Denali State Park

Denali State Park is located in southcentral Alaska adjacent to Denali National Park and Preserve. Like the National Park, Denali State Park is a wonderful wilderness playground and a great place to get views of Mt. McKinley. The Parks Highway runs though it, making Denali State Park more accessible than Denali National Park, which has driving restrictions in place.

Setting

Denali State Park is BIG to the tune of more than 325,000 acres. It shares a stair-step boundary on the north and west with Denali National Park and is bounded on the southeast by the Susitna River. Kesugi and Curry Ridges run parallel to the Susitna and provide wonderful ridge-walk hiking. The Chulitna River and its broad valley make up the center of the park.

McKinley Views

On the southwest end of the park are the Peters Hills, which may be reached by taking the Petersville Road out of Trapper Creek at about mile 115 of the Parks Highway. Be advised: only the first nine miles are paved and the road becomes very rough beyond the Forks Roadhouse at mile 18.7. You should have a vehicle with decent clearance, preferably four wheel drive, and don't expect to make good time. You can park just before the road heads into a narrow gorge and climb the ridge to the west. At the top you'll be rewarded with views of the Great One, weather permitting.

Further up the Parks Highway (mile 135.2) is the Denali South Viewpoint. This is the easiest place to get a good view of Mt. McKinley, especially for people with limited mobility. The viewpoint is on a bluff high atop the Chulitna River and gives a sweeping panorama of the river as well as the Alaska Range. We always plan to pull over at Denali South any time we drive the Parks Highway.