Nature, not man, reigns supreme in Alaska. Wonderfully rugged and impossibly majestic, the state's wild landscape dwarfs even the most ambitious man-made attempts at civilization. Nowhere is this more evident than in Denali, Alaska's tremendously popular crown jewel of a national park.

Originally named Mount McKinley National Park in 1917, to honor President William McKinley, the park was renamed Denali in 1980. In the language of the nomadic Athabaskan Indians who reside throughout this region, Denali means "the high one," a reference to towering Mount McKinley, which soars 20,320 feet above the pristine landscape. Over the years, Denali has been expanded several times until reaching its present size of six million acres.

A Land of Immense Beauty
While a sub-arctic wilderness, Denali still supports more than 650 species of plants, many flowering in the tundra meadows during the summer months. Radiant fireweed, dwarf rhododendron and blue forget-me-nots (Alaska's state flower) are among the plants that bloom at higher elevations, adding dramatic splashes of color to the mountain slopes. Below the tundra, the land is known as a taiga, a Russian word referring to the coniferous green forests of aspen, paper birch and larch trees that blanket the valleys and rivers.

Animal Attraction
Still, as staggeringly beautiful as the land is, most visitors come to Denali in hopes of seeing the rich diversity of animals that inhabit the park. Typically, the best viewing times are in the early morning and late evening, when the wildlife tends to search for food. During the height of summer, Denali is blessed with up to 21 hours of daylight, increasing the chances of spotting animals.

The larger ones include moose, caribou, and grizzly bears, are usually found near salmon streams in mid-summer. Herds of sure-footed Dall sheep, known for their curling horns, can often be seen happily munching on grass in the meadows, or peering down from rocky slopes. Summer is also an excellent time to spot their lambs, which are born in late May or early June.

Other, smaller mammals include foxes, wolverines, lynxes, and snowshoe hares. The birdlife is even more varied and ranges from raptors such as golden eagles and owl hawks to more common snow buntings and magpies.

The Denali Backcountry
Regent guests have the opportunity to deeply explore the hinterlands of Denali before or after their Alaska cruise. As a prologue of sorts, a cultural tour of Anchorage and its Alaska Native Heritage Center makes the adventure even more memorable. But it's the park's natural wonders that take center stage.

The flight to Denali affords an unrivaled view of Mount McKinley, providing that the weather is clear. Adding even more drama, the unspoiled Alaskan Range and massive, centuries-old glaciers can be seen in the distance. Within the park, guests might pan for gold like the old-time prospectors, mountain bike to serene Wonder Lake, or hike through phenomenal Kantishna Hills, a former mining area. The 95-mile drive out of Denali allows for excellent wildlife viewing.

Another highlight in the shadow of Denali, is a private visit with four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser at his Happy Trails homestead. Additionally, a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in the Portage Valley offers the chance to see injured wildlife, from bison to game birds, being rehabilitated.

A Different Side of Denali
As a shorter, alternate way to experience Denali, Regent guests may arrive via hospitable Fairbanks, and see Alaska's "Golden Heart City" from a unique perspective – cruising its Chena River in a sternwheeler. Then, it's on to the river town of Nenana, home to the Ice Classic, a bizarre annual lottery in which the winner must guess the time that the town's Tanana River melts enough to raise the Nenana Tripod out of the ice.

Once in Denali, it's all about the wildlife, as a full day is spent touring the park from the comfort of a motor coach. More spectacular sights await afterwards, during a train ride through the Alaskan wilderness and a scenic drive along the coast between the Chugach Mountains and the crystalline waters of Turnagain Arm.