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Denali

Denali Borough, AK

1917

Established:

Size:

4,740,911 acres

Visitors:

427,562 in 2022

Summary

Denali National Park and Preserve, formerly known as Mount McKinley National Park, is a national park and preserve located in Interior Alaska, United States, centered on Denali, the highest mountain in North America. The park and contiguous preserve encompass 6,045,153 acres (9,446 sq mi; 24,464 km2) which is larger than the state of New Hampshire. On December 2, 1980, 2,146,580-acre (3,354 sq mi; 8,687 km2) Denali Wilderness was established within the park. Denali's landscape is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, including deciduous taiga, with tundra at middle elevations, and glaciers, snow, and bare rock at the highest elevations. The longest glacier is the Kahiltna Glacier. Wintertime activities include dog sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. The park received 594,660 recreational visitors in 2018.

Wildlife

Sounds of the Park

Things to Do

Visitors at Denali National Park can hike, hike, camp, birdwatch, or go mountaineering. In the winter, visitors can snowmobile, cross-country ski, or dog sled.

When to Visit

Denali National Park has a subarctic climate with long, cold, snowy winters and short, mild summers. Due to the greatest number of activities being offered in the summer, it is the best time of year to visit.

Ties to Stephen Mather

stm plaque.jpg

Fun Fact

About 16% of Denali National Park's area is covered by glaciers.

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