Sanctuary River

The Sanctuary River flows north from the Park Road toward the Outer Range.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Mile 22.8, Denali Park Road

Amenities

1 listed

Scenic View/Photo Spot

At Mile 22.8 of the Denali Park Road, the road crosses the Sanctuary River.

This location can be reached by bus in the summer or by private vehicle in the spring and fall. There is a small, tent-only campground nearby and the river is a popular packrafting destination.

Geology

Look north—do you find it odd that the Sanctuary River below you is cutting north through the Outer Range rather than flowing east out the wide valley through which the park road winds? Sanctuary, Savage (Mile 14.7), and Teklanika (Mile 30.2) rivers are all antecedent streams, meaning that they occupied their current, north-flowing courses prior to the uplift of the Outer Range. Antecedent streams (ante meaning ‘before’ and cedent meaning ‘occurrence’) cut their channels at the same rate or faster than uplifting land rises around them, making them appear to defy the physical law of water following the path of least resistance.