Parking
No private parking at the trailhead; reach Eielson Visitor Center by an authorized park shuttle or camper bus, subject to park access and bus schedules.
Overview
About Eielson Alpine Trail
Why go
- Big Alaska Range views from an alpine ridge in a short 1.6-mile round trip
- Maintained switchbacks make a clear route toward the ridge
- Restrooms and a shuttle stop at Eielson Visitor Center simplify the start
Heads up
- Nearly 1,000 feet of gain in less than a mile makes the climb strenuous
- Fully exposed to wind, sun, and rapid weather changes above treeline
- Access depends on authorized bus service and a long ride along Denali Park Road
The Eielson Alpine Trail is a short, strenuous climb from Eielson Visitor Center toward Thorofare Ridge. It gains about 1,000 feet in less than a mile and ends on open alpine tundra with broad Alaska Range views on clear days. This listing covers the maintained out-and-back to the mapped ridge viewpoint: 0.8 mile each way, 1.6 miles round trip. Longer off-trail travel along Thorofare Ridge or toward Mount Thoro is not included.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Denali map
Full mapElevation3,760–4,738 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
1 active Denali alert
- InfoDenali Park Road open to Mile 30; heavy equipmentThe Denali Park Road is open to Mile 30 (Teklanika River); stay alert for heavy equipment traveling on the road. Check current park conditions before traveling.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Denali Tour Guide
Your drive to Eielson Alpine Trail, narrated.
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 tourRecorded for this trailhead
Eielson Visitor CenterListen
“You'll soon be at the Eielson Visitor Center, which for my money has the best views from anywhere on the Park Road. On a clear day, the sight of Denali and the Alaska Range from here is just spectacular.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Denali Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Sentinels of the Tundra: Arctic Ground Squirrels
- Nature's Rock Gardens: Patterned Ground
- Heat Traps and Shivering Bees
- Stony Hill Overlook
- 113 audio storiesacross Denali’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Wolf, Canada Lynx, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 17 trails, 60 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Eielson Alpine Trail
What to expectThe route is a steep series of switchbacks on native soil and rock, with sections up to roughly…
The route is a steep series of switchbacks on native soil and rock, with sections up to roughly a 25% grade, little shade, and full exposure above treeline. Allow about 2 hours at a leisurely pace for the 1.6-mile round trip; wind, sun, and fast-changing weather can make the climb feel harder. Wildlife including caribou, Dall sheep, and grizzly bears may be present; keep your distance and practice bear safety.
LogisticsThe primary access is Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 66 of the Denali Park Road.
The primary access is Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 66 of the Denali Park Road. There is no private-vehicle trailhead parking; visitors ordinarily reach the area by an authorized park shuttle or camper bus, subject to park access and bus schedules. The visitor center has restrooms and a bus/shuttle stop. Bring food, water, layers, and rain gear.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Denali
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.
