Hiking Kesugi Ridge Trail in Alaska in Fall
I recently returned from an Alaska vacation where myself and 3 friends hiked the Kesugi Ridge Trail in Denali State Park. Hiking Kesugi Ridge in Fall was a special treat because we were able to see all the Alaska foliage in its beautiful Fall colors. Kesugi Ridge Trail is in Denali State Park and offers breathtaking views of the mid Alaska Range mountains. We were lucky enough on day 2 to catch a glimpse of Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley), North America’s tallest mountain.
AllTrails Trail Map
Kesugi Ridge Trail
Type: Through | Rate: Difficult | Traffic: Light | Length: 22.5mi | Elevation Gain: 5177ft
Our hike from Little Coal Creek trailhead to Ermine Hill
Hiking Little Coal Creek to Ermine Hill
We started our 22.5 mile hike at the Little Coal Creek trailhead and hiked south over 3 days and 2 nights to Ermine Hill. Little Coal Creek is a 6.2 mile hike up hill to the ridge. We got to the trailhead around 1p and had plenty of time to get to our first campsite.
This is where the majority of your elevation gain will be (1906 feet) so it’s nice to accomplish it first. The trail begins in the trees, but once you get above the tree line you start to see some amazing views of the ridge. There is one section where you cross a boulder field, which proved a little tricky, but manageable if you take it slow.
Camping Above the Clouds on Kesugi Ridge
Our first campsite on Kesugi Ridge was above the clouds which made for a pretty spectacular view. On a clear day we would be looking right at the Mid Alaska Range, and may have even caught a glimpse of Denali. Water sources are abundant on Kesugi Ridge. There are creeks and streams every mile or so with crystal clear cool Alaskan water.
Hiking Kesugi Ridge Trail
Day 2 is when we put in the bulk of our miles, 10 miles. There are some ups and downs, but over all it’s a steady decline down hill with some amazing valleys and overlooks along the way. The trail is well marked and there are cairns as well to guide the way.
We were lucky enough in the afternoon for the weather to clear just as we reach the part of the trail with the best views of the Mid Alaskan Range. Denali even showed herself briefly. Truly the best views of the hike!
The most amazing part of hiking Kesugi Ridge Trail in Fall was the beautiful colors of the Alaska foliage. Yes, it was wet and rained off and on throughout the entire hike, but when the clouds cleared for a moment and the sun peaked through the views and colors were spectacular.
Camping at Ermine Hill
Our final night was spent at the dedicated Ermine Hill Campsite. The campsites are located in a valley with a lake and picture framed views of the Mid Alaska Range. Unfortunately it was too boggy to get down to the lake, but it was a spectacular way to spend our last night. The Ermine Hill Trail is 6.9 miles down off the ridge to the trailhead parking lot. We got rained on the entire time, but it still made for a great hike off the ridge.
Shuttle Ride for Hiking Kesugi Ridge
Because Kesugi Ridge is a through hike you’ll need a ride at some point back to your car. We booked a shuttle ride with Denali Southside River Guides who drove with us from Bayer’s Lake to Ermine Hill trailhead where we parked our car and then they shuttled us and our gear up to Little Coal Creek trailhead ($60 for 4 people in 2022). Our driver Brian was a wealth of Alaska knowledge and other hiking opportunities. Shuttles are generally only available May through mid September. Hitch hiking is also an option. Many Alaskans we talked to suggested this. There seems to be a rich history of hitch hiking in Alaska.
Hiking Kesugi Ridge Trail essentially starts out of Talkeetna, Alaska which is a charming mountain town about an hour south of Denali State Park. Fun fact about Talkeetna, they’ve had a cat for a mayor for over 20 years. We met the current mayor, Denali, at Nagley’s. We booked an Airbnb for 2 nights after our hike to relax and enjoy the town. Highly recommend. Breakfast Candy (the food bus below) in Talkeetna is a great place to stop to grab food and coffee before heading to the trail (one of the best breakfast burritos I’ve had).
In Talkeetna you can also book a flight tour of Denali and a glacier landing (weather permitting for both). The folks at Talkeetna Air Taxi are wonderful to work with! Unfortunately the weather wasn’t permitting for us, but Courtney at TAT was very communicative through the entire process, and we received a full refund. Next time we’re back in Talkeetna we’ll definitely try again with Talkeetna Air Taxi.
Follow me on Instagram @mshepjordan9 for more photos from this hike!
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