Denali

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