Denali State Park Alaska
A small state park with a big boast: The very best views of Denali’s south face.
Denali State Park Alaska
A small state park with a big boast: The very best views of Denali’s south face.
Denali State Park Alaska
A small state park with a big boast: The very best views of Denali’s south face.
Denali State Park
With the Talkeetna Mountains to the east and the Alaska Range to the west, Denali State Park feels like an approachable oasis amongst daunting peaks and glaciers. Its recreational opportunities are many, from hiking Kesugi Ridge to kayaking Byers Lake. Within the park are three campgrounds, three public use cabins, five trailheads, and four viewpoints.
The park boasts incredible views of Denali. Denali Viewpoint South at mile 135.2 of the Parks Highway offers one of the best roadside views of the impressive 20,320-foot Denali. This pullout includes interpretive signs naming the visible peaks, ample parking, picnic tables, and restrooms. On clear days, the mountain can be seen from a break in the trees on Byers Lake as well as from hiking trails above the tree line.
Lodging near Denali State Park is available at the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, a resort-style property tucked into the forest about 15 miles south of Byers Lake. State park tours, which include guided hikes and kayaking trips, leave from the lodge.
Trailheads for backcountry exploration in Denali State Park include Lower and Upper Troublesome Creek, Little Coal Creek, and Ermine Hill. These trailheads offer access to the Kesugi Ridge, which along with the Curry Ridge dominate the eastern portion of Denali State Park.
The park is home to a Veterans Memorial located at milepost 147.2. Erected in 1983, it includes five 20-foot concrete panels honoring each branch of military service. The memorial is also the site of a staffed visitor contact station for Denali State Park. A large parking area, picnic sites, and restrooms are available.
Denali State Park covers 325,240 acres north of Anchorage and south of Denali National Park. It is located between mileposts 131 and 169 of the Parks Highway, the main road connecting Anchorage and Fairbanks. The highway runs roughly through the middle of Denali State Park. The park itself shares its western border with Denali National Park. For more information on the park, please visit Alaska's Denali State Park website.
