Kesugi Ridge Trail is a through hike in

Denali State Park Denali State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough adjacent to the east side of Denali National Park and Preserve, along the George Parks Highway, Parks Highway. The park is undevelop ...

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...

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. While there are many hiking trails in Alaska, Kesugi Ridge offers views and unique geological features. When the weather is right, visitors can see

Denali Denali (; also known as Mount McKinley, its former official name) is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of above sea level. With a topographic prominence of and a topographic isolation of , Denali is the thir ...

, the tallest mountain in North America. The trail is long. There are four different access points along the

Parks Highway The George Parks Highway (numbered Interstate A-4 and signed Alaska Route 3), usually called simply the Parks Highway, runs 323 miles (520 km) from the Glenn Highway 35 miles (56 km) north of Anchorage to Fairbanks in the Alaska Interi ...

from mile 137.6 to mile 163.9. The trail starts below treeline of spruce trees, and works it way up to the alpine tundra, along the ridge. This hike can be considered difficult because of the elevation gain and necessary boulder hopping. The trail crosses hills and valleys. While the hike is not as popular as hikes such as

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, the trail is established. Along the entire trail are cairns marking the route. With the choice of four different starting/ending points hikers can tailor their hike. Visitors can check with the Park to ensure that the Troublesome Creek Trail-head is not closed for flooding, which is a common occurrence in the summer. The Ermine Hill Trail-head offers day hikers an option of experiencing a part of the Kesugi Ridge Trail without having to make it into an overnight hike. This route is a fairly easy 6.2 miles round trip and hikers can experience the rock formations and a small lake at the end of the trail. The Byers Lake Trail-head is located within Byers Lake Campground, which is a convenient ending or starting point. File:Cairn along Kesugi Ridge.jpg, Cairn along Kesugi Ridge File:Rock Formations along Kesugi Ridge.jpg, Rock Formations along Kesugi Ridge File:Camping along Kesugi Ridge.jpg, Camping along Kesugi Ridge

References

External links

Alaska State Trails Program

{{coord missing, Alaska Geography of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska Hiking trails in Alaska