Denali National Park, Alaska: Things to See

What Activities are Available in Denali National Park?

       Denali is a national park in Alaska. There is Mount McKinley in this national park, which is North America's highest mountain. This National Park functions to protect the native area from various animals such as: grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and so on.

                                                           Image Source: wikimedia.org

A visit to Alaska Denali National Park and Preservation is a unique adventure. It's an opportunity to spend a vacation amongst spectacular views and diverse wildlife, gazing at Mount McKinley and the jagged peaks of Alaska's mountains.

Alaska's interior taiga and tundra landscape provides a rare experience. Denali National Park is a vast wilderness, mostly inaccessible to vehicular traffic, most tourist activity within the park takes place in the northeastern part of the park.

The main visitor center is located at the northeastern entrance of Denali National Park. You should explore these facilities at the start of your visit, to get used to what you will see and do in the park, to know about tours and activities, and to learn from the interesting exhibits. Featuring interpretations, animal models, and hands-on activities provide the opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna that live through harsh winters and short summers. The visitor's center film, "Heartbeats of Denali", is excellent, full of pictures of wildlife and the changing seasons.

The Denali Visitor Center is part of a complex of facilities that also includes: Alaska Railroad Depot, Murie Science and Learning Center, Alaska Geographic Bookstore, restrooms and Morino's Grill. Several hiking and cycling trails can be accessed from the visitor center complex.

Very few vehicles are allowed more than 15 miles into the park, so if you want a chance to see the sights and wildlife there, a tour bus is the way to go.

This tour is taking a full day, between 4.5 to 11 hours. All tours are led by an expert driver. Make sure to layer up and bring your camera and binoculars. You probably won't have many opportunities to hike, but you can get out there and stretch your legs, and take some photos. The wide open windows of the bus allow you to take some decent enough pictures from your seat.

Denali Natural History Tour (4.5 hours)

This tour focuses on how humans lived and experienced the park, from Alaskan natives to the earliest explorers, settlers, and visitors.

Tundra Wilderness Tour (8 hours)

The most popular of all, this tour focuses on the soil, plants and animals that live within the park. Buses stop frequently to get a closer look at wildlife, such as: grizzly bears, deer, wolves and caribou.

Drivers carry zoom-lensed video equipment, using them to provide a live view of the distant wildlife, which can be viewed on the drop-down screens on each bus seat, making it easy for you to spot wildlife wherever it is.

Kantishna Experience Tour (11 hours)

This tour covers approximately 90 miles of trails leading to the park and is a good option for those who want to see as much of the Denali wilderness landscape as possible. This is the only tour that stops at the Eielson Visitor Centre, which is located 66 miles into the park. A National Parks Ranger joins the bus for the final part of the tour of Wonder Lake.