Page 168 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

166  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

9 Denali National Park

Alaska’s top attraction, the expansive Denali National Park,
sprawls across 9,420 sq miles (24,395 sq km) and is larger
than the entire state of New Hampshire. Its highlight is, of
course, the 20,320-ft (6,194-m) Denali, which dominates the
surrounding land scape and is North America’s highest peak.
The park is world-renowned for its wildlife viewing, and
visitors can expect to see a wide variety of animals. In the
summer, Denali’s tundra regions explode with wildflowers,
while in September, they blaze with autumnal yellows, reds, Alaska Railroad
and oranges. Just one road penetrates the backcountry; after The train is a convenient way to
reach the park from Anchorage
Mile 15 this single route is accessible only in summer by the or Fairbanks.
park’s shuttle buses, crossing open tundra, boggy lowlands,
and mountain passes to wind up at beautiful Wonder Lake.

. Wonder Lake
Wonder Lake, near the end
of the park’s shuttle route,
affords one of the finest
views of Denali. Visitors
will find excellent late-
summer blueberry
picking around the
lake campground.

Kantishna
Stony Hill Overlook
DENALI NATIONAL PARK RD
Wonder
Exploring the Park Mckinley Lake
With a full day, it is possible to take an early morning shuttle
bus to Wonder Lake and still have an hour or two to explore
on foot before catching the last bus back. As long as no Muldrow Glacier
wildlife is visible in the area, day hikers can get off the bus
wherever they like and flag down a later bus back on a
space-available basis. Some of the finest day hik ing is Denali
found around the Eielson Visitor Center. Backcountry 20,320 ft
hiking and camping can be strenuous and requires
a permit from the Backcountry Information Center. Mount Foraker Mount Hunter
17,400 ft 14,573 ft
Alaska Range Lacuna Glacier Kahiltna Glacier Glacier Tokositna Ruth Glacier

Yentna Glacier Kahiltna Glacier

Dall Glacier

Denali
This massive snow-clad peak looms over its surroundings
and is visible from many points on the Denali National
Park Road. Originally named Mount McKinley for
Ohio Congressional candidate (and later president)
William McKinley, its name was officially changed
back to the Athabaskan Denali in 2015 (see p64).
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p244 and pp254–5

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