NPS · Alaska

Denali Wilderness

Native Athabascans have always referred to Mount McKinley as Denali, or "The High One." The mammoth mountain is the centerpiece of Denali National Park Wilderness, which comprises about one-third of Denali National Park and Preserve. The Wilderness encompasses the high heart of the Alaska Range, including Mount Denali. At 20,320 feet, Denali is the highest point in North America and the tallest mountain on Earth when measured from base to summit. Formerly known as Mount McKinley National Park, the name changed with its Wilderness designation and tripled in size. The entire unit is now bigger than the state of Massachusetts. Mountaineers have long been irresistibly drawn to this fabulous land of perpetual snow and danger.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Wilderness2.1 million acresNPSAKDesignated 1980
Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Denali Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net

Facts

Where each comes from ↓
DesignationWilderness
Managed byNational Park Service
StateAlaska
Size2.1 million acres
Designated1980, by Congress
Center point63.36° N, 150.50° W
Night skySome glow on the horizon (Black Marble reading 47)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Denali Wilderness0°10°20°30°40°50°60°January: 0.79 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.72 inches of precipitationMarch: 1.16 inches of precipitationApril: 1.06 inches of precipitationMay: 1.97 inches of precipitationJune: 2.86 inches of precipitationJuly: 5.10 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.94 inches of precipitationSeptember: 2.23 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.45 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.04 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.18 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 4.3°F averageFebruary: 14.7°F averageMarch: 12.6°F averageApril: 29.3°F averageMay: 43.2°F averageJune: 53.3°F averageJuly: 55.6°F averageAugust: 51.5°F averageSeptember: 41.6°F averageOctober: 24.8°F averageNovember: 10.7°F averageDecember: 4.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Denali 27 N, 13 miles from the center point at 2,225 feet, station USW00096408 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 24 inches a year. The station sits about 1,600 feet lower than the center point, so temperatures on the ground run cooler.

Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Park System units within 30 miles · Park Atlas
National Park & Preserve · Adjacent
Denali National Park & Preserve
National Register listings within 15 miles · 14 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Guidebooks for Alaska

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Denali Wilderness?

2.1 million acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Denali Wilderness?

The National Park Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Denali Wilderness in?

Alaska.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Denali Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1980.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Denali Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 63.359° N, 150.502° W. Denali National Park & Preserve is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Which national parks are near Denali Wilderness?

Denali National Park & Preserve (adjacent). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Denali Wilderness?

The National Register has 14 listings within 15 miles, including Ewe Creek Ranger Cabin No. 8 and Lower East Fork Ranger Cabin No. 9.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.