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Denali National Park and Preserve
Walks and Hikes
Visitors on a Discovery Hike
NPS Photo
Visitors enjoy a ranger-led Discovery Hike.

                                         

  Guided Hikes

                                                                                 

A variety of Ranger led walks and hikes are offered throughout the park. Joining a ranger is an excellent way to learn more about Denali National Park.






                  Horseshoe Lake Hike -daily at 10AM
                                                                             
    Difficulty: Easy to moderately strenuous          
    Distance: 3 miles (2 hours roundtrip)
    Highlights: Spectacular views of Horseshoe Lake and
    Nenana River; wildlife sightings
    Elev. change: 250 feet
    Grade: 20% sections
    Width: 60 inches
    Surface: Native soils with roots, and rocks
                                                                                                               
   
    
    McKinley Station Hike - daily at 1 PM
   
    Difficulty: Easy
    Distance: 2.6 miles roundtrip (2 hours roundtrip)
    Highlights: Spruce forest; historic pioneer artifacts and
    remnants of habitation; creekside views of Hines Creek and
    Riley Creek; views of a railroad trestle 75' or so overhead,
    which spans Riley Creek on the Alaska Railroad route from
    Denali to Anchorage.
    Elev. change: approx. 200'
    Grade: 5% sections
    Width: 72 inches
    Surface: Well-compacted gravel
                                         
Discovery Hikes (starting 6/8/2008)                                         

Discovery Hikes are a great way for the adventurous and well-prepared to explore the heart of Denali. These ranger-led hikes go everywhere, so expect uneven terrain, small stream crossings, close encounters with dense vegetation, and unpredictable weather. To see if a discover hike is right for you please take a look at the description and gear information. For safety concerns, rangers may turn away unprepared hikers.

                                                                                 

Discovery Hikes are offered daily during the summer and are limited to 11 persons. These ranger-led adventures range from moderate (elevation gain less than 1000 feet) to strenuous (elevation gain more than 1000 feet).

                                                                                 

The locations of Discovery Hikes change each day, and schedules are posted weekly at the Visitor Centers and on the web. The Discovery Hike bus leaves and returns from the Wilderness Access Center at Mile 1. Meet the bus at 8:00 a.m. and don’t be late! Plan on hiking for 3-5 hours. Look at the location of the hike to determine, roughly, how long your bus ride will be.

                                                                                 

Cost: $ 29.25 for bus ticket (2008)

                                                                                 

Additional Information: You must sign up 1-2 days in advance for Discovery Hikes at the Denali Visitor Center. Then, you will be able to purchase your bus ticket at the Wilderness Access Center.

                             


  "Disco" Hike Descriptions
   

Image of bear silhouetted against sky  

Did You Know?
Did you know that Mount McKinley National Park was originally created to protect mammals, not because of the majestic mountain?

Last Updated: July 24, 2008 at 17:07 EST