Denali National Park located in Alaska is considered the place with the purest air and clearest visibility of any other National Park in the United States.
In this national park is the highest peak in the United States, more than 24 thousand km2 of area to discover, trails and activities, wildlife...
In this post I explain how to visit Denali National Park, how to get there, what to see and what activities to do.
WHAT TO SEE IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA
Denali, the highest mountain in the United States
In Alaska is the highest peak in the United States, Denali, which gives its name to the national park. Denali measures 6,190 meters and you can see it from any part of the park. Climbing to the top requires brutal physical preparation and endurance. Over the years, only about 32 thousand people have tried it, with only half of them being successful, since many give up along the way. It is a very steep mountain, climbing is required and of high difficulty. However, reaching some of the viewpoints or plains from where you can appreciate Denali is one of the essential things to do if you visit Denali National Park.
Spot wildlife in Denali National Park
Denali National Park offers an incredible natural wealth and in addition to thousands of trails, plains and amazing landscapes, there is a wide variety of animals such as brown and black bears, elk, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep and bald eagles, among many more.
Denali National Park is home to more than 160 species of birds, 39 mammals, and 1,500 species of plants, mosses, and lichens. While many national parks have seen changes to their ecosystems due to non-native or invasive plant species, Denali and much of Alaska retains its native wilderness, primarily due to the lack of roads and its remote location.
Hiking in Denali National Park, Alaska
Denali National Park offers the possibility of booking trekking trips with rangers and specialized companies. Throughout the length of the park there are many routes to follow, even going it alone, you can park in the different assigned parking lots and start the adventure on your own. Although, I recommend you book some of the guided excursions that include jeep routes, seeing Denali from above, quad routes or rafting, among many more activities that I detail below.
WHAT TO DO IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA
There are several activities you can book in Denali National Park. The most popular (although also the most expensive) is to fly over the park and Great Denali. It is a unique experience that will allow you, in addition to seeing almost the entire park from above, to see native fauna, such as bears, maples...
Small plane flight over Denali National Park
This small plane flight through Denali National Park lasts between 1:30 and 2 hours. And during the flight you will enjoy the Alaska mountain range, you will cross to the north side to see the arctic alpine tundra of the remote interior of Denali National Park, you will be able to contemplate the Wickersham Wall of Denali, the largest continuous vertical relief in the world, at almost 4,000 meters high, you will explore the southern area of Denali Park.
Northern lights in Denali
Alaska is the perfect place to enjoy the northern lights and contemplate pure skies full of stars. The best time to enjoy this experience is from the beginning of November to the end of January, when the days are short and the nights are very long. With this tour in Denali the experience of observing the northern lights is unique.
Denali National Park Whitewater Rafting
Another of the most popular activities to do in Denali National Park is rafting. There are different sections and categories, depending on the age and experience of the participants. You can see all Denali Rafting activities here.
HOW TO GET TO DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA
Denali is approximately 400 km away. north of Anchorage, about four hours away by car and 6 hours by train. In addition, you can also get there by plane, although the cost is much higher. My recommendation is that you sleep in the National Park for at least 1 night since the journey between Denali and Anchorage is quite long.
Getting to Denali National Park by car
If you are planning to travel through Alaska by car or motorhome, you can get from Anchorage to Denali National Park in about 4 hours, depending on the state of the roads (if you travel during the ice and snow season, you may find sections cut off depending on the weather). or that it takes much longer to arrive). You must take the AK-1N and later, after half an hour, you must change to the AK-3N.
Getting to Denali National Park by train
To go by train you must book from Anchorage Central Station. With the Hurricane Train Winter. The cost ranges between 100 and 250 euros/way. Once you arrive at Hurricane Gulch (after a 5:15 hour journey) you must get off and take the train for the last section that goes from Hurricane to Denali National Park.
WHERE TO STAY IN DENALI NATIONAL PARK
In the Park you don't have many luxurious options or big hotels. Rather, they are cabins, bed and breakfasts and small family hotels. Here are some great options for where to stay in Denali National Park:
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Alaska and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue readingmany more related articles on the blog.
If you liked this article, subscribe to the blog so you don't miss out on upcoming destinations,curiosities, travel tips and inspiration for your trips.
A hug and see you soon!