Often found on pre- or post-cruise tours to Alaska's interior, Denali National Park and Preserve encompasses 6-million acres of untamed wilderness, including Denali (also known as Mount McKinley) -- the highest mountain in North America.
Made up of a combination of forest, tundra and glaciers, the park is bisected by a lone 92-mile stretch of road. It's closed to traffic (except authorized vehicles) after the first 15 miles.
The park is an excellent place to spot animals you likely won't see at home, including moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears, as well as several types of notable birds like ptarmigans and bald eagles. Despite the menagerie of animals, no hunting is allowed in the preserve, with the exception of special permission granted to those whose ancestors used the land for that purpose before it became a national park.
Why go to Denali National Park and Preserve?
The only way to get inside this 6-million-acre park is designated busing, included in many cruisetours
Wildlife-viewing depends on weather, seasonality, time of day and luck; nothing is guaranteed
While not a cruise port, Denali is the highlight of many cruisers' land-and-sea vacations in Alaska
