Denali (Mount McKinley)

Denali (Mount McKinley)

Denali, also known as Mount McKinley to most Americans, is the highest mountain in North America. But its official name in Alaska is Denali, which means "the high one" in the Athabaskan language.

Mount McKinley or Denali in Alaska is the highest mountain peak in North America, at a height of approximately 20,320 feet (6,194 m).

The mountain was also known as Bolshaya Gora, meaning Big Mountain, in Russian.

Mount McKinley is located in the central portion of the Alaska Range, which spans much of south central Alaska. It is approximately 130 miles (209 km) north-northwest of Anchorage and 155 miles (249 km) southwest of Fairbanks.

Mount McKinley has two significant summits: the South Summit is the higher one, while the North Summit has an elevation of 19,470 feet (5,934 m) and a prominence of approximately 1,320 feet (402 m).

Mount McKinley is also commonly known as Denali, which means "the high one" in the Athabaskan language, and which is also the official name currently recognized by the State of Alaska.

In 1897 the Mountain was officially named Mount McKinley, after U.S. president William McKinley.

When Denali National Park and Preserve was established by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, December 2, 1980, the Alaska Board of Geographic Names changed the name of the mountain back to "Denali." However, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names maintains "McKinley". Alaskans tend to use "Denali" and rely on context to distinguish between the park and the mountain.

Location

Denali National Park
Alaska
USA

Getting There

The mountain is located in Denali National Park and Preserve in central Alaska. Here are some possible ways to get there:

By car: You can reach the park by car via the George Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3), which runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks. The park entrance is about 240 miles north of Anchorage and about 120 miles south of Fairbanks.

By train: You can also take the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage or Fairbanks to Denali National Park. The train offers scenic views of the Alaska wilderness, and stops at the park entrance.

By bus: Once you reach the park entrance, you can take a park shuttle bus or tour bus to the various points of interest in the park, including the visitor center and the entrance to the Denali Park Road. The park shuttle buses are operated by the National Park Service and provide access to various hiking trails and backcountry areas.

It's important to note that Denali National Park and Preserve is a wilderness area, and visitors should be prepared for the remote and challenging conditions. It's recommended to contact the National Park Service for information on permits, safety, and trail conditions before planning a trip to the park. Additionally, visitors should be aware of the cultural significance of the area to the Athabaskan people and should respect their traditions and heritage.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Alaska that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.