You’d think we would have the height of a mountain figured out by now. I mean, we’ve sent people to the moon, yet we’re still debating a few feet here and there on our own soil. If you’re looking for the absolute king of the clouds, the answer is Denali.
It sits right in the heart of the Alaska Range. It’s huge. Honestly, "huge" doesn't even do it justice. We are talking about a summit that reaches 20,310 feet above sea level.
For a long time, people called it Mount McKinley. You probably remember that from school. But in 2015, the name officially flipped back to Denali, which is what the Koyukon Athabaskan people have called it for thousands of years. It basically translates to "The Tall One." Simple. Accurate.
But here is the thing: as of January 2025, there has been a bit of a federal tug-of-war. A new executive order actually moved to change the federal name back to Mount McKinley. So, depending on which map you’re looking at today—or who you’re talking to in a bar in Anchorage—you might hear both. Most Alaskans? They’re sticking with Denali.
What Is the Highest Peak in the United States Really Like?
Most people don't realize how much of a vertical "beast" this mountain is. If you measure from base to peak, Denali actually has a larger rise than Mount Everest. Everest sits on top of the Tibetan Plateau, which is already super high. Denali starts much closer to sea level and just... keeps going. It's about 18,000 feet of pure rock and ice sticking straight up into the atmosphere.
It’s cold. Like, dangerously cold. Because it's so far north (63 degrees latitude), the air pressure at the summit makes it feel even higher than it is. Climbers often say the "effective" altitude feels closer to 23,000 feet because the atmosphere is thinner at the poles.
You can't just stroll up this thing.
Only about half the people who try to summit actually make it. The weather is famously terrible. Storms can trap teams in their tents for a week straight. You’re hauling 100 pounds of gear on a sled and a backpack. It’s a 21-day suffer-fest.
If you aren't a pro climber, you can still see it. But—and this is a big "but"—the mountain is usually hidden in the clouds. There is a "30% Club" in Alaska. It’s an unofficial group for the lucky few who actually get a clear view of the peak during their trip. Most tourists just see a wall of grey.
The Competition: Who’s Under the King?
Alaska basically owns the top ten list. It’s not even fair. If you look at the tallest peaks in the country, the first ten are all in the 49th state.
- Denali (20,310 ft)
- Mount Saint Elias (18,008 ft) – This one sits right on the border of Alaska and Canada.
- Mount Foraker (17,400 ft) – Often called "Denali's Wife" by the locals.
It isn't until you hit number eleven that you finally leave Alaska. That’s where you find Mount Whitney in California. It stands at 14,505 feet.
Whitney is a different world. You can actually hike to the top of Whitney in a day if you’re in great shape and have a permit. You’ll be surrounded by Sierra Nevada granite and sunshine, not a frozen wasteland where your spit freezes before it hits the ground.
The Name Drama: Denali vs. McKinley
This is where things get "kinda" political. Back in 1896, a gold prospector named William Dickey was roaming around and decided to name the mountain after William McKinley, who was running for president at the time. McKinley had never been to Alaska. He never even saw the mountain.
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Dickey did it as a political "middle finger" to silver miners who supported a different currency standard.
Alaskans hated it. For decades, the state tried to change it back. Ohio (McKinley’s home state) blocked it every single time. It was a weird, 100-year-old grudge match. When it finally changed to Denali in 2015, it felt like a settled deal.
Then 2025 happened. The "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness" executive order brought "Mount McKinley" back to the federal books.
Is it confusing? Yeah. Does the mountain care? Probably not. It’s still 20,000 feet of ice regardless of what a piece of paper says in D.C.
Planning a Visit (The Realistic Way)
If you want to see the highest peak in the United States, you need to head to Denali National Park. But don't expect to drive your rental car to the base.
There is only one road in the park. It’s 92 miles long, and you can only drive the first 15 miles yourself. After that, you have to hop on a green transit bus or a tan tour bus.
- Check the road status. As of 2026, the Pretty Rocks Landslide is still a major factor. For years, the road was cut off at Mile 43 because the ground was literally sliding away. They’ve been working on a bridge to fix it, so check the NPS site before you book.
- Flyover tours. If you really want to see the peak, take a "flightseeing" tour from Talkeetna. It’s pricey, but it’s the only way to guarantee you’re above the clouds. Some pilots even land on the glaciers.
- The Sled Dogs. If the mountain is hidden (and it probably will be), go see the park’s sled dogs. It’s the only national park with a working kennel of huskies used for winter patrols.
Why the Height Keeps Changing
You might see 20,320 feet in an old textbook. Then 20,310 in a newer one.
In 2015, the USGS used GPS sensors and more advanced math to realize the mountain was actually 10 feet shorter than we thought. Technology gets better, and the mountains... well, they move. Alaska is a tectonic mess. The mountains are still being pushed up, but erosion and better measuring tools keep the numbers shifting.
Honestly, the best way to experience it isn't by looking at a number. It’s standing at the Eielson Visitor Center (if the road is open) and realizing that even the "small" hills in front of you are bigger than anything you’ve seen back home.
Your next steps for exploring the high country:
If you’re serious about seeing the peak, you should book a shuttle bus ticket at least six months in advance through the Denali National Park concessions website. For those who want the view without the 8-hour bus ride, look into a flightseeing tour departing from Talkeetna; they offer the best chance of actually seeing the summit above the cloud layer. Keep an eye on the official NPS "Current Conditions" page for the 2026 road opening dates, as the Pretty Rocks Bridge project is the only way to access the deeper sections of the park.