Travel the park road

Perhaps the best-known excursion in Denali is taking a bus ride on the lone road running into the park. Narrated tour buses and hop-on, hop-off transit buses used to run all the way down the 92-mile park road—but an ongoing land slump has forced partial closure of the road, so all vehicle traffic currently turns around at mile 43. For a quick (and free) taste of the park road, you can catch the courtesy shuttle that runs between the Denali Visitor Center and Savage River (mile 15 of the park road).

You can also rent a bicycle from Bike Denali , about a (bikeable) mile outside the park entrance, and explore as far as you'd like along the park road, or drive your personal vehicle as far as mile 15 during peak season, although the small parking area at Savage River fills up fast.

See North America's tallest peak

It's natural to expect a glimpse of North America's tallest mountain, Denali, when you come to the park that bears its name.…