Yes, but you are unlikely to see them. The park road travels through grizzly habitat and black bears cannot compete. An occasional black bear has been spotted in forested patches along the road.

No biological surveys have been conducted, but the grizzly population has been estimated at 200-300. We know even less about black bears.

Sure, and you don't even need a license. Problem is that there are very few fish. Glacial silt in the rivers discourages fish from inhabiting the river water along the park road. You may find an occasional clear stream with grayling such as Caribou Creek or Hogan Creek. There is also lake trout in Wonder Lake.

Alaska Public Lands Information Center has the park newsletter Denali Alpenglow, Denali map brochure, Healy Lion's Club lodging list, and an outfitter-guide commercial list. We also have various seasonal newsletters, handouts, and educational material on Denali. This information is also available on the park's web site at http://www.nps.gov/dena.

One of the Denali National Park concessionaires, Denali Park Resorts, manages the Denali Park Hotel, McKinley Chalets, and McKinley Village Lodge; for reservations call (907) 276-7234. Other lodging suggestions can be found in the Healy Lion's Club guide available at APLIC, or in the Alaska Planner available from the AK Division of Tourism at P.O. Box 110801, Juneau, AK 99811-0801.

When shuttle and tour buses are operating in the Park, no private vehicles are allowed beyond Savage River (approximately 15 miles in), except those with a Teklanika campground permit. Early and late season, vehicles are allowed to designated points; often 29 miles to the Teklanika gate. There is also a Fall Road Lottery, winners are allowed to drive the road for one of four designated days following the end of the shuttle bus and tour bus season.

People can travel in the park by foot, dogsled, bus, airplane, and boat. There is a no-car rule, but it has five basic exceptions: People staying at Teklanika Campground are allowed to drive in at the beginning of their stay and out at the end of it but cannot use their cars while at the campground and may not drive further than the campground. Professional photographers are given special permits to practice their trade.

Headquarters gets an average of 80 inches a year, but it can vary from as little as 13 inches to as much as 174 inches.

No sport hunting is allowed inside either the wilderness area or the new park boundary. Sport hunting is allowed in the Preserve, but that area is not accessible by bus. Subsistence hunting for individuals possessing subsistence permits is allowed inside the new park, but not inside the wilderness area.

Closures exist to protect both people and wildlife. Areas with a high risk of bear danger - around a kill, for instance - are closed. Denning or nesting sites are also protected along with any other resource where managers feel it is important for animals and vegetation to be undisturbed.

There are approximately 141 summer employees in Denali. In winter, there are 100 permanent employees plus a handful of temporary staff.

Only an occasional one passing overhead. Bald eagles are fish eaters and the park has virtually no fish.

Yes, but you might prefer other places. Fishing isn't great because the fish can't tolerate the conditions of most rivers inside the park...too much glacial silt. There are a few clear mountain streams where arctic grayling may be caught. Lake trout may be found in Wonder Lake. No license is required in the original Park. A state license is needed for the 1980 park additions and the Denali National Preserve.

The wolves in Denali are commonly called gray wolves. The scientific name is Canis lupis. This is the same animal seen in the upper peninsula of Michigan or Minnesota. However, in those areas the commonly used name is timber wolf. The only other species of wolf in the U.S. is the red wolf found in southeast states.

It is best to check with the individual area, but in general pets are allowed in National Parks on roadways and in campgrounds ONLY and must be leashed or physically restrained at all times. They are usually prohibited on buses and trails or in the backcountry. Pets are not recommended in preserves or park additions. Pets must not be left unattended.

All of the campsites at Riley Creek, Savage, Teklanika, and Wonder Lake may be reserved in advance by calling (800) 622- 7275 (in Anchorage (907) 272-7275), or by fax: 907-264-4684 up to the day before travel.

When Alaskans refer to McKinley, they are referring to Mt. McKinley located in Denali National Park; otherwise known as Mt. McKinley National Park. Denali is an Athabascan word meaning “The High One”. The Athabascan tribe is from the northern Interior part of Alaska near Fairbanks.

It is open for buses from Memorial Day weekend through about the second week in September (variable). Usually there is a short period during which private vehicles are allowed to drive the road in the third week of September. This privilege is granted by lottery. Inquiry at the VC for details or refer to the Alpenglow.

No. Denali National Park is an intact ecosystem. Natural balances are allowed to reign unaltered by people. In the park, we prefer to call animals "wildlife" rather than game.

You can make reservations for shuttle bus trips into the park and four of the campgrounds by calling (800) 622- 7275 (outside of Anchorage), or (907) 272-7275 (Anchorage and out- of-country). Phone reservations begin mid February. Fax, (907) 264-4684, and mail reservations start the beginning of December and must be received at least 2 days prior to the reservation date. A new and convenient feature is the web reservation system found at http://www.reservedenali.com.

Buses, trains, ferries, and planes are sources of public transportation which help people to travel the vast stretches of undeveloped land between population centers in Alaska.Alaska Public Lands Information Centerscan provide information or brochures on trains, ferries and buses, and outfitter-guide lists for many areas. A wide variety of outfitter-guide and other commercial services are available. Lists are available from Anchorage Convention & Visitor Bureau and Division of Tourism.

Back to the Park Service mission: preservation a and access. Professional photographers allow thousands of people to experience the park even if they are never able to visit. They also provide the park with free publicity. Professional photographers also donate slides to the park slide file.

No. It is open as far as Teklanika until the park gets its first snow, but then it is closed at Headquarters.

The park does have some poaching problems. Most poaching occurs just inside the park boundaries and can involve either aerial or ground-based hunters. There are two to three know occurrences each year. Poaching activity tends to concentrate along the south boundary of the park. No. In Alaska, the National Park Service has no authority to regulate its own airspace.

Actually, you can see the McKinley massif from numerous places in Anchorage: Glen Alps overview and high points throughout town. On the George Parks Highway, views of Mt. McKinley begin at about the 100 mile point. One of the best views is on the spur road to Talkeetna. From Trapper Creek north, turn-outs provide excellent views of the mountain.

Denali National Park is known for its abundance of land animals such as brown bears, caribou, moose, wolf, arctic fox, dall sheep and arctic ground squirrel.

The entrance of Denali National Park is at Milepost 237.3 on the George Parks Highway #3. The driving distance from Anchorage is 240 miles, and the usual driving time is approximately 5 hours. The distance from Fairbanks is 120 miles, and the trip takes approximately 2? hours. You will also want to allow time for photo stops, lunch, and construction delays that can occur throughout the summer.

Black bears are sometimes seen in the park but they are very rare considering the park is named for them.

Black bear “attacks” on humans are both defensive and offensive. Defensive attacks are fairly common, especially in parks, campgrounds, and similar situations where humans and black bears are brought into close contact and bears are habituated or conditioned to humans and human foods. Injuries, typically minor scratches, occur when people crowd, pet, or hand-feed bears and intrude on the animal’s personal space.