Discover the Boreal Forest: Identify Plants While Hiking in Denali

Denali is home to a beautiful variety of plant species, from tall aspen trees to short moss campion. With a diversity of habitat types that support water-loving to drought-tolerant plants, Denali is an excellent place to immerse yourself in the subarctic flora. The DenaliFlora App is the perfect companion for your botanical explorations. Botanize with the DenaliFlora App The DenaliFlora App is simple to use as a digital field guide for plant species found within the park. It offers information on 300 of Denali’s most common native plants, and includes a way to assist you in identifying plants with which you are not familiar. The app is available for free on both Android and iOS devices; search “DenaliFlora” in your device’s app store. Once downloaded, launch the app to access an interactive key and a searchable species list of plants in the park. The DenaliFlora App requires no data connection after download; it is a great resource anywhere in the park to learn about the wonderful plants of Denali. Suggested Areas to Explore Savage Alpine Trail This area offers a long season to see a variety of flowering herbaceous species. Containing primarily higher-elevation alpine habitat, flowers may be out as early as late May. Located at mile 15 on the park road, you will experience a different ecotype than is found on trails closer to the Denali Visitor Center. The trail is 4 miles long, with a time commitment of about 3 hours one way. Rock Creek Trail Explore an array of diverse understory vegetation, featuring a number of Denali’s most charismatic wildflowers. 2.4 miles long, with a time commitment of about 1.5 hours one way. Wildflowers typically bloom in June and early July. Horseshoe Lake Trail Stroll through forested, floodplain, and lakeside habitats on this trail, possibly encountering moose or beavers interacting with the flora. 3.2 miles long, with a time commitment of about two hours.