Alaska's Denali National Park features some of the nation's best, and remote hiking. Home to Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America, Denali attracts one million visitors per year, according to Lonely Planet. If you love being outdoors, seeing wildlife and beautiful vistas, consider visiting Denali National Park on your next vacation.
Time Frame
The best time to visit Denali National Park is in the summer. Between June and August, temperatures average highs in the 60s and days are cool and damp. In the winter, the weather can be very vicious with temperatures dropping -40 degrees F, according to National-Park.com. The spring months are quite cold too, with temperatures not rising above freezing until late April usually.
Hiking
If you are interested in hiking, Denali offers some of the most pristine wilderness in the country. According to National-Park.com. Denali does not offer many hiking trails, which means you will have hike cross-country without a blazed trail. You should be prepared for rough terrain and streams. There are some established trails at the park's entrance that are short and easy like Horseshoe Lake and Morino Loop.
Wildlife Viewing
If you are an animal enthusiast, Denali National Park offers plenty of opportunities to see them in their natural setting. Among the park's denizens include herds of majestic caribou, wolves and multiple varieties of bears. You may also see moose and Dall sheep, but they live at higher elevations.
Considerations
According to Lonely Planet, you may have difficulties getting into and around Denali National Park. There is only one road, Denali Park Road, that runs through the park. However, only official buses can operate on the road. There is also one entrance that tends to get overcrowded in the high season.
Warning
If you plan to hike in Denali's backcountry, you will need to obtain a permit before you set off. You can get the permit up to one day in advance and you cannot make a reservation. Denali is the home to black and grizzly bears. When you get your permit, the park will lend you bear resistant food containers to prevent attracting bears when you're camping out.
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