Denali National Park and Preserve scavenger hunt for kids

What makes Denali National Park and Preserve worth investigating

Denali National Park and Preserve is a national park & preserve in Alaska. Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,310' Mount McKinley. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages.

Originally established as Mount McKinley National Park in 1917, the park was renamed Denali in 1980 when the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act tripled its size to over 6 million acres.

Denali (Mount McKinley) — tallest peak in North America at 20,310 feet. Only one road (92-mile Park Road) crosses the entire park. Home to the Big Five of Denali: grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, Dall sheep, and moose. Visible aurora borealis displays from late August through April. The best seasons to visit are summer. Summer is typically cool and wet, with highs typically in the upper 50s to low 60s, and lows in the 40s. On occasion, summer highs reach the low 80s, though this is rare.

10 things to look for

Use this as an observation menu, not a race. Choose fewer items for younger children, pause for questions and sketches, and leave every natural and historic object where it belongs.

• Dall Sheep Wildlife
  White mountain sheep on rocky slopes above treeline Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Grizzly Bear Wildlife
  Large brown bear foraging on tundra hillsides Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Caribou Wildlife
  Antlered deer migrating across open tundra Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Polychrome Pass Geology
  Colorful volcanic rock layers of red, orange, and purple along the Park Road
• Wonder Lake Nature
  Calm lake reflecting Denali on clear days
• Savage River Canyon Geology
  Rocky canyon carved by the Savage River near the park entrance
• Sled Dog Kennel History
  Working sled dog team that patrols the park in winter — the only national park with sled dogs
• Arctic Ground Squirrel Wildlife
  Small burrowing rodent that hibernates for 8 months underground Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Fireweed Nature
  Bright pink wildflower that blooms across tundra meadows in summer
• Toklat River Braids Geology
  Wide glacial river with braided channels carrying gray silt from Denali glaciers

Checklist items describe things a visitor might observe. A sighting is never guaranteed. Do not approach wildlife, cross barriers, leave approved areas, or handle protected objects to complete an item.

Adapt the hunt by age

Turn “I want to go there” into a family plan

1. The child finds Denali National Park and Preserve in the HomeSchool.You park catalog and taps the heart.
2. The parent receives an in-app alert that the child wants to visit.
3. Denali National Park and Preserve appears in the child’s Travel Wish List inside the parent area.
4. The family chooses timing together, checks current conditions, and prints or opens this hunt.
5. After exploring, the child can save visit memories and progress in the park passport.

Respect the place

An adult should supervise the entire visit. Observe wildlife from the required distance, stay on allowed routes, follow posted and ranger instructions, pack out waste, and do not collect plants, rocks, cultural objects, or animals. HomeSchool.You is an independent learning platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service or any state or local park agency.

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