Alaska, USA

Denali

Trip Guide & 3D Map

Alaska Range · Difficulty, season, and access — then explore the 3D terrain

Planning snapshot

Denali is a 20,310 ft summit in the Alaska Range (USA). PeakAtlas rates it expedition (High-altitude expedition); best season is May–Jul. Permit required. Typical staging is Talkeetna (60 mi). Limited lodging data is mapped from OpenStreetMap for this region — stage in the listed town rather than expecting a full hotel directory. Use the 3D map and trip checklist before you go.

Elevation
20,310 ft
Prominence
20,146 ft
Difficulty tier
Expedition
Best season
May–Jul
Permits
Permit required
Staging
Talkeetna · 60 mi
Mapped lodging
Limited / none mapped
Listed trails
2

As of 2026-07-31 · Figures come from the PeakAtlas3D catalog: surveyed elevations and prominence, curated difficulty tiers, best-season windows, permit notes, staging-town distances, trail lists, and OpenStreetMap lodging near each summit. Not live weather, quotas, or prices.

Compare: Denali vs Mt. Everest

How hard is Denali, and what do you need before you go?

Denali is listed as High-altitude expedition with a best season of May–Jul. Use the difficulty, permit, and staging details below before you commit to a date.

Difficulty
High-altitude expedition
Best season
May–Jul
Access / staging
Talkeetna, Alaska

How tall is Denali, and where is it?

Location
Alaska, USA
Elevation
20,310 ft
Prominence
20,146 ft
Mountain range
Alaska Range
Difficulty
High-altitude expedition

What makes Denali notable?

North America’s highest peak — cold, altitude, and multi-week expedition logistics.

Denali is a polar-altitude expedition, not a guided day climb. Most parties fly from Talkeetna to the Kahiltna and spend weeks on the West Buttress with sled hauling, cache management, and extreme cold. Register with Denali National Park, budget for weather delays, and treat acclimatization as the main objective.

After you check trip readiness for Denali, explore the summit on PeakAtlas3D’s interactive 3D topographic map in the Alaska Range, Alaska, USA.

Closest places

  • Talkeetna — Alaska via Parks Hwy

Notable trails & routes

  • West Buttress
  • Kahiltna Glacier