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11 Good Places to View Mt McKinley

Mt. McKinley is almost 4 miles high. It’s so tall that when you’re standing at sea level in Anchorage, you can see it 237 miles away to the north. In fact, you can see McKinley from viewpoints all along the 358-mile route from Anchorage to Fairbanks. It’s often said that McKinley is so tall it makes its own weather. So you’ll be lucky in the summer if you manage to see the whole mountain.

1. Anchorage Airport

The 20,320 foot mountain is visible from Anchorage International Airport. Look north when you walk out the terminal door.

2. Earthquake Park

To see McKinley from a scenic spot in Anchorage, drive to Earthquake Park. To get to the park, follow Northern Lights Blvd., a major artery, west across Anchorage. Mt. Foraker (17,400 feet) is to the left of McKinley.

3. Willow

As you drive north of Anchorage up the Parks Highway to Denali, you’ll start seeing brief glimpses of McKinley, looming up in the middle of the road, starting at about Mile 69.

4. Talkeetna

This town is 113 miles north of Anchorage and 124 miles from Denali Park. Drive into Talkeetna on the 14.5 mile Talkeetna Spur Road. There’s an overlook on the side of the road just before you reach town. On a clear day, Mt. McKinley, Mt. Foraker, and many other mountains in the Alaska Range are in full view from this spot.

5. Petersville Road

Follow this gravel road northwest from Trapper Creek. It was an old mining trail, and there are great views of McKinley.

6. Denali State Park: Mile 135 Parks Highway

When the mountain’s visible, this is one of the best places along the road to see it. The Alaska State Park system has put in walkways, explanatory signs, telescopes, and bathrooms. This is formally known as “Denali Viewpoint South.”

7. Denali State Park: Mile 163 Parks Highway

Known as “Denali Viewpoint North”, here’s another State Park facility with kiosks, scopes, and a rest area. An excellent place to feel the ruggedness of the Alaska Range.

8. Denali National Park: Mile 9 Park Road

As you approach Denali Park’s entrance, at Mile 237.4 of the Parks Highway, McKinley is not visible, because it’s blocked by other nearby mountains. Turn on to the Park Road, into the park. At Mile 9, there’s a turnout where you can see McKinley. (You can drive on the Park Road until Mile 15, Savage River.)

9. Denali National Park: Reflection Pond

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to view McKinley on a bus trip – if the weather cooperates. The classic view of the mountain is with the mountain reflected in the lake.

10. UAF Campus in Fairbanks

If you’re going to the University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks, stop at the pullout next to the museum. On a clear day you can see McKinley, 121 miles to the south, from the university campus.

11. Flightseeing

Fixed wing and helicopter flightseeing services take visitors either around or over the mountain. There are flight services all along the Parks Highway. This is an unforgettable experience.

Didn’t See Denali?

In spite of all these fine places to view McKinley, it is totally visible only around 20% of the time in the summer, so you’re really lucky to see it.

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