Denali Park is a living treasure

Denali National Park and Preserve attracts thousands of visitors annually from all over the world, and it is right at our back door here in the Mat-Su Valley.

Although Denali Park features North America's highest mountain, 20,320 foot tall Mount McKinley, this national treasure is much more than just a mountain. The Alaska Range includes many other spectacular mountains and large glaciers, providing stunning vistas for visitors on tours through the Park. In addition, the more than 6 million acres encompasses a complete sub-arctic eco-system with large mammals such as grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep and moose.

Learning from mistakes made in Yellowstone and other national parks, the Park Service has balanced the desire of visitors to experience the park with a need to protect the fragile eco-system itself. Therefore, there are no paved highways into the vast interior of the park, no lines of summer traffic venting toxic exhaust fumes or fast-food containers littering the landscape.

Instead, with a little planning, patience, know-how and the willingness to spend some time and modest amounts of money, Valley visitors can enjoy year round access to almost every treasure in Denali Park.

Summer offers the easiest access to the Park. Although private autos are not allowed into the Park's interior except by special permit, visitors can take advantage of a wide variety of bus and shuttle tours.

A good bet is a 6- to 8-hour bus tour on the Park road. Drivers are knowledgeable and informative, with a passion for their Park and an often poetic ability to evoke the tapestry of color and season for visitors. Try a morning tour for the best opportunity to view Mount McKinley, or a later evening tour to see the greatest variety of wildlife, especially on hot summer days.

Popular stops on the tours are Polychrome Canyon, the Teklanika River, and the Eielson Visitor Center. Keen-eyed drivers know how to spot wildlife and stop immediately to offer visitors the best chance at viewing and photography, but they also encourage visitors themselves to spot the animals. A cry of "Grizzly!" from a fellow visitor is certain to get the adrenaline pumping.

Visitors can camp for a small fee at one of seven campgrounds located within the park, and private RV parks with hookups are available outside the park for those who want to enjoy the wilderness with all the comforts of home.

Visitors with a few more dollars and a yen for more adventure or wider vistas can take advantage of tours and services provided by a wide variety of Park concessionnaires. In addition to overnight lodging at wilderness lodges deep in the heart of the Park, these offer river rafting, canoeing, horseback riding, flightseeing, helicopter hiking, glacier walks, sled dog tours in winter, hunting, and even guided mountaineering.

For many visitors, backcountry camping and trekking offer perhaps the purest of outdoor experiences. Backcountry enthusiasts can access the park on their own year round with permits and an in-depth knowledge of survival skills.

Camping and hiking in Denali backcountry is a special experience. Unlike other parks, Denali backcountry offers no established trails, bridges, or campsites. Backpackers must be proficient with compasses, topographic maps or GPS equipment, and confident in their ability to negotiate the terrain on their own.

The Park and Preserve is divided into 75 backcountry units. Permits are required for backpacking into 41 of the units, while only registration is required for the other 34. The Park Service suggests that you come to the backcountry desk at the visitors' center with several alternatives in mind. Don't become discouraged if your first choice is not available. There are 6 million acres to choose from.

Permits are not required for dayhiking in the backcountry, but a knowledge of outdoor survival skills remains essential because of dramatic weather conditions in the Park. Changes in the weather often occur without warning, so visitors should expect sun, wind, rain, and clouds, often on the same day. Average summer temperatures range from 33 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and it has been known to snow in July! So be prepared by wearing layers of clothing to regulate your body temperature, and bring along good waterproof raingear.

One of the greatest advantages to living at Denali's door is the ability to experience the Park at every season. For example, autumn in Denali provides an incredible tapestry of color. Although the park road is not maintained for bus tours after early September, winter offers yet a different experience to the backcountry skier or trekker, and sled dog tours are available through a Park concessionaire.

Besides the National Park and Preserve, Denali State Park also provides camping, hiking, and outdoor experiences for Valley visitors. Access begins at the park entrance, located near Mile 132 Parks Hwy., with campgrounds located along the Parks Highway at Troublesome Creek, Byers Lake, and Denali View North. Denali State Park features hiking, boating and fishing (with state fishing licenses) on streams and lakes.

A wealth of visitor and contact information about Denali National Park and Preserve can be at www.nps.gov/dena.