What is the highest mountain peak in North America?

Towering over the Alaska Range, the continent's highest point reaches an impressive elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 meters). This colossal peak is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve. For nearly a century, from 1917 to 2015, this mountain was officially known to the United States government as Mt. McKinley, named after former president William McKinley. This naming remains a common feature in trivia and historical texts.

However, the mountain has a much older name. For generations, the native Koyukon people have called the peak Denali, which translates to "The Great (Review) One" or "The High One." Following a long campaign by the state of Alaska, the U.S. Department of the Interior officially restored the name Denali in 2015, recognizing its cultural and historical significance. Today, Denali is the universally recognized name for this majestic peak.

Beyond its sheer height, Denali is notable for its dramatic vertical relief. It rises about 18,000 feet from its base, a greater base-to-peak rise than Mount Everest. Its far northern latitude also presents extreme weather conditions, with hurricane-force winds and brutally cold temperatures that can drop below -75 degrees Fahrenheit. This combination makes it one of the most challenging and dangerous mountaineering expeditions in the world.