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Denali National Park: An Astonishing Backcountry Experience
Denali National Park ombines everything that is incredible about this amazing state, from fascinating, exciting wildlife to mind-bending scenery.
05:45 07 February 2022
Denali is the most famous national park in Alaska, and with good reason. It combines everything that is incredible about this amazing state, from fascinating, exciting wildlife to mind-bending scenery. Watching golden eagles soar over deep mountain passes, or carefully spying on a grumpy grizzly from a safe distance, are experiences that will live long in your memory.
Wreathed in clouds, the vast summit of Denali itself towers over everything, and at over 20,000 feet high it truly touches the sky, the roof of North America.
Denali’s wild expanse of tundra and forests is unimaginably huge. You could fit the entire state of New Jersey comfortably within its boundaries, and still have room to breath. As a result, it is a truly stunning vacation destination for adventure lovers, with amazing backcountry experiences everywhere you turn. So if you are mulling over when to cruise to Alaska next year and thinking about where you might want to visit, consider these reasons to pick Denali National Park as your next vacation destination.
The last genuine wilderness
If Alaska is ‘the last frontier’, then Denali is right at the forefront. It remains one of the last genuine wildernesses left in North America, with only a single man-made crossing in the entire park in the form of the Denali Park Road. Even this thoroughfare is only partially accessible, with private vehicles only allowed up to mile 15 of 92. But if you are lucky enough to visit when the park holds its annual ‘road lottery’ you might receive a day-long permit to drive as far along this lonely highway as you can!
The tallest peak in North America
Mount Denali is a towering peak that dominates the landscape of the park, and at 20,310 feet tall it is the highest mountain in all of North America. As a result, many visitors to the national park come here for mountaineering, to follow in the footsteps of Harry Karstens who first achieved the summit in 1913.
A rich Native culture and history
Despite its remote, wild atmosphere, Denali has a rich cultural history and is an extremely significant location for Alaska Natives, who have lived here and worked the land for millenia. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the park to learn more about their fascinating way of life and take home authentic handicrafts and artisan products. Start your cultural journey of understanding at the Denali Visitor Centre, and speak to a guide to learn more.