The George Parks Highway south from Denali National park won't disappoint you. You will have some wonderful scenic views of the Alaska Range and Mount McKinley. You will also have more freedom outside the park to pick the exact time when you want to be at a particular spot for photography. You will be still photographing views of Denali national Park--you just won't be within the official boundaries.

Note: The "Mile" markers are given for distance north from Anchorage, the route you are likely to travel if you are visiting Denali from points south and the direction they are cited in most other guides. Distances are also given south from the entrance to Denali National Park so you will have an idea of how far you have to travel for excursions from Denali.

Denali Park Entrance to the Denali Highway
   At Mile 234.1, three miles south of the park entrance, is a pullover with good views of Mount Fellows to the east and Pyramid Peak to the southeast. This is an excellent location for catching the last rays of the sun on these mountains. Six miles south you cross the boundary out of Denali National Park.
   Nineteen miles south of the park (Mile 218.6) is a turnout west of the highway with a good view of the Nenana River. Two miles farther south (Mile 216.3) is another turnout to the west where you have a good view of the Panorama Mountains to the east. This is another good sunset destination.
   After traveling 27 miles south you will reach the town of Cantwell and the intersection of the Denali Highway. The Denali Highway is covered in more detail below.

Denali Highway to Denali State Park
   At Mile 183, 54 miles south, the road follows the Chulitna River to the west and a paved turnout on the west side of the road is a good place to stop for views of the mountains of the Alaska Range to the northwest. Fro the next 25-30 miles blueberries color the landscape in September. The road climbs six miles farther to a turnout on the west with more views of the Alaska Range. Another three miles brings you to a rest area (Mile 174). From the south end of Hurricane Gulch Bridge there is an unmarked quarter-mile trail that takes you to a good view of the bridge and the gulch. There are several more turnouts along the next short stretch of road where you might want to stop for more views of the Alaska Range.

Denali State Park to Telkeetna
   The George Parks Highway goes right through Denali State Park and the park is covered in more detail below. At Mile 162.4, 75 miles south of the National Park Entrance, is the North Denali Viewpoint, a large parking area to the west. There are several turnouts for the next seven miles. At Mile 147 is the short detour to the Alaska Veterans Memorial where there is a good view of Mount McKinley framed by trees and a view of Eldridge Glacier as it heads down to the Chulitna River.
   The best view of Mount McKinley from the highway is at South Denali Viewpoint (Mile 135.2, 102 miles south of the Denali National Park Entrance). This is a large pullout where the view of Mount McKinley is flanked by Eldrige, Buckskin and Ruth glaciers. Also included in the view are Mount Hunter, Mount Huntington, Mount Barrille, and Mount Dickey--all this with the Chulitna River in the foreground. This is a popular vantage point and a very commonly seen photo.

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