Located at Mountain Vista Rest Area, at Mile 13 of the Denali Park Road. Rather it is the beginning of a ridgeline that offers panoramic views. Mt. Healy Overlook Trail - Tripadvisor . Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 31 min to complete. How to Hike the Triple Lakes Trail in Denali National Park, How to Hike the Horseshoe Lake Trail | Denali National Park, How to Hike the Savage Alpine Trail in Denali National Park, What to Do in Denali while Denali Park Road is Closed (& Is It Worth It?). PRO HIKING TIP: Feeling wiped out? Bear bells, whistles, etc., are no substitute for your voice. The Savage River trailhead is located next to the Savage River. After your hike, you need only return to the road and wave down any passing transit bus. At the base of the mountain the rocky face of the overlook stands out and appears much higher and grander than it is, making the hike all the more enjoyable. If you liked this post, check out some of my other Alaska content: My first Alaska hike was on Mount Healy Overlook. You can turn around here. Countries; Regions; Cities; Parks; Trails; Points of Interest; Trail Features; Maps. Triple Lakes Trail At just over 9 miles, Triple Lakes is the longest trail in Denali, with a trailhead near the Denali Visitor Center and another on Highway 3. Having said that, I will say that this hike, which is rated as "hard" by Alltrails, is outstanding. A ranger is available 9 am to 4 pm daily (except on major holidays). MORE GREAT HIKES IN DENALI: There is a long list of hikes to do in Denali. There are two ways to hike in Denalion a marked trail, or off-trail in nearly any direction you choose. Learn more in our guides to Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords, and Katmai. Savage River Loop: 802 Reviews, Map - Alaska | AllTrails Mount Healy Overlook Trail: 1934 Reviews, Map - Alaska | AllTrails While uncommon, the first bus or two that you try to re-board may be full, so be prepared for the possibility of waiting an hour for a ride. Hiking There are two ways to hike in Denalion a marked trail, or off-trail in nearly any direction you choose. There are restrooms at the parking lots on either side of the Savage River. The trail then descends 250' steeply to the shore of the lake. Mountain Vista Picnic Area and the Savage River shuttle. Required fields are marked *. Healy Overlook Trail: Mt. The top of the ridge is mostly loose rock with jagged peaks and spires. Be. Rock Creek Trail - U.S. National Park Service This parking lot still had lots of spaces when we drove through it midday. Past the first bridge it's nature and great views. Near the park entrance, you can get a view of Denali, but it looks tiny since it is so far away. Mount Healy Overlook Trail Denali Visitor Center Park Road Denali National Park and Preserve, AK 99755 From the Denali Visitors Center, head down the Taiga Trail a short distance to the trailhead. The "Glitter Gulch" is rather mundane, especially up close. It is a steep incline to get up there, but theres plenty of spaces to stop and catch a breath (or take photos to cover you catching your breath). Distance: 4.9 miles Difficulty: Moderate Total Ascent: 1,800 feet Elevation at Denali Visitor Center: 1,800 feet Elevation at Mount Healy Overlook: 3,530 feet Time: 2.5 hours to 4 hours. Dry conditions but I imagine it can get quite wet and muddy here. The prepared (but not necessarily advanced) hiker will find terrain ranging from a gravel path through birch and spruce forest, to relatively steep but well-maintained switchbacks below and above the tree line. It is 2.5 miles one-way, with negligible elevation gain. Eventually becomes very steep, maxing at a 25% grade. Mountain Vista is located higher than Savage River, so you will have less ascent on the hiking trail. A ranger is available 9 am to 4 pm daily (except on major holidays). Map of the Savage Alpine Trail out-and-back from the Savage River parking lot. Be too Canyon Overlook. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Whether you join an adventurous, off-trail "Discovery Hike," or one of our trail walks or campground talks, let us be your guide to Denali. Mount Healy Overlook Trail | Alaska This rustic trail contours along the west bank of the Nenana River, offering views from high above the river. Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. When we did this hike, the shuttle only ran once every two hours. Read all of our articles about Alaska in our Alaska Travel Guide and the United States in our United States Travel Guide. Im trying to assess whether this hike would be a good fit for my nieces and nephews. The best Hiking in and near Healy, Alaska - The Outbound Drive to the Savage River parking lot in the morning, a little bit before the shuttle is due to arrive. A moose may charge if you are too close, especially a mother protecting a calf. The Savage Alpine Trail is only 15 miles further into the park but you get much better views of Denali and the surrounding peaks. The human voice is distinctive and tells wildlife that you are in the area, which helps minimize surprise encounters. Read our. Open all winter we were told. Highly recommend! Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Mount Healy Overlook Trail - NPS.gov Homepage (U.S. National Park Service) The Savage Alpine Trail is similar to Yosemite Falls. In those cases, you might need to add a bit more time (e.g., the Meadow View Trail is only a third of a mile long, but to get to either trailhead you must hike along one of a couple different trails from the visitor center). Take time to reflect as you climb this steep trail. Mt. Healy Overlook Trail - Tripadvisor From the overlook, retrace your steps back to the parking lot, if you are doing this hike out-and-back. However, with some planning, you can use the shuttle to your advantage. The Mount Healy Trail travels part-way up Mount Healy, a small mountain overlooking the entrance area of the park. This will be a 4-mile round trip hike with slightly less ascent than doing this hike from Savage River. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. The last stretch to the Mount Healy overlook was steep and exposed. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Bring at least one liter of water per person. Park at the Denali Visitor Center. Thanks for your hiking guides. The last 1.5 miles are even steeper. Mt. Healy Trail - Alaska | Gaia GPS It gets better as you go higher up the trail, but it doesnt get dramatically better (keep scrolling for more photos). 7-10 days is the most common. In the Savage area, you are about 15 miles closer, but due to mountains in the foreground, you cant see much of Denali from the road. The surface is a mix of compacted gravel, soils, rocks, roots, and sections of planks over marshy ground. They will try to trample a perceived threat. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Hiking shoes. Beyond the bridge, you can only drive Denali Park Road with a permit, or ride one of the buses. If you are hiking from the visitor center to the kennels for a sled dog demonstration, be sure to leave about two hours before the program is scheduled to begin.Highlights of the trail include ridge-line views of nearby Mount Healy. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. From Savage River, ride the shuttle to the Mountain Vista parking lot. From the overlook, you have 360 views of the front country of the park and, on a clear day, you will be able to see the top of Denali. Some people don't mind pushing through thick brush for part of a hike, while others will want to avoid anything more than shrubs and small bushes. Runs generally uphill from east to west, up to 15% grade; generally 30" wide. It was somewhere in the 20s (celsius) on that day, This sounds so fun Katie!! After hiking a further mile from the overlook, we reached Healy Ridge at 4217 feet above sea level. There is one trail in this area, called the McKinley River Bar Trail, leading from Wonder Lake Campground to the McKinley River. If the bear charges at you then use bear spray. If you have any questions about how to hike the Savage Alpine Trail, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. Mount Healy is a ridge system that runs east-west and reaches elevations of up to 6,000 feet. This one was tough but so worth it. Trails at Point Reyes National Seashore pass through a wide variety of amazing habitats. more information on current conditions print-friendly map and chart of trail info. A very doable trail - just take breaks when you need to. It also gains 1700 feet of elevation in only 2.5 miles. The trail is now called the Mount Healy Overlook Trail. Since you are on the backside of mountain, Denali will go out of view during this portion of the trail. Its a peaceful spot by the river and its only a 15-minute drive from the park. Healy Overlook in Denali National Park and Preserve. I was lucky during my time in Denali National Park that I found different people from the hostel to hike with each day. Healy Overlook trail which begins near the Visitor Center in Denali National Park. The Alaska Range stretches over 400 miles, in the shape of a crescent moon, across Central Alaska. The views were great even though we weren't able to see Denali due to cloud cover. It really is incredible. Located at mile 66. An increasingly steep hike out of the forest and into the alpine country, with potential views of Denali, if skies are clear. According to the Denali National Park website: Hiking the ridges of Mount Healy beyond the trail is permitted but can be dangerous. The list below is not exhaustive, but should help in planning your off-trail adventure. Get to the Savage River parking lot before 10 am so you can get a parking space. In areas of brushy or alpine tundra, you can sometimes see for miles. Read on to find out more. Hiking - NPS.gov Homepage (U.S. National Park Service) Generally 24" wide. We felt that the views were nice, but not as spectacular as you will find deeper into the park. Busy chasing you little one to make it worthwhile, My wife is very concerned about bears. Hike the Savage Alpine Trail point-to-point, ending back at the Savage River. Summit Mt. Quite impressive and wonderous. The Savage Alpine Trail is perfect for those who dont have the time, or were unable to get a bus reservation to head deeper into the park, to still get a great view of Denali. Hiking to the Mount Healy Overlook is one of the most popular hikes in Denali National Park & Preserve. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. Healy Overlook Trail 4 reviews Unclaimed Hiking Edit See all 11 photos Write a review Add photo Location & Hours Mile 15 Park Rd Denali, AK 99755 Get directions Edit business info Amenities and More Good For Kids Recommended Reviews Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Hike Mount Healy Overlook Trail, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska Thank you. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. ), http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/courtesy-shuttle-buses.htm. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! PRO TRAVEL TIP: You can get the shuttle schedule at the Denali Visitor Center (or check them online here). Intrepid hikers might choose to continue hiking the ridges of Mount Healy beyond where the trail ends. A popular trail that descends to, and travels entirely around, a lake. The trail is very easy to follow. to make it easier to hydrate while you are hiking and to store lots of water in a lightweight way. I wasn't so impressed with my explorations, though I did appreciate hanging out with Denali's sled dogs, lol, but in terms of enjoying the sights and surroundings.I was left feeling just okay about . Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails. This is the point where the Denali Park Road changes from a paved road to a dirt road. The trail now becomes rockier and you will notice that the trees become shorter, giving you more opportunities to look out at the valley and mountains. If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message and we'll call you back as soon as we finish with the previous caller. And you get to hike down the incredibly steep section near the Savage River parking lot, rather than hiking up it. View all hotels near Mt. A steep shortcut from Riley Creek Campground to the Canyon, the business district outside the park. From the overlook the trail continues down and goes to the Mountain Vista parking lot. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Located at mile 85. Note: You can also hike out-and-back from Mountain Vista. Mount Healy Overlook Trail Hard 4.8 (1916) Denali National Park Photos (2,004) Directions Print/PDF map Length 6.9 miElevation gain 2,483 ftRoute type Out & back Explore this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Denali National Park, Alaska. We hiked this trail on a crystal clear day and had excellent visibility. Its also important to know that currently there is a road closure on Denali Park Road, which will impact your experience. Healy Overlook Trail? Connects Savage River and the Mountain Vista day use areas. My maps; Create map; Print maps; Route Converter . At the base of the mountain the rocky face of the overlook stands out and appears much higher and grander than it is, making the hike all the more enjoyable. A hat, gloves, rain jacket and rain pants may be necessary. Its also important to know that currently there is a road closure on Denali Park Road, which will impact your experience. 1. This hike is best done when the skies are clear, so you can see Denali. Runs generally uphill from east to west, up to a 15% grade; generally 36" wide. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. It offers dramatic views over the Nenana Valley, and the surrounding mountains and ridges. I certainly wasnt brave enough to travel by myself at that age. There is small parking lot at Savage River that can hold roughly 20 cars. Before you go, get updates on trail conditions, either on the National Park Service website or at the Visitor Center. If you are in Denali for more than one day, maybe do this on your driving day or do it on the day you're not on the bus (as it can be done when cloudy too). The Savage Alpine Trail is a 4-mile point-to-point hike. Note that some trails are loops, and so a round-trip time and distance is offered. We decided to keep going, it was too beautiful to ignore. It's an excellent option for intermediate hikers looking for a challenging day hike. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.