![]() NPS Photo / Tim Rains There are two kinds of wilderness inside the National Park system. The original two million acres of Denali are designated wilderness. Designated wilderness has the highest level of protection offered by the Federal Government. Nearly all of the other four million acres added by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) are eligible wilderness. According to National Park Service Wilderness Management Policies, eligible wilderness is managed as designated until it is either officially designated, or removed from consideration, both of which require an Act of Congress. Thus almost 6 million acres of Denali National Park and Preserve are protected as wilderness. Features of Wilderness![]() NaturalWilderness maintains ecological systems that are substantially free from the effects of modern civilization. ![]() UntrammeledWilderness is essentially unhindered by the intentional actions of modern human control or manipulation. ![]() UndevelopedWilderness is primarily without permanent improvement or modern human occupation. ![]() Solitude or Primitive RecreationWilderness provides outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined types of recreation. ![]() Other Features of ValueWilderness may also contain other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value. ![]() NPS Photo / Emily Mesner NaturalDenali’s glaciers and rivers shape the landscape and a variety of plants and animals thrive in their natural habitats. While we attempt to keep this land "free from the effects of modern civilization," humans still use subsistence practices that have sustained them for generations, which positively contribute to the wilderness character. Despite our best efforts to protect the wilderness, climate change and pollution pose a threat to the natural systems at work. Life in Denali may change as glaciers melt, fire patterns change, and the climate shifts.“Visitors to the Denali Wilderness have the opportunity to witness these plants, animals and birds in their natural habitats and in their natural states of abundance or rarity, depending on seasons and life cycles. The ready viewability of wildlife in Denali is an important result of ecological systems free from the effects of modern civilization.” Read the full Wilderness Character Narrative ![]() NPS Photo / Jess Toubman UntrammeledDenali strives to keep this wilderness untrammeled, or free from intentional human intervention. Park managers generally do not interfere in the natural systems that make Denali unique. Fires burn across the landscape and rivers freely carve away valleys in the land. Predator-prey relationships adapt as they have for thousands of years. The untamed systems in Denali do face some challenges as time goes on. Calls for active management and research projects must be considered with this quality in mind.“More threats to the untrammeled quality of the Denali Wilderness include poaching of wildlife – a rare occurrence – and the proliferation of research requests that call for the capturing and collaring of wildlife. Scientific value is an integral purpose of the area and the knowledge gained from these studies can help improve wilderness stewardship, but research must be balanced for its effects to the other qualities of wilderness character.” ![]() NPS Photo / Tim Rains UndevelopedWilderness is defined as an area "with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable." Most of Denali's wilderness lacks installations and structures, with the majority of development occurring along the road corridor outside the wilderness boundary. However, the impacts of development beyond the edge of wilderness do affect the wilderness character. Managers must consider this as the park evolves and reacts to new demands.“Installations such as telecommunications equipment, weather stations, research stations and radio collars exist on Denali’s landscape with increased frequency. Managers are faced with the challenge of balancing their desire to answer scientific questions about the Denali Wilderness with their mandate of preserving its wilderness character and its wildness. Increasing technological dependence and growing visitation could drive requests for more development and infrastructure within the Denali Wilderness.” ![]() NPS Photo / Jacob W. Frank Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined RecreationAdventurers from around the world come to Denali for the variety of opportunities the wilderness offers. Climbing peaks of the Alaska Range, enjoying day hikes, and running sled dogs are just a few examples of ways to experience the wild land of Denali. Visitors can experience the benefits and inspiration derived from self-reliance, self-discovery, and physical and mental challenge. We refer to our Backcountry Management Plan to protect wilderness character while providing opportunities for recreation.Interested in embarking on your own trip into the Wilderness of Denali? Learn more about backpacking in the park. Interested in other ways to experience Denali's wilderness? Learn about other activities offered by the park and park partners. “Denali’s wilderness is a year-round testing ground for human endurance, adaptability and spirit. As it was for 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century explorers, pioneers, miners and entrepreneurs, this landscape can be a cold, callous backdrop for personal challenge and discovery.” ![]() NPS Photo / Charlotte Bodak Other Features of ValueDenali’s wilderness has other notable features of value. Scientific, historical, and cultural resources offer a window into the past. We search for prints left by dinosaurs that roamed the land. We piece together the lives of hunter-gatherers that crossed into North America 13,000 years ago. We remember the mining and settling stories of the past few centuries. The park carries on historical practices to honor and preserve the culture, traditions, and skills that have thrived in Denali.“The Denali Wilderness preserves many features of scientific, paleontological, historical and cultural value. Here, the land contains memories. Imprints of time are recorded on the surface as stories and beneath the surface in layers of sediment and rock, layers of ice, and layers of cultural history.” Learn More About Wilderness
Wilderness StoriesSource: Data Store Collection 3743. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store. |
Last updated: March 25, 2022