You’ve probably heard it called Mount McKinley. Or maybe you’re strictly a Denali person. Honestly, the name you use says a lot about where you're from and who you’ve been talking to.
Rising 20,310 feet into the thin, freezing Alaskan air, the tallest peak in the United States is more than just a line on a map. It’s a massive, hulking piece of granite that literally creates its own weather. If you stand at the base, you aren't just looking at a mountain. You’re looking at a 18,000-foot vertical wall of rock and ice.
That’s huge.
Most people don’t realize that while Mount Everest is "higher" because it sits on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, Denali actually rises further from its own base. Everest’s base is already at 14,000 feet. Denali starts around 2,000. It’s a monster.
The Name War: McKinley vs. Denali
For decades, there was this weird, simmering tension between Alaska and Ohio. Why Ohio? Because William McKinley, the 25th President, was from there. In 1896, a gold prospector named William Dickey decided to name the mountain after McKinley to show support for the gold standard.
McKinley never visited Alaska. He had no connection to the peak. But the name stuck on federal maps for over a century.
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Locals hated it. To the Koyukon Athabaskan people, the mountain has always been Deenaalee, which basically translates to "The Tall One." Simple. Direct. Accurate.
In 2015, the Obama administration officially changed the federal name back to Denali. It felt like a settled deal. But then, in early 2025, the name was switched back to Mount McKinley via executive order. Depending on who you ask today, the "official" name is a moving target. In Alaska, though? You’ll rarely hear anyone call it McKinley. It’s Denali. Period.
Why This Mountain is Geologically "Extra"
Denali shouldn't be this tall. Most of the other peaks in the Alaska Range are around 10,000 to 12,000 feet. Denali nearly doubles that.
It’s all about a "space problem" in the Earth's crust. There’s a massive bend in the Denali Fault—a right-lateral strike-slip fault. As the Pacific Plate grinds northward, it hits this bend and has nowhere to go but up. It’s like a rug bunching up against a door.
- Granite Core: The mountain is mostly a big chunk of granite. Granite is tough. It resists the brutal Alaskan erosion better than the softer sedimentary rocks nearby.
- The Freeze: It’s so cold up there that liquid water rarely exists. Without the "freeze-thaw" cycle that breaks apart most mountains, Denali just keeps standing.
- Active Growth: It’s still growing. Geologists estimate it rises about half a millimeter every year.
Climbing the Tallest Peak in the United States
If you want to stand on the summit, don't expect a walk in the park. This isn't a "trek." It’s a full-blown expedition.
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About 1,000 people try to climb it every year. Only about half actually make it. The weather is the real killer. You can be pinned down in a tent for a week straight while 100 mph winds scream outside.
Most climbers take the West Buttress route. You fly into the Kahiltna Glacier from the tiny town of Talkeetna. From there, you're hauling a 50-pound backpack and pulling a 40-pound sled. You’re your own pack mule.
The "Valley of Death" is a real place on the lower glacier—a narrow corridor prone to massive avalanches. Then there’s the "Autobahn," a steep snow slope where a single slip can be fatal if you aren't roped in. It’s intense.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
Honestly, unless you’re an experienced mountaineer, you shouldn't be trying to summit this. But if you're visiting Denali National Park to just see it, here’s the reality:
- The 30% Rule: Only about 30% of visitors actually see the mountain. It’s so big it creates its own clouds. You can be 10 miles away and see nothing but grey mist.
- Talkeetna is Key: This town is the staging ground. It’s quirky, full of climbers, and has a cat for a mayor (historically, anyway). It's the best place to catch a flightseeing tour.
- The Bus is the Only Way: You can't drive your car deep into the park. You have to take the park buses. The further you go, the better your chances of seeing the peak.
Is it Actually the Tallest?
Technically, yes. In the U.S., nothing else comes close. Mount Whitney in California is the highest in the "Lower 48," but it's a pebble compared to Denali at 14,505 feet.
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But if we’re talking "tallest from base to peak," Denali even beats Everest.
There is one caveat: Mauna Kea in Hawaii. If you measure from the ocean floor, Mauna Kea is over 33,000 feet tall. But since most of it is underwater, Denali keeps the crown for the highest point of land in North America.
Actionable Tips for Your Denali Trip
If you're planning to see the tallest peak in the United States, don't just wing it.
- Book flightseeing early: These flights from Talkeetna fill up and are highly weather-dependent. Give yourself a 2-3 day window in the area.
- Visit in June: This is generally the best weather window for visibility and climbing. By August, the "rainy" season kicks in and the mountain hides.
- Stay in Healy or McKinley Village: These are the hubs just outside the park entrance.
- Check the NPS status: The Park Road has been under major construction due to landslides (the Pretty Rocks landslide). Make sure you know how far the buses are actually going before you buy a ticket.
Denali doesn't care about politics or names. It’s a massive, indifferent pile of rock that reminds you just how small humans really are. Whether you call it McKinley or Denali, just make sure you respect the scale of it. It’s a long way up.