McKinley Station Trail

If you're looking for that picturesque image of a train rolling though the Alaskan forest, this trail offers a great photo op.

Plan Around McKinley Station Trail

A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.

Add to tripView park guide

Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.

McKinley Station Trail Details

If you're looking for that picturesque image of a train rolling though the Alaskan forest, this trail offers a great photo op (if your timing is good). A gentle descent from the visitor center takes you past some pioneer artifacts, to Hines Creek and Riley Creek, and under the Alaska Railroad trestle. It's a 1.6-mile, one-hour hike each way, with an easy 100-foot elevation change as you descend one gently sloping hill (8.5% maximum grade). The gravel trail also connects to Riley Creek Campground and Riley Creek Mercantile and offers access to the Triple Lakes Trail.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

1.6 miles

Estimated time

1 hour

Region

N/A

Nearby Parks Around McKinley Station Trail

Compare nearby parks around McKinley Station Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

0.0 mi away

Denali

National Park · AK

232.6 mi away

Gates Of The Arctic

National Park & Preserve · AK

245.8 mi away

Kenai Fjords

National Park · AK

300.5 mi away

Lake Clark

National Park · AK

373.1 mi away

Kobuk Valley

National Park · AK

424.0 mi away

Katmai

National Park · AK

Nearby Points of Interest Around McKinley Station Trail

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond McKinley Station Trail while the map context is still fresh.

0.0 mi away

Spruce Forest Loop Trail

This easy, quarter-mile trail begins and ends at the Denali Visitor Center.

0.0 mi away

Denali National Park

One of the most stunning and expansive wilderness areas in the world.

0.1 mi away

Roadside Trail

This trail parallels Denali Park Road from the Denali Visitor Center to the park's emblematic sled-dog kennels and park headquarters.

0.1 mi away

Taiga Trail

This short (0.9-mile) and mostly flat trail cuts through the forests around the visitor center.

0.1 mi away

Alaska Railroad

Denali is one of a few U.S. national parks directly accessible by railroad.