This backcountry management plan was written in the 1970s when Denali National Park and Preserve was called Mount McKinley National Park and covered just the area currently known as Denali National Park Wilderness. It describes the physical nature of the park, use limits by park unit, and environmental effects from visitation. It contains discussion and historical statistics on visitation (such as passes per week, total passes, average length of stay, party size, campfires, and stock use).

"These design guidelines are intended to provide a framework for determining the appropriate architectural character of new and existing buildings and structures within Mount McKinley National Park Headquarters Historic District. These design guidelines go beyond basic universal principles of good design and focus on the 'character' qualities that are reflected in and contribute to the distinctiveness of Denali National Park and Preserve"--Page 9.

"The goal of the backcountry management plan is to describe how the National Park Service will act to provide future generations with a variety of opportunities to experience the Denali backcountry while protecting park wildlife and other park resources, wilderness resource values, and subsistence resources. This plan updates and expands the 1976 Backcountry Management Plan and amends the 1986 General Management Plan for Denali National Park and Preserve."--Purpose & need, p. 1.