Alaska

The icy arctic sun shines over the Alaskan tundra, igniting the landscape in bursts of purple, green, lavender, and orange. The air is frigid, and the energy electric. And when the high clouds part, and the towering massif of North America’s tallest peak reveals itself, it’s a no-holds-barred showstopper. This is Denali National Park and Preserve—the quintessence of great adventures in America’s Great Land.

A trip to Denali absolutely belongs on the bucket list. The highlight, of course, is the namesake peak, rechristened from Mount McKinley in 2015 to its original Athabascan name, which fittingly means “the great one.” This is a shy peak, so it may take a few days for her to poke her head through the clouds. When she does, you will be treated to a spellbinding view that’s completely out of this world.

Mountaineering on Mount McKinley is world-class, offering up otherworldly glaciers and picturesque vistas

Nature’s playground

Here is wilderness at its wildest. As you explore the tundra, taiga forest, meadows, and streams, you will no doubt have myriad encounters with North America’s most iconic species and apex predators. You are virtually guaranteed to spot moose and Dall sheep, or perhaps a wolf, grizzly, or caribou.

The last frontier

Visiting Denali is a little more complicated than taking a trip to most national parks down in the Lower 48. There are fewer services here, limited established trails, and just a whole lot of big open wilderness waiting for you. Whether you spend two days on your adventure or take on a 10-day backpack trip, Denali has tons of activities that will keep your adrenaline redlined and take you to the back of beyond in one of the world’s last great frontiers.

Wildlife Sanctuary
Denali was created specifically to protect the rare wildlife of the Alaska Range, which includes 39 species of mammals, a range of birds—keep your eyes peeled for golden and bald eagles, gray jays, and ptarmigan—and the “Big Five”—moose, Dall sheep, caribou, wolves, and grizzly bears.
Grizzly bears Nothing says Alaska quite like the majestic grizzly. Take the Park Road tour bus in the summer and you’re likely to spot a mama and her cubs.
Dall sheep Look to the hills for these playful climbers. Rams have especially jaunty headgear—if you listen carefully, you may even hear them butting heads in the rut.
Caribou In the 1920s, 20,000 caribou made up the herd living east of Foraker River and north of the Alaska Range. Now, there are 1,700. You may still spot one, especially from the air.
Wolves This is one of the best places on Earth to observe wolves in their wild habitats. There are hundreds of sightings here each year, especially in the eastern part of the park.
Moose These ungainly ungulates are often found in marshes and around lakes. The alpha males can weigh up to 1,400 lb (635 kg) and stand 6 ft (1.8 m) tall at the shoulder.

The vivid picture of Aurora Borealis as seen from Denali says it all

Star light, star bright

Most visitors come to Denali in summer, but some choose winter, specifically because they want to witness the unmatched spectacle of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). The clear Alaskan skies are almost devoid of light pollution, and they put on an unrivaled light show.

Hiking utopia

There are few established trails in Denali National Park, so instead of following well-worn paths, most hikers head to the backcountry—across fields, streams, meadows, and brooks. For the novice, one option is to start with the direct, but steep, hike on the Mount Healy Overlook Trail. After the lung-pounding 2.7-mile (4.4-km) ascent, climbing 1,700 ft (520 m) past alder, spruce, and aspen forest, you’re rewarded with some of the best views of Denali from terra firma.

Another day-hiking option takes you over 10 miles (16 km) through verdant spruce forest and across busy creeks, as you wend your way to the “Triple Lakes.” The rolling hike affords awesome views of the river and lake systems, and it’s the perfect launching point for bigger adventures farther afield.

The best hikes, though, are done on your own. No trails, no signs, no cellphone towers: nothing but nature. All you need is a compass and a map (and the know-how to use them), and you can head out from the Park Road in any direction and find your little slice of heaven. As you head for the horizon along open ridgelines, you’ll see Alaska’s great lands, but no sign of human civilization. Hop and skip across creeks, get your feet damp in wet tundra, and nestle up to nature in a way that’s not possible amid crowds and lined-up hikes found on more organized nature tours.

To take trail-less hiking to new level, get a backcountry permit for a multiday trek deep into the park’s interior. Thanks to the well-oiled permit system, access is staggered so that you’re unlikely to encounter another soul on your journey. The park is about the size of Vermont, so the backcountry options are truly limitless.

Spectacle from the skies

Nothing beats a tour of Alaska from the air. Up here, you can see Denali and the Alaska Range in its pure, unadulterated immensity. Circle around glaciers (or even land on one for an afternoon of summer sledding), follow the migrating caribou, or just marvel at the unbridled grandeur that unfolds below. On the right day, you may just see a climber or two making their summit bid from Denali’s top ridges.

Nothing can beat the aerial take on the Alaskan landscape

If you have…

Two days ▷ Plan a bus tour, camping, and a quick hike. When wildlife watching in Denali, you don’t need to leave the park road to see the famous furry inhabitants. On the 92-mile (148-km) Park Road to the visitor center—eight hours by bus—you’ll no doubt run into iconic wildlife and countless birds. On day two, hike the Triple Lakes Trail.

Five days ▷ Count on backpacking, flight-seeing, and a lodge stay. Start your visit with the shuttle bus to Wonder Lake Campground. Stay a night or two here before heading out on a two- to four-day backpack into the wilds beyond the park road. For your final day, treat yourself to a flight-seeing tour around Denali. Want to glam it? Reserve a spot at Camp Denali, a private reserve established in 1954 that’s deep within the park’s boundaries.