Valdez Creek Mine Viewpoint

Valdez Creek Mine Viewpoint is a roadside stop on the Denali Highway, where the Susitna River runs past the foothills of the Clearwater Mountains. Look east across the water to the reclaimed ground of the old Valdez Creek gold mine. It’s a worthwhile pause if you’re curious about Alaska’s mining history; the old diggings and settlement are gone, so this is a view of the mine landscape, not a preserved town to wander through. Look for the interpretive sign on the north side of the road. For a photo, keep some river in the foreground to show the setting between the highway and the reclaimed mine.

Peter Monahan’s party discovered gold here in 1903, setting off a small rush and an outpost settlement known as Denali. The mine produced about 495,000 troy ounces before closing in 1995. The historic site has since been reclaimed; small-scale mining continues farther up the drainage, separate from the old workings across the river.

The viewpoint is at milepost 85 from Paxson or milepost 50 from Cantwell. The Denali Highway is mostly gravel, and the BLM describes it as generally open from mid-May through October 1; snow can block travel outside that season. Services are spaced 20 to 55 miles apart and cell coverage is limited, so plan fuel and food around the full drive rather than this stop.