Triple Lakes Trail

Triple Lakes Trail is one of the longer maintained trails in Denali's entrance area, traversing boreal forest and tundra ridges to reach three small lakes in a high-elevation basin before descending to a trailhead at the park road. The route climbs steadily through spruce forest and patches of tall alder before reaching the open tundra where the three lakes occupy a glacially carved basin at approximately 3,000 feet. The alpine environment above treeline offers expansive views across the interior Alaska landscape — rolling tundra hills, braided river valleys, and on clear days the distant white mass of the Alaska Range.

Brown bears are frequently encountered on this trail, which crosses terrain that supports a high density of grizzlies working the berry patches in late summer. Traveling in groups of four or more significantly reduces encounter risk, and bear spray should be carried and accessible. The trail requires a car shuttle or willing shuttle driver as it is point-to-point. The descent through tundra and into the boreal forest transitions through distinct ecological zones that highlight the compressed altitudinal zonation of the Alaskan interior. Bull moose with velvet antlers are commonly sighted in the lake basins in August before the rut strips the velvet in September.