At 6.1 million acres, Denali is one of the country’s largest National Parks, with vast glaciers and boreal forests. There’s only one road through it. The 90+ mile rustic road runs from the Park’s headquarters at the entrance to the Kantishna Mining District, winding through tundra, forest and mountain passes, providing breathtaking views of Mt. Denali (on clear days), and charismatic megafauna including brown bears, Dall sheep, moose, wolves and caribou.

But intense visitor use and the effects of climate change are having an impact on the road’s condition and use. The new CLR provides short- and long-term options for future management and design of this iconic road.

An interdisciplinary team of cultural and natural resource experts and road engineers developed the recommendations for the treatment and care of the road, preserving its historic character and experience, while addressing contemporary issues such as climate change and dwindling maintenance and operations budgets. The project included archival research and multi-day backcountry field work as well as facilitating multiple workshops with a diverse group of park service staff and partners.