DenaliState Park - Alaska |
Denali State Park is located on the south eastern border of Denali National Park and Preserve formerly known as Mt. McKinley National Park. Alaska’s Highway 3, George Parks Highway, connects Fairbanks and Anchorage and runs directly through Denali State Park. This highway provides access to many different hiking routes and look out points which allow visitors to see Denali and many different parts of the natural environment only found in Alaska. One of these points include Kesugi Ridge in the Peters Hills area. A very popular trail which is known for its incredible views of the Alaska Range and tundra around it. Mount Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation 20,310 feet above sea level. To the east, the state park borders the Susitna River, which feeds into the Gompertz Channel near Anchorage, then into the ocean.
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location
maps
Official Visitor Map of Denali National Park and Preserve (NP & PRES) in Alaska. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
brochures
Brochure and Map of Denali State Park (SP) in Alaska. Published by Alaska State Parks.
Guide to the K’esugi Ridge Trail System North at Denali State Park (SP) in Alaska. Published by Alaska State Parks.
Guide to the K’esugi Ridge Trail System South at Denali State Park (SP) in Alaska. Published by Alaska State Parks.
Guide to the Upper Troublesome Creek Trail at Denali State Park (SP) in Alaska. Published by Alaska State Parks.
Denali SP
https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/denalisp.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denali_State_Park
Denali State Park is located on the south eastern border of Denali National Park and Preserve formerly known as Mt. McKinley National Park. Alaska’s Highway 3, George Parks Highway, connects Fairbanks and Anchorage and runs directly through Denali State Park. This highway provides access to many different hiking routes and look out points which allow visitors to see Denali and many different parts of the natural environment only found in Alaska. One of these points include Kesugi Ridge in the Peters Hills area. A very popular trail which is known for its incredible views of the Alaska Range and tundra around it. Mount Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation 20,310 feet above sea level. To the east, the state park borders the Susitna River, which feeds into the Gompertz Channel near Anchorage, then into the ocean.
Welcome to
Area History
Once a bear and caribou hunting ground
of the Native Dena’ina people, this slice of
wilderness is blessed with striking views of a
distant slab of granitic pluton that is the tallest
mountain in North America. Established in
1970, Denali State Park encompasses 325,240
acres of land between the Talkeetna Mountains
and the Alaska Range.
Although Denali itself peaks more than 24
miles away from the boundary of the park,
Denali State Park’s unique vantage allows
you to see the mountain’s dominating bulk
in relation to the surrounding landscape,and
offers commanding views of the Alaska Range.
Denali is known to the Dena’ina as Dghelay
Ka’a, and to the Aleuts as Tralieka. The
mountain’s unsurpassed height on Alaska’s
landscape marks it with special significance to
many Native cultures.
For More Information
Alaska State Parks
Matanuska-Susitna/Copper Basin
Area Office
7278 E. Bogard Road
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907)745-3975
Alaska Veterans Memorial
Denali State Park Visitors Center
and Gift Shop
Mile 147.1 George Parks Highway
Denali
State Park
www.alaskastateparks.org
Denali or McKinley?
Golden Eagle
Photo courtesy of M. Herbert
www.captivelightuk.com
Welcome
With the Talkeetna Mountains to the east and the
Alaska Range to the west, Denali State Park lays claim
to some of the most magnificent views in Alaska.
The park is roughly divided in half by the George
Parks Highway National Scenic Byway, allowing for
breathtaking vistas along the road and easy access
to the backcountry. From kayaking the white waters
of the Chulitna River to cross-country skiing and
snowmachining, Denali State Park offers a wide range
of recreational opportunities for all.
Denali, “The High One,” looms large and proud on the
horizon throughout the park. At 20,320 feet, the peak
dominates the towering Alaska Range and is the highest
point in North America. Whether you want to spy Denali
through the clouds from a drive-in campsite, or hike an
alpine ridge in search of that perfect 360° view of Interior
Alaska, Denali State Park offers unmatched perspectives
of the mountain that serves as its namesake.
Until August 30, 2015, the official name for the peak,
according to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names,
was Mt. McKinley, in honor of William McKinley, the
25th president of the United States. The mountain’s
original name (and the one preferred by Alaskans) is
Denali, which translates from Koyukon as “The High
One.” Starting in 1975, the Alaska State Legislature
requested to change the name back to Denali, but it
was blocked by representatives from McKinley’s home
district in Ohio. After a 40-year procedural stalemate,
the mountain is officially known again as Denali.
K’esugi Ridge, in Dena’ina means “Ancient
One” and was used as caribou hunting
grounds. The K’esugi Ken Campground is
named after the “low ridge south of K’esugi”
that we know today as Curry Ridge.
Moose love
Photo courtesy of Larry Anderson
Red fox
Photo courtesy of Phil Pringle
Denali View from Veterans Memorial
Background photo courtesy of Anne Aleshire
Winter camping in Denali State Park
Photo courtesy of Jason Nielsen
Wolf with lunch
Photo courtesy of Seth Schuartz
Background photo courtesy of Beverly Demientieff
Bull moose
Alaska State Parks
Public-Use Cabins
Highlights
Scenic Viewpoints and Camping
Perhaps the best roadside view of the Alaska
Range is from the Denali View South wayside in
Denali State Park. Interpretive panels familiarize
visitors with the peaks of the Alaska Range, and
nine drive-in campsites offer the chance to wait
out the weather for that perfectly clear day. Denali
View North offers 20 drive-in camping spots and
equally gorgeous views. The Lower Troublesome
Creek Campground also provides 20 campsites
and is located near the Chulitna River.
The Byers Lake Campground, located at the foot
of K’esugi Ridge, has 73 campsites and is a great
place to relax and take in spectacular views of the
lake. The Lakeshore Campground is across the
water, about two miles from the loop trailhead,
and offers six secluded campsites.
Denali State Park has three public-use cabins
around Byers Lake. All cabins are equipped with a
wood stove, wood bunks, a picnic table, a fire ring,
and outhouses. Cabin 3 is wired for electricity, but
you’ll have to pack in a generator. To reserve a
cabin, go to www.alaskastateparks.org.
Hunting and Trapping
Alaska Veterans Memorial
The park is open to hunting and trapping. Hunters
should consult with the Alaska Department of Fish
and Game regarding applicable hunting rules and
regulations. Weapons may not be discharged within
one-half mile of a developed facility and the trail
around Byers Lake, or within a quarter mile of the
Parks Highway between mile 132 and 170.
This multi-war memorial honors the Army,
Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard
veterans of Alaska. Each branch is represented
by a plaque that shares a short history of
their contributions to Alaska. The small visitor
information center
Guide to
K’esugi Ridge Trail System North
Little Coal Creek Trail:
K’esugi Ridge Trail
(Little Coal Creek Tr. to Ermine Hill
Tr. jct.)
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: 10.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 900 ft. (north to
south)
K'esugi
K'esugiRidge
RidgeTrail
Trail System
SystemNorth
North
(feet)
Elevation(feet)
Elevation
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: 3.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 1750 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
in Denali State Park
4000
4000
3500
3500
3000
3000
2500
2500
2000
2000
1500
1500
1000
1000
500
500
Little Coal Creek/
K’esugi Ridge Jct.
K’esugi Ridge/
Ermine Hill Jct.
00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10
10 11
11 12
12 13
13 14
14 15
15 16
16 17
17 18
18
Distance
Distance(miles)
(miles)
Difficulty: Moderate
The Trails:
Safety and Considerations:
Ermine Hill Trail:
This trail system offers popular multi-day backpacking trips in
south-central Alaska. Hiking is through rolling alpine and subalpine terrain, with outstanding views of Denali and numerous
small glacially scoured lakes. Lower elevations are forested.
Weather on K’esugi Ridge can change fast. Be prepared with
proper clothing and navigation tools in case low clouds move
in. Some trails may experience seasonal closures due to high
bear concentrations. Please respect closures and always be
bear aware while traveling Denali’s trails.
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: 3.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1300 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Connecting the Trails:
17.8 mile traverse from Little Coal
Creek Trailhead to Ermine Hill Trailhead. 28.9 mile traverse Little Coal
Creek Trailhead to Byers Lake
Campground. 37 mile traverse from
Little Coal Creek Trailhead to Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead.
Planning Your Route:
Most people hike from north to south because of less total elevation gain. Hikers can start from the Little Coal Creek Trailhead
and finish at the Ermine Hill Trailhead, Byers Lake Campground,
or Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead (See Guide to K’esugi
Ridge Trail System South & Guide to Upper Troublesome Creek
Trail for more information). These are all one-way trips, so pickup or drop-off arrangements must be made prior to departure.
Day-hikes to timberline are also popular.
Park Rules:
Open fires are prohibited, please use designated fire rings or
a camp stove. Pets must be on a leash while in the trailhead
parking lot, and under voice control on trails or in the backcountry. For more information, please contact the Mat-Su
Area Parks Office at (907) 745-3975, or visit the following web
address:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/denali1.htm
Guide to
K’esugi Ridge Trail System South
in Denali State Park
Ermine Hill Trail:
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: 3.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1300 feet
Byers Lake/
Cascade Jct.
Difficulty: Moderate
K’esugi Ridge Trail:
(Ermine Hill Trail jct. to Cascade Trail jct.)
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: 11.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 2000 feet (north to south)
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Cascade Trail:
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1800 feet from Byers Lake
Difficulty: Difficult
Byers Lake Trail:
Allowable Uses: Hiking, Biking. Skiing
Distance: 5.3 miles
Elevation Gain: Less than 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Connecting the Trails:
18.5 mile traverse from Ermine Hill Trailhead to
Byers Lake Campground. 26.6 mile traverse
from Ermine Hill Trailhead to Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead.
K’esugi Ridge/
Ermine Hill Jct.
K’esugi Ridge/
Cascade Jct.
Special Features:
Safety and Considerations:
This trail system offers popular multi-day backpacking trips in
south-central Alaska. Hiking is through rolling alpine and subalpine terrain with outstanding views of Denali, and numerous
small glacially scoured lakes. Lower elevations are forested.
Weather on K’esugi Ridge can change fast. Be prepared with proper clothing and navigation tools in
case low clouds move in. Some trails may experience
seasonal closures due to high bear concentrations.
Please respect closures and always be bear aware
while traveling Denali’s trails.
Planning Your Route:
Most people hike from north to south because of less total
elevation gain. Hikers can start from the Little Coal Creek Trailhead or Ermine Hill Trailhead and finish at Byers Lake
Campground or Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead (See
Guide to K’esugi Ridge Trail System North & Guide to Upper
Troublesome Creek Trail for more information). These are all
one-way trips, so pick-up or drop-off arrangements must be
made prior to departure. Day-hikes to timberline and around
Byers Lake are also popular.
Park Rules:
Open fires are prohibited, please use designated fire
rings or a camp stove. Pets must be on a leash while
in the trailhead parking lot, and under voice control
on trails or in the backcountry. For more information,
please contact the Mat-Su Area Parks Office at (907)
745-3975, or visit the following web address:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/denali1.htm
Guide to
Upper Troublesome Creek Trail
in Denali State Park
Upper Troublesome Creek Trail:
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: 11.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 2300 feet (north to south)
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Cascade Trail:
Allowable Uses: Hiking
Distance: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1800 feet from Byers Lake
Difficulty: Difficult
Byers Lake Trail:
Allowable Uses: Hiking, Biking. Skiing
Distance: 5.3 miles
Elevation Gain: Less than 100 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Connecting the Trails:
15.3 mile traverse from Byers Lake Campground
to Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead.
26.6 mile traverse from Ermine Hill Trailhead to
Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead.
37 mile traverse from Little Coal Creek Trailhead
to Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead.
Special Features:
Safety and Considerations:
This trail system offers popular multi-day backpacking trips in
south-central Alaska. Hiking is through rolling alpine and subalpine terrain with outstanding views of Denali, and numerous
small glacially scoured lakes. Much of the southern end of the
Upper Troublesome Creek Trail is forested.
Weather on K’esugi Ridge can change fast. Be prepared with proper clothing and navigation tools in
case low clouds move in. Some trails may experience
seasonal closures due to high bear concentrations.
Please respect closures and always be bear aware
while traveling Denali’s trails.
Planning Your Route:
Most people hike from north to south because of less total
elevation gain. Hikers can start from the Little Coal Creek Trailhead, Ermine Hill Trailhead, or the Byers Lake Campground,
and finish at Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead (See Guide
to K’esugi Ridge Trail System North & Guide to K’esugi Ridge
Trail System South for more information). These are all oneway trips, so pick-up or drop-off arrangements must be made
prior to departure. Day trips to timberline and around Byers
Lake are also popular.
Park Rules:
Open fires are prohibited, please use designated fire
rings or a camp stove. Pets must be on a leash while
in the trailhead parking lot, and under voice control
on trails or in the backcountry. For more information, please contact the Mat-Su Area Parks Office
at (907) 745-3975, or visit the following web address:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks units/denali1.htm
Photo courtesy of Bill Berkhahn
Wood-Tikchik State Park
Photo courtesy of Wayne Biessel
Photo courtesy of Nicole Acevedo
Photo courtesy of Mary Kowalczyk
Background photo courtesy of Donna Olson
Independence Mine State Historical Park
Fort Rousseau State Historical Park
Totem Bight State Historical Park
Wildlife Viewing
Independence Mine State Historical Park
Photo courtesy of Wanda Scholze
Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park
Brown bear, Chugach State Park
Trails
Whale Watching
Photo courtesy of Dan Kehlenbach
Background photo, Wood-Tikchik State Park
Alaska State Parks boasts an unrivaled multiuse trail system. Trails range from paved, ADA
accessible paths to challenging mountain
scrambles. Explore the map inside or visit us
online at www.alaskastatetrails.org to view
interactive maps and download printable guides.
Photo courtesy of Justin Wholey
Crow Pass Trail, Chugach State Park
Swimming
Snowshoeing
Photo courtesy of Kyle Joly
Chena River State Recreation Area
Snowmachining
Skiing
Photo courtesy of Wayde Carroll
Petroglyph Beach State Historic Site
Wickersham State Historic Site
Photo courtesy of Donna Quante
Willow Creek State Recreation Area
Running
Photo courtesy of Kyle Joly
Wood-Tikchik State Park
Relaxing
Alaska State Parks offers
Shelter Island State Marine Park
more than 80 public-use
cabins for rent year-round. These coveted cabins are
booked months in advance, so make your reservation
today! For more information visit
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/cabins/index.htm.
Photo courtesy of Andre Kaeppele
Kachemak Bay State Park
Pack Rafting
Historic preservation is embedded in the Alaska
State Parks’ mission statement. Our uniquely
Alaskan State Historical Parks (SHP) and State
Historic Sites (SHS) represent several eras of
Alaska’s history and are as diverse as the places
in which they reside: tour a hard-rock gold
mining camp at Independence Mine SHP in
Palmer; explore a WW II Army artillery base at
Fort Abercrombie SHP in Kodiak; or view Tlingit
and Haida designs on the totem poles and the
clan house at Totem Bight SHP in Ketchikan.
Rupe Andrews Cabin,
Picnicking
Public-Use Cabins
Eklutna Lakeside Trail, Chugach State Park
Photography
Big Delta State
Historical Park
Johnson Lake State Recreation Area
Birch Lake State Recreation Site
Paragliding
Pitch a tent in the backcountry or slide your RV
into a drive-in slip. With over 2,500 campsites and
limitless backcountry settings, there is no shortage
of camping options in Alaska State Parks. Explore the
map inside for a list of developed campgrounds.
Orienteering
History & Culture
Camping
For More Information:
Visit us online at
Alaska is big, wild, and scenic,
www.alaskastateparks.org
with a state park system to match. Encompassing
Area Offices
over 3.3 million acres of rugged, unspoiled terrain,
Chugach State Park
Potter Section House
18620 Seward Hwy.
Anchorage, AK 99516
(907) 345-5014
the Alaska State Park System provides endless
recreational opportunities year-round, and is a
priceless resource for residents and visitors alike.
Northern
3700 Airport Way
Fairbanks, AK 99709
(907) 451-2695
Kenai/PWS
P.O. Box 1247
Soldotna, AK 99669
(907) 262-5581
Southeast
400 Willoughby Ave.
P.O. Box 111070
Juneau, AK 99811
(907) 465-2481
Kodiak District
1400 Abercrombie Dr.
Kodiak, AK 99615
(907) 486-6339
Wood-Tikchik State Park
P.O. Box 1822
Dillingham, AK 99576
(907) 842-2641
Mat-Su/Copper Basin
7278 E. Bogard Road
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 745-3975
DNR Public Information
Centers
Anchorage: (907) 269-8400
Fairbanks: (907) 451-2705
Welcome to
Alaska
State Parks
ATVing
Backpacking
Recreation
From high alpine tundra to
temperate rainforests, the
state’s diverse landscapes
are reflected in the parks,
historic sites, recreation
areas, trails, preserves, and
special management areas
that comprise the Alaska
State Park System—a
collection of 157 units
Wood-Tikchik State Park
Photo courtesy of Bill Berkhahn
ranging in size from the
half-acre Potter Section
House State Historic Site to the 1.6-million-acre
Wood-Tikchik State Park.
Beachcombing
Berry Picking
Biking
Bird Watching
Denali State Park
Photo courtesy of Erik Schlimmer
Camping
Canoeing
Recreational opportunities are equally varied:
hike through fields of lupine; pick blueberries
under the midnight sun; snowmachine in Denali
country; observe a pod of orcas from your sea
kayak; or fish the world-famous Kenai River.
Clamming
Alaska State Park units are an essential
component of the Alaskan lifestyle, with locals
participating in wilderness recreation at a rate
twice that of the national average. Alaskans
make up over two-thirds of the 5.4 million
annual visitors to our parks. Outdoors is “where
it’s at” in the last frontier, and with a square
mile of land for every resident, we have plenty
of room for you to find your Alaska!
Dog Mushing
Climbing
Exploring
Fishing
Hiking
Horseback Riding
The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation provides outdoor