Bill Sherwonit - Denali National Park: The Complete Visitors Guide to the Mountain, Wildlife, and Year-Round Outdoor Activities

Seen from the park road near the Eielson Visitor Center, massive Denali rises above the McKinley River and foothills newly dusted by a September snowfall.

Early morning sunlight illuminates the autumn. The fall color change may begin in early August and usually peaks in early September.

Backcountry skiers roped together cross the Alaska Ranges Ruth Glacier while exploring the Don Sheldon Amphitheater, a huge glacial bowl surrounded by soaring granitic spires, towers, and massive rock faces.

As they prepare for winters hibernation, Denali National Parks grizzly bears may consume hundreds of thousands of berries in a day.

Found along the shores of Denali State Parks Byers Lake, this pile of scat is rich in blueberries and high-bush cranberries.

Lichens brighten a boulder on Denali National Parks tundra.

The author looks north toward Denali from the Peters Hills, Denali State Park.

This view looking west from Denali State Parks Kesugi Ridge shows Byers Lake surrounded by forested lowlands; in the distance are the Chulitna River and foothills of the Alaska Range.

A bull moose and two cows keep company in a grassy meadow below the northern foothills of the Alaska Range during the annual fall rut.

A willow ptarmigan sits on a willow branch along Denali Park Road. Alaskas state bird gets its name from its close association with willow thickets.

Following several days of downpours, sunlight breaks through thick clouds and a rainbow arcs across an alpine basin in the Alaska Ranges northern foothills.

Seen from Polychrome Pass, a September storm drops snow on Alaska Range foothills, heralding winters approach.

A September snowfall drapes foothills of the Alaska Range, along Denali Park Road. Snow may fall even in summer, particularly at higher elevations.

Climbers follow the West Buttress on their way to high camp, located at 17,200 feet along the most popular route to the summit of North Americas highest peak.

Dall sheep rams stand atop outcrops of rock in Denali National Parks Outer Range. The wild white sheep may be seen in the foothills along the park road.

A signpost, rock cairn, and backpacker register mark Tarn Point, along Denali State Parks Kesugi Ridge Trail.

A backpacker carrying a heavy load travels across tundra in early summer, while exploring Denali National Parks Outer Range.

A hiker stands atop Sable Mountain in Denali National Parks Outer Range, with the East Fork of the Toklat River and Alaska Range foothills in the background.

The hoary marmot is sometimes known as the whistler, because of characteristic high-pitched alarm call.

Despite their delicate beauty, alpine its wildflowers must be hardy to survive in high mountain meadows.

A nearly full moon hangs over Divide Mountain. Located near mile 52 of the park road, Divide Mountain separates branches of the Toklat River.

Rising from the forest floor near Troublesome Creek in Denali State Park, these ferns are gradually unfurling, fed by increased hours of daylight.

Denali is partially hidden by clouds in this evening view from Reflection Pond, near Wonder Lake.

A monkshood blooms in an alpine meadow. Found in both moist woods and meadows, monkshood flowers from late June into August.