On the lighter side this week, I see President-elect Trump wants to rename Denali in Alaska as Mount McKinley. Until the recent news reports, I didn’t realize the federal name change happened a mere decade ago under the Obama administration.
During my first visit to the state back in 1997 for a fishing trip, I heard Alaskans exclusively refer to the mountain as Denali. I’ve been back twice more, but to this Lower 48er on my first trip, it was Mount McKinley. Several people up there immediately corrected me.
Home » Nature Page & Night Sky » Christmas week chuckles: A mountain-naming controversy as Trump says he’ll rename Denali in Alaska
Christmas week chuckles: A mountain-naming controversy as Trump says he’ll rename Denali in Alaska
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT
Read this article now.
Create a free Outdoor News account.
Create a free account below to get instant access to this article, thousands of Outdoor News stories, and our digital editions. Your 1-month trial starts the moment you sign up.
No credit card required
No credit card required
No credit card required
Subscriber? Login Here.
Share on Social
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Hand-Picked For You
The top modern ammo innovations every big-game hunter should know
Ron Spomer
November 4, 2026
Great Lakes Aquarium-raised sturgeon released into St. Louis River in Duluth
Justin Runberg
November 4, 2026
Fish and Wildlife advisory committee invites ideas
DNR Report
November 4, 2026
Minnesota Letters to the Editor: Is ethanol costing us ducks and wetlands?
Site Staff
November 4, 2026
Commentary: Citizen groups and managing fish and wildlife
Bob Zink
November 4, 2026
Meet the new Minnesota DNR Fisheries leader: Shannon Fisher
Justin Runberg
November 4, 2026
Related Articles

The top modern ammo innovations every big-game hunter should know
Ron Spomer
November 4, 2026
New cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor and 7 mm PRC are built to keep their speed at long range, not

Great Lakes Aquarium-raised sturgeon released into St. Louis River in Duluth
Justin Runberg
November 4, 2026
The Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth is now rearing lake sturgeon alongside the DNR and Fond du Lac Band, and

Meet the new Minnesota DNR Fisheries leader: Shannon Fisher
Justin Runberg
November 4, 2026
Fisher is a Minnesota native who grew up on a dairy farm in Plummer, where he often took trips to