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Member Hike
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| Hike Name:
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Denali National Park - Zone 31 And 32 |
| Country:
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United States |
| State / Region:
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Alaska |
| Nearby Town:
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Healy |
| Rating:
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| Directions:
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(Denali National Park – Visitor’s Center) - The Visitor’s Center where we planned our hike is about 240 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska. We drove and followed the George Parks Highway (US 3) northbound to the entrance to the park. Turn left onto the Denali Park Road and follow signs to the visitor center at mile 0.7 on the Denali Park Road. The Alaska Railroad, 800-544-0552, also offers train transportation to this area from Anchorage.
The National Park Service does not allow private vehicles to drive the entire length of the Denali Park Road, so you will need to stop at the Visitor’s Center to schedule a ride on the park bus. (You can also get your backcountry permit here.)
We hopped on the bus at the Riley Creek Parking Area which is located just inside Denali National Park. You can leave your car here overnight in a designated lot for backcountry hikers. It’s about a three hour ride to the Toklat River area since the bus moves slowly and makes frequent stops to pick up and drop off other backpackers.
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| Total Hike Distance:
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25.00
miles |
| Hike Difficulty:
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Extremely Difficult |
| Permit Required:
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Yes |
| Hike Starts:
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Polychrome Rest Area |
| Hike Ends:
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Toklat River |
| Trails Used:
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Bushwacking, There are no trails in Denali National Park. |
| Hike Type:
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One-Way, Shuttle Hike |
| Back Country Campsites:
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Yes |
| Back Country Water Sources:
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Streams |
| Management:
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National Park Service |
| Contact Information:
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Denali National Park
P.O. Box 9
Denali National Park, AK 99755
(907) 683-2294
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| Best Season:
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Summer |
| Users:
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Hikers |
| Hike Summary:
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The National Park Service limits the number of backcountry permits, so you are nearly assured of a true wilderness experience. There is a large variety of wildlife in Denali, and you are likely to see moose, caribou, dall sheep, and even grizzly bear from both the Park bus and the open tundra if you are hiking the backcountry. The route we chose through Zones 31 and 32 was a brutal one. We crossed one canyon, two mountain ranges and forded the Toklat Rivers frequently on the last day of the hike. The scenery however, was spectacular, and we saw more wildlife on this trip than I have ever seen in over twenty years of backpacking. If you are up to the challenge, and in great physical shape, consider this hike.
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| Road Conditions:
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Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads, Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads |
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