The 2012 Trails Season
Re-cap
INTRODUCING:
A new and improved hike
around the 2-mile Savage Canyon Loop!
A growing Savage Alpine
Trail!
A bike-able bike trail
after all!
Blueberry Hill – no
longer guaranteeing wet feet!
Rock Creek runners meet
fewer tripping hazards!
Have you seen the
Horseshoe Lake Trail face-life?
And significant
maintenance and improvements for many park trails, including Thorofare Ridge
above Eielson, the Triple Lakes Trail, and the McKinley Bar Trail.
……
NPS and
volunteer crews spent the entire season working on the Savage Canyon Loop (aka
Savage River Loop Trail) in a successful effort to persuade the trail to
continue providing a hiking opportunity rather than diving right into the
Savage River. Significant re-routing and
tread and drainage improvements have significantly enhanced the sustainability
and enjoyment on this popular 2-mile path.
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| Savage Canyon Loop Trail Spring 2012 |
The Savage Alpine Trail showed up on this year’s official park map, bringing many more hikers to this 4+ mile hiking experience. The trail remains under construction, but at the close of the 2012 season, hikers will find that NPS and volunteer crews have built a breathtaking leg along the ridge above Savage Rock on the west end of the trail. On the trail’s east end, originating at the Mountain Vista Rest Stop, hikers can now access the alpine setting complete with tundra wildflowers, dall sheep onlookers, and views of Denali. 2013 construction will bring the trail up high, into an alpine bowl and meadow, where construction efforts will continue to diminish the gap between the trail’s east and west legs.
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| Savage Canyon Loop Trail September 2012 |
The Savage Alpine Trail showed up on this year’s official park map, bringing many more hikers to this 4+ mile hiking experience. The trail remains under construction, but at the close of the 2012 season, hikers will find that NPS and volunteer crews have built a breathtaking leg along the ridge above Savage Rock on the west end of the trail. On the trail’s east end, originating at the Mountain Vista Rest Stop, hikers can now access the alpine setting complete with tundra wildflowers, dall sheep onlookers, and views of Denali. 2013 construction will bring the trail up high, into an alpine bowl and meadow, where construction efforts will continue to diminish the gap between the trail’s east and west legs.
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| Savage Alpine Trail - before |
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| Savage Alpine Trail - after |
The bike trail, found in Denali’s front country, has proven a bit too bumpy for most bikers. To make the bike trail bike-able after all, larger material was removed from the tread and Eco-pave was applied, making for a much smoother ride.
The Blueberry Hill Trail, located near Wonder Lake, has long begged hikers to wear their rubber boots to combat mucky conditions. This summer, an NPS crew graveled the trail and worked on poor drainage and ailing boardwalk sections to enhance the walking experience for hikers clad solely in regular hiking boots. The views of Denali remain… unchanged.
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| Bike Trail |
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| Work on Denali Bike Trail |
The Blueberry Hill Trail, located near Wonder Lake, has long begged hikers to wear their rubber boots to combat mucky conditions. This summer, an NPS crew graveled the trail and worked on poor drainage and ailing boardwalk sections to enhance the walking experience for hikers clad solely in regular hiking boots. The views of Denali remain… unchanged.
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| Denali as seen from Blueberry Hill |
Impressive
efforts by volunteer crews, a couple of helicopter sling-load operations, and
technical work by NPS crews culminated in a facelift for the Rock Creek Trail,
a front country trail popular with local runners as well as park visitors. These trail users will now find fewer puddles
and a more forgiving tread for their outings.
.JPG) |
| Volunteers on Rock Creek Trail |
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| Horseshoe Lake Trail |
The Horseshoe Lake Trail sees approximately 200 hikers a day during the busy summer season and beginning with work done by Denali Crews this summer, these hikers will find a much improved tread where check steps and new tread material have replaced a gullied, puddled trail. As host to guided ranger hikes and high visitation, Denali Trails is proud to present a more sustainable and “professional” trail at Horseshoe Lake!
Crews
also spent significant time and effort maintaining and improving tread and
drainage on the Thorofare Ridge Trail (above Eielson Visitor Center), the
McKinley Bar Trail (near Wonder Lake), and the Triple Lakes Trail (front
country). Additionally, many other
trails received touches of care as needed to keep trails open, safe, and
enjoyable.
2013
will bring another fun and busy season of expanding and improving opportunities
for hikers in Denali Park to experience the park in an inspiring and tangible
way at Savage Alpine, Horseshoe Lake, and Mt. Healy Overlook (and who knows
where else!?!).
Thanks
to all of the 2012 Crew for a terrific season!
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| Denali Trails Crew 2012 |
