The original park was designated a wilderness area and incorporated into Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The Park was designated an international biosphere reserve in 1976. Today the park accommodates a wide variety of visitor use including wildlife viewing, mountaineering, and backpacking. It continues to provide a laboratory for research in the natural sciences. The primary visitation season runs from May 1 to September 15.
Visitation is lowest in winter months.
Summers are generally cool and damp with average high temperatures in the mid 60s. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures falling to -40 F and below. Layers of clothing, including good rain gear and hiking boots are recommended for summer. Specialized cold-weather gear is necessary for mountaineering and winter visits. In summer a variety of private bus and van services and the railroad operate daily from Anchorage and Fairbanks.