Little Coal Creek Trail

The Little Coal Creek Trail is among the finest alpine ridge hikes in all of Denali State Park, climbing rapidly from the Parks Highway to expansive tundra ridges that offer some of the most dramatic Denali views available from the state park side of the Alaska Range boundary. The trail gains elevation quickly and efficiently, transitioning from boreal forest to open tundra within the first mile and a half of hiking.

The upper ridgeline reached by the trail sits at the very boundary of Denali National Park and Preserve, providing a unique vantage point on the protected wilderness that extends northward to the great mountain's base. The views north on clear days encompass the full sweep of the Alaska Range, with Denali rising above all in a display of mountain scale that humbles any observer. The state park boundary here marks a transition from one of America's finest state parks to one of its most celebrated national parks, and the convergence is palpable.

The ridge habitat supports Dall sheep on the higher rocky sections, and caribou trails cross the upper tundra in patterns that reflect centuries of seasonal migration. Arctic ground squirrels are abundant throughout the open tundra and provide entertaining viewing at rest stops. Brown bears also inhabit this terrain, and bear awareness is important throughout the route. The compact distance combined with the significant elevation gain makes Little Coal Creek Trail a genuinely challenging climb, but the alpine ridge destination and incomparable Denali views make every step of effort worthwhile for those who complete the ascent.