DENALI: Everything about Denali National Park is big: the scenery, the mountains, the incredible beauty and the animals. Early this morning, you will embark on a Denali Park Shuttle Tour, an excellent way to spot the wildlife for which Alaska is so famous: moose, bear, wolves, caribou, dall sheep.

The bus stops every 1 hr 10 min. for restrooms and whenever wildlife is sighted as you travel. In 2022, the road into Denali National Park is limited due to the “Pretty Rocks” Landslide creating a road restriction, and a slightly shorter tour.  The shuttle time is approximately 5 hours roundtrip, including all stops. AAU arranges for and includes a boxed lunch and beverage for the trip. So bring your camera and binoculars.

Mount McKinley National Park was established in 1917 to protect its large mammals, not because of majestic Mt. McKinley. In 1980, the boundary was expanded to include both the Denali caribou herds wintering and calving ground and the entire Mt. McKinley massif. This more than tripled the size of the park, and was renamed Denali National Park and Preserve. It was also designated an International Biosphere Reserve significant for the potential for sub-arctic ecosystem research.

Denali is an Athabascan word meaning The High One. The mountain is officially named Mt. McKinley but is also referred to as Denali. Mt. McKinley is the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet. It creates its own weather system and is often covered in clouds. Mt. McKinley is only visible about 1/3 of the time, so visitors to the park only have about a 30% chance of viewing Mt. McKinley.

This evening, you will overnight again in the Denali area.

View our preferred accommodations for this area:
Denali National Park Area Lodging