Scenic pullout · Denali National Park
High bridge views over a dramatic 296-foot drop to the creek
Overview
Hurricane Gulch is a narrow, steep-walled canyon carved by Hurricane Creek, dramatically spanned by both the Alaska Railroad and the George Parks Highway. It’s a classic roadside-and-rail spectacle—quick to visit, unforgettable to look into.
This is where the Alaska Railroad crosses its longest and tallest bridge, soaring about 296 feet above Hurricane Creek. The adjacent highway bridge also ranks among Alaska’s tallest. Trains deliberately slow to a crawl so riders can soak in the view, and drivers have roadside pullouts for safe photo stops.
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Local know-how
Use designated highway pullouts; never stop on the bridge.
On the train, head to the open-air platform before the crossing; it slows to about 5 mph.
Bring your own water and snacks—there are no services here.
Weather changes fast; pack layers and secure hats and loose items.
A camera and binoculars help frame Hurricane Creek far below.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Denali Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Denali National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Denali audio tour“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Expect a straight-down look into a deep chasm with Hurricane Creek threading the bottom, framed by rugged hills. On crystal-clear days, you may catch Denali on the horizon—a special bonus if the weather cooperates.
There’s no developed infrastructure here: no restrooms, no food or water, no campground, and no official trailheads. Think of Hurricane Gulch as a quick scenic stop rather than a place to linger for hours. Parking is essentially the highway pullouts.
This is a very high crossing, and the vertical exposure can feel intense. Keep well clear of traffic, watch footing near guardrails, and secure loose items before stepping out to the viewpoint. Weather can flip from sunny to blustery quickly—layers help.
Specific wildlife sightings aren’t commonly reported right at the bridge. The surrounding region supports large mammals and raptors, but don’t count on close encounters here given the steep terrain and traffic.
The Alaska Railroad engineered a bold solution here, stringing an aerial tram during construction and completing a bridge that remains its tallest and longest. Geologically, the gulch reflects glacial carving followed by river erosion, which together sculpted the tight, dramatic walls you’re peering into.
Wildlife
715 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
74 sightingsWolfMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
49 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 9 PMSighting map
795 sightingsMooseMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
917 sightingsCaribouMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
405 sightingsDall's SheepMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Denali. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Parkwolf’s Denali ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
