Denali National Park and Preserve, in Alaska, is a vast wilderness of tundra, taiga and glacial rivers, with North America’s highest peak as its backdrop. It is best known for large mammals: grizzly bears forage for berries and fish along the rivers, moose graze in wetlands, caribou migrate across the park and Dall sheep live on the steep, rocky slopes. Wolves and lynx hunt here too.
Arctic ground squirrels, red foxes and snowshoe hares are common, golden eagles and gyrfalcons soar overhead, and ptarmigan blend into the alpine terrain. The rivers and lakes hold salmon and Arctic grayling. Keep reading to see featured photos of Denali’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Denali National Park and Preserve Wildlife Photographs
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Wildlife Photography Tips
Wildlife photography in the US National Parks offers a unique and enriching experience, as these protected areas are havens for diverse species and pristine natural landscapes. Capturing wildlife in such settings requires preparation and respect for both the environment and its inhabitants. Photographers should familiarize themselves with the specific animals and ecosystems of the park they are visiting, as each park hosts different species and behaviors. Early mornings and late afternoons, known as the golden hours, provide the best light and increased wildlife activity. Different seasons also offer different wildlife viewing opportunities. Patience and stillness are key, as the best moments often come to those who wait quietly.
If wildlife does present itself, always make sure to maintain a safe distance. Using a telephoto lens allows for close-up shots without intruding on the animals’ space. If you already own or want to own a professional grade mirrored camera like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR, we recommend using a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens zoom lens for wildlife photography. If you have or are interested in a newer mirrorless model like the Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera, we recommend using a Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Black for long distance shots.
Not quite ready to invest in traditional professional-grade camera equipment but want to enhance the quality of your cell phone photographs? Consider using a Moment Tele 58mm Mobile Lens II for improved reach, and use a Moment camera case with a lens mount to attach it to your phone. Since cell phones generally cannot provide the same reach as a dedicated telephoto camera lens, never compensate by moving dangerously close to wildlife. As with any visit to a national park, it’s important to follow park regulations, practice “Leave No Trace” principles, and prioritize safety while photographing wildlife.
Want to take your wildlife photos further? Featured photographer Vella Torvik shares her field-tested advice on gear, camera settings, light, composition and safely approaching wildlife in our Wildlife Photography 101: Insider Tips From the Field masterclass.
Denali Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Denali National Park and Preserve and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- Peterson Field Guide To Mammals Of North America: Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Western North America, Fifth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
- Peterson Field Guide To Western Reptiles & Amphibians, Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species (Wildlife and Nature Identification)
Please note, by making purchases through our affiliate links, you are supporting our mission to celebrate and showcase our National Parks and the photographers who frequent them. As an Amazon Associate, National Park Photographer earns from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Denali National Park and Preserve Species List
The wildlife at Denali National Park and Preserve is beautiful and diverse. There are a variety of mammals, birds, amphibians and fish to view. Check out all the incredible species this park has to offer! Click on the links below to see the different animal species that inhabit Denali National Park and Preserve:
Denali National Park and Preserve Mammals
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| American Beaver (Castor canadensis) | Unknown |
| American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) | Unknown |
| American Marten (Martes americana) | Common |
| American Mink (Neogale vison) | Unknown |
| Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) | Unknown |
| Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) | Unknown |
| Brown Lemming (Lemmus trimucronatus) | Unknown |
| Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) | Unknown |
| Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) | Unknown |
| Collared Pika (Ochotona collaris) | Unknown |
| Coyote (Canis latrans) | Occasional |
| Dall’s Sheep (Ovis dalli) | Unknown |
| Ermine (Mustela erminea) | Unknown |
| Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) | Common |
| Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata) | Unknown |
| Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) | Unknown |
| Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus) | Unknown |
| Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) | Unknown |
| Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) | Unknown |
| Montane Shrew (Sorex monticolus) | Unknown |
| Moose (Alces alces) | Common |
| Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) | Unknown |
| Northern Bog Lemming (Synaptomys borealis) | Unknown |
| Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) | Unknown |
| Northern Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomys rutilus) | Unknown |
| Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) | Unknown |
| Pygmy Shrew (Sorex hoyi) | Unknown |
| Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) | Unknown |
| Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) | Unknown |
| Singing Vole (Microtus miurus) | Unknown |
| Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) | Unknown |
| Taiga Vole (Microtus xanthognathus) | Unknown |
| Tiny Shrew (Sorex yukonicus) | Unknown |
| Tundra Shrew (Sorex tundrensis) | Unknown |
| Tundra Vole (Microtus oeconomus) | Unknown |
| Water Shrew (Sorex palustris) | Unknown |
| Wolverine (Gulo gulo) | Unknown |
Denali National Park and Preserve Birds
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | Uncommon |
| American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) | Rare |
| American Golden-plover (Pluvialis dominica) | Common |
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | Common |
| American Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) | Abundant |
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Unknown |
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Abundant |
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | Uncommon |
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) | Abundant |
| American Wigeon (Anas americana) | Common |
| Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) | Uncommon |
| Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) | Common |
| Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | Uncommon |
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Rare |
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | Common |
| Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | Common |
| Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) | Uncommon |
| Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) | Uncommon |
| Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) | Unknown |
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | Rare |
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | Common |
| Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) | Uncommon |
| Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) | Rare |
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | Uncommon |
| Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus philadelphia) | Uncommon |
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | Uncommon |
| Brant (Branta bernicla) | Unknown |
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | Unknown |
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | Unknown |
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | Common |
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | Rare |
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | Rare |
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Common |
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | Uncommon |
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | Uncommon |
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | Rare |
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | Common |
| Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) | Common |
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | Abundant |
| Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) | Rare |
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | Unknown |
| Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) | Unknown |
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | Unknown |
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | Common |
| Gadwall (Anas strepera) | Occasional |
| Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) | Rare |
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Common |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | Occasional |
| Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) | Uncommon |
| Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | Abundant |
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | Common |
| Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | Unknown |
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | Occasional |
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | Common |
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | Common |
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | Uncommon |
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | Rare |
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | Common |
| Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) | Uncommon |
| Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) | Rare |
| Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) | Unknown |
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | Common |
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | Uncommon |
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | Rare |
| Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni) | Uncommon |
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | Common |
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | Common |
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | Abundant |
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | Common |
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | Common |
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | Common |
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | Common |
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | Uncommon |
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | Common |
| Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus) | Common |
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | Common |
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | Common |
| Mew Gull (Larus canus) | Abundant |
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Common |
| Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) | Uncommon |
| Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) | Common |
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | Common |
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | Common |
| Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) | Uncommon |
| Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor) | Uncommon |
| Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) | Uncommon |
| Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) | Common |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | Common |
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) | Common |
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Occasional |
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | Rare |
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | Rare |
| Peregrin Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Rare |
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | Uncommon |
| Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) | Uncommon |
| Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) | Unknown |
| Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) | Unknown |
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | Uncommon |
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Uncommon |
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | Common |
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | Rare |
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | Uncommon |
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | Occasional |
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | Rare |
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | Uncommon |
| Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) | Common |
| Rosy Finch (Leucosticte arctous) | Unknown |
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | Rare |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) | Common |
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | Unknown |
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | Occasional |
| Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) | Occasional |
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | Rare |
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | Unknown |
| Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) | Uncommon |
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | Common |
| Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | Common |
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | Common |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | Rare |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | Uncommon |
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | Common |
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | Common |
| Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) | Rare |
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiaca) | Occasional |
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | Uncommon |
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) | Uncommon |
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | Common |
| Surfbird (Aphriza virgata) | Uncommon |
| Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | Occasional |
| Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | Common |
| Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) | Rare |
| Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | Uncommon |
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | Uncommon |
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | Rare |
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | Uncommon |
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | Uncommon |
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | Common |
| Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) | Common |
| Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana) | Uncommon |
| Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) | Occasional |
| Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) | Unknown |
| Western Wood-pewee (Contopus sordidulus) | Uncommon |
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | Uncommon |
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | Abundant |
| White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) | Uncommon |
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | Uncommon |
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) | Common |
| Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) | Abundant |
| Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | Common |
| Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) | Common |
| Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) | Uncommon |
| Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) | Unknown |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) | Abundant |
Denali National Park and Preserve Reptiles
NPSpecies currently lists no reptiles as present in this park.
Denali National Park and Preserve Amphibians
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) | Unknown |
Denali National Park and Preserve Fish
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Alaska Blackfish (Dallia pectoralis) | Common |
| Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) | Unknown |
| Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) | Common |
| Arctic Lamprey (Lethenteron camtschaticum) | Unknown |
| Burbot (Lota lota) | Unknown |
| Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) | Unknown |
| Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) | Unknown |
| Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) | Unknown |
| Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) | Unknown |
| Humpback Whitefish (Coregonus pidschian) | Unknown |
| Inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys) | Occasional |
| Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) | Unknown |
| Least Cisco (Coregonus sardinella) | Unknown |
| Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus) | Unknown |
| Northern Pike (Esox lucius) | Unknown |
| Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) | Unknown |
| Round Whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum) | Unknown |
| Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) | Common |
| Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) | Unknown |
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Denali National Park and Preserve. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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