The park was established as Mount McKinley National Park on February 26, 1917. The original park was designated a wilderness area and incorporated into Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. Today, the park hosts more than 300,000 visitors who enjoy wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking.
Denali habitat is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, tundra at middle elevations, and glaciers, rock, and snow at the highest elevations. Wildlife viewing is a popular summertime recreational activity at Denali, with grizzly bears, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, and occasionally wolves being seen. Wintertime recreation includes dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling where allowed.