in the spring and early summer of each year. There is a small fee associated with entering the lottery; $10 per entry in 2009.
The fee schedule at Denali is like that of all National Parks (available online). Reservations are generally encouraged for these fee based activities, and can be made online, in person, by phone, or by mail using the information you will find on the park's website.
More than 650 species of plants, 39 mammal species, 167 species of birds, 10 species of fish and one type of amphibian live in the park which also includes the tallest mountain in North America. Denali's summit is 20,320 feet above sea level, making it taller than even Mt. Everest. There are no known reptiles in the park area, making it a perfect get away for a nature loving ophidiophobe.
