The scenic beauty of Denali is one of the biggest draws for visitors. The inspiration and solace many draw from wilderness, places untrammeled by humans, is vital.
Here, you will find a preview of your impending visit, a remembrance of time spent in the park, or a window to a far-away world that you will hopefully one day see in person.
Each panoramic image represents a different view from somewhere in the park. Command buttons are located at the bottom of each image. Some panoramas contain links to other views, allowing you to take a virtual sightseeing trip through some of this spectacular park.
Use the map below or the thumbnails for each panorama lower on the page to explore that part of the park.
Divide Mountain - Summit View
Divide Mountain stands on the south side of the park road, near the Toklat River rest stop. Those up for a strenuous dayhike can gain this view, though it requires crossing the cold, swift Toklat River.
Wonder Lake in Autumn
Enjoy the view from just north of Wonder Lake. The park road is visible where it crosses the Wonder Lake outflow, while the Alaska Range and Mount McKinley can be seen in the distance.
Mount Galen
North of the park road is Mount Galen, with views of numerous unnamed mountains near and far.
The Moose's Tooth
image courtesy blake gleason
Barille Summit
Stand high atop Barille and gaze down on the Ruth Amphitheater, the Great Gorge of the Ruth Glacier, the iconic Moose's Tooth, and more spectacular alpine scenery.
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Explore a panoramic view of Base Camp
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Base Camp
Explore the world of Base Camp on the Kahiltna Glacier. Most mountaineers attempting to summit Mount McKinley fly into camp at 7,000' above sea level on the Kahiltna, and start their climb from here.
In this pano is a link to explore farther down-glacier on the Kahiltna.
A trail just below Eielson Visitor Center offers some lovely views
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Eielson Visitor Center
One of the most popular destinations by shuttle bus, the views from Eielson Visitor Center on a clear day can be fantastic.
You can "hike" down from here to the Muldrow Glacier, which often fools new visitors because of how much vegetation grows on its lower section.
Mount McKinley, seen from Wonder Lake
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Wonder Lake Campground
Not sure if the view outweighs the mosquitoes notorious to Wonder Lake Campground? Take a peek and decide for yourself.
This pano has a link to a series of images higher up in the Alaska Range.
The view from Oastler Pass
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Oastler Pass
Check out the scenery from Oastler Pass, at about 5,600'. Mount Brooks dominates the view, towering thousands of feet above the Muldrow Glacier and Oastler Pass. (Apologies for the false advertising - this image isn't quite a 360 degree view).
From here, you can move south to the Traleika Glacier, deep in the heart of the Alaska Range.
The view from Traleika Glacier can be rather pleasant
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Traleika Glacier - At the feet of McKinley
Over a mile wide, the mountains surrounding Traleika Glacier alter one's sense of scale. Bonus feature - check out Koven, Carpe and Tatum, the mountains for whom the 2011 sled dog litter was named.
Vegetation and thin soil covering the ice of the Muldrow Glacier
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Standing on the Muldrow Glacier
Don't let the greenery fool you - under a thin layer of vegetation and soil lies a frozen mass of ice. From here you can duck down into the glacier or head back up to a trail near Eielson Visitor Center.
Icy waters flow out of the Alaska Range and its glaciers.
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Low on the Muldrow Glacier
Like nature's tailings piles, myriad lumps of stagnant ice, covered in dirt and rocky debris, sit along the Muldrow Glacier. Swift and cold are usually the first two words visitors use to describe their encounters with any water that finally reaches a liquid state in these sub-arctic mountains.
Autumnal reds begin to emerge atop Polychrome Mountain
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Polychrome Mountain
See the start of autumn on a particularly lovely day atop Polychrome Mountain. You can move farther south, into the mountains along the East Fork Glacier, too.
Ice and rock of the East Fork Glacier
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High up the East Fork Glacier
Learn more about glacier monitoring while you enjoy the great views of the East Fork Glacier.
This pano also connects back to the view from atop Polychrome Mountain.
The view from the Mt Healy Trail terminus
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Mount Healy
Overlooking the park entrance and points outside the boundaries of the park, Mount Healy is an approachable mountain. The trail leading to this spot right from the visitor center is a great hike. Views of Mount McKinley are possible, and there's always a chance of seeing some wildlife along the way.
You can "hike" down from this perch to the Triple Lakes Trail, and myriad other trails are hidden in the forest lower on the slopes of Mt. Healy.
Fall colors emerging along the Triple Lakes Trail
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Triple Lakes Trail
At roughly nine miles, one-way, the Triple Lakes Trail is great for those seeking a long hike. The southeast trailhead is near the eponymous lakes, while the northern end of the trail offers views of Mt. Healy and the Riley Creek drainage.
You can jump atop Mount Healy from this pano.
Fall colors along the Meadow View Trail
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Meadow View Trail
Low on the slopes of Mt. Healy, the Meadow View Trail offers some lovely views for hikers in the entrance-area of the park.
The Alaska Railroad crosses high above Hines Creek
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McKinley Station Trail
Full of recent human history, the McKinley Station Trail travels through the area first used as "park headquarters" by Harry Karstens, the park's first superintendent.
A self-guided tour of the McKinley Station Trail fleshes out the colorful stories of pioneers and park rangers that called this spot home in the early 1900s.
Winter scenery near the Savage River
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Mountain Vista
Located near the Savage River, the Mountain Vista area offers views of Healy Ridge and other mountain scenery.
Toklat Valley
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Toklat Valley and Divide Mountain
At mile 53 the east and west branches of the Toklat River come together in this stunning valley. In the summer months Toklat is a great place to find wildflowers or spot signs of wildlife.
Kahiltna Glacier
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Upper Kahiltna Glacier
Get a scientist's-eye view of a spot in the middle of the upper Kahiltna Glacier. You can also bounce farther up the glacier to Base Camp.
Lower Kahiltna Glacier and Denali
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Lower Kahiltna Glacier
Get a scientist's-eye view of a spot in the middle of the lower Kahiltna Glacier. You can also bounce farther down the glacier to the terminus.
Terminus of the Kahiltna Glacier
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Kahiltna Glacier Terminus
This vantage point is part of Denali's repeat photography glacier monitoring program. Repeat photography is an easy way to monitor the health of a glacier. You can also bounce farther up the glacier to an index monitoring site.
Igloo Creek - Fall
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Igloo Creek
This photo was taken on October 7, 2011 just after a snow storm rolled through Igloo Creek Canyon.
Wonder Lake, in winter
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Wonder Lake in winter
Stand on the frozen surface of Wonder Lake and enjoy views of Mount McKinley and the Alaska Range to the south, and rolling hills to the west, north and east.
McKinley, seen from Turtle Hill
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Turtle Hill in Winter
Located south of Wonder Lake, Turtle Hill offers a similarly spectacular view of Mount McKinley.
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