McKinley Station Trail
Denali National Park
Epic Overview
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3/7
The Northern Epics Quality Score is our trail rating system. We only list and review trails that we personally have hiked. Fortunately, as a guided hiking outfit, we hike a lot.
Why is the Northern Epics Quality Score out of 7 instead of 5 or 10? Because we wanted to. 7 is a fun number!
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100 ft.
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~1.6 miles
McKinley Station Trail Description
McKinley Station Trail is mostly used as a connector — but it’s a genuinely pleasant little hike on its own, especially if you like a walk with a story. The trail is smooth, mostly flat, and easy to cruise, winding through spruce forest and alongside Hines Creek for stretches that feel quiet and surprisingly scenic for how close it is to civilization.
What makes this trail worth doing (instead of just using it to get to another one) is the interpretive signage that starts near the Denali Visitor Center. As you walk, those signs guide you through Denali’s history — the railroad era, the creation of the park, and the people who shaped it. It’s not as good as taking a walking tour with an actual guide, but it’s still a good way to learn a little more about Denali National Park for free!
It’s not a knockout scenic trail like Savage Alpine or Savage River, but it’s nice. Think of it as Denali’s mellow “history walk” with a nice creek sounds — great for an easy outing, a warm-up before something bigger, or a low-key evening loop when you want to stretch your legs without committing to a mission.
McKinley Station Trail Map
Getting to McKinley Station Trail
This trail has two trailheads — one at the Denali Visitor Center, and the other at the Riley Creek Campground. There are actually several ways to access the McKinley Station Trail from the Riley Creek Campground, as you can see in the map above. From the Riley Creek Campground, either go to the Riley Creek Mercantile, or follow one of the trails heading west from the western end of the campground loops. Either way, you’ll end up on McKinley Station. From the Denali Visitor Center, head to the large wooden visitor center building and go south onto the main trail system. Head straight at the first intersection and you’ll be on the McKinley Station trail!
Make it a Tour!
Hiking in Denali on your own is beautiful; hiking with Northern Epics is meaningful. We’ll help you notice what most people walk right past—wildlife signs, edible plants and berries, glacial scars, and the living story of this place.
Similar to McKinley Station Trail: 3-Hour Naturalist Walking Tour
While we don’t usually guide tours on McKinley Station, the approachable, easy nature of it is certainly in line with our Naturalist Walking Tour. This is a slow-down-and-notice-everything kind of Denali hike. Along a beautiful, approachable trail, your Northern Epics guide will bring the landscape to life—reading wildlife signs, spotlighting edible tundra and forest plants, and sharing the natural and human stories that shaped this land. You’ll leave not just having seen Denali, but having understood it.
This is an easy walk. Want something harder or off-trail? Click here