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Kesugi Ridge: a still from my film

Denali State Park, Alaska · June 2020 · Solo

Kesugi Ridge

52.7 KM · 2 DAYS · 1,660 M

Little Coal Creek to Byers Lake in Denali State Park, Alaska, in 2 days.

Watch the film 12:44 · 295K views

At a glance

Where
Denali State Park, Alaska
Distance
52.7 km (32.8 miles)
Days
2 for me: a short evening climb onto the ridge, then a 26-mile day. Most people take 3
Climbing
About 5,450 ft (1,660 m) up and 6,050 ft (1,844 m) down, by my GPS
Route
Little Coal Creek Trailhead to Byers Lake Campground
When I went
June 2020
Relief map of the Kesugi Ridge route: 2 days drawn in red with numbered day starts, labelled Little Coal Creek Trailhead, Byers Lake and My camp.
Day 1Day 2Highest 3,500 ft (1,067 m)

Elevation, start to finish: highest 3,500 ft (1,067 m), lowest 740 ft (226 m).

My GPS recording on a relief map. The numbers are where each day starts. The GPX files come with the guide.

Everything I made about it

The film

Photos

  • The Alaska Range from the climb onto the ridge, Day 1.
    The Alaska Range from the climb onto the ridge, Day 1.
  • A snowfield on the ridge, Day 2.
    A snowfield on the ridge, Day 2.
Denali through a gap in the clouds, from Kesugi Ridge, Day 2.
Denali through a gap in the clouds, from Kesugi Ridge, Day 2.

The guide · 42-page PDF + GPX files · 2027 season edition

Do it yourself

Little Coal Creek to Byers Lake in Denali State Park, Alaska, in 2 days.

  • Where things stand
  • Both days
  • My GPX files
  • Getting there
  • Other ways to do it

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Short answers

Do you need a permit for the Kesugi Ridge Trail?
I found no backcountry permit for Kesugi Ridge in 2026. You pay to park: a $5 day-use fee or an annual parking pass at the Little Coal Creek, Ermine Hill and Byers Lake trailheads (Alaska State Parks). Skinny Lake has the route's only designated campsite and toilet; elsewhere you camp on durable ground on the ridge.
How long is the Kesugi Ridge Trail?
Alaska State Parks gives 28.9 miles (46.5 km) one way from Little Coal Creek to Byers Lake Campground. My GPS recorded 32.8 miles (52.7 km) and about 5,450 ft of climbing over two days. Most people take three days.
How do you get back to your car after hiking Kesugi Ridge?
It's one way, and the Little Coal Creek and Byers Lake trailheads are about 17 miles apart on the Parks Highway. Leave a second car at Byers Lake, book a shuttle from Talkeetna (Denali Southside River Guides), or hitch, which is what I did.
Can you leave Kesugi Ridge partway?
Yes. The Ermine Hill Trail drops 3.7 miles (6.0 km) from the ridge to the Parks Highway at mile 156.5, roughly halfway along the traverse. You'll need a ride from there.
When is the best time to hike Kesugi Ridge?
Alaska State Parks says late June to mid-September. In early June, when I went, there was still deep snow, snow bridges over streams and trees down across the trail. Expect mosquitoes early in the season and blueberries, and bears, in late summer.
Are there bears on Kesugi Ridge?
Yes, black and brown bears. State Parks closes trails when bears gather, especially near Troublesome Creek during the July and August salmon runs. Carry bear spray, cook and store food away from your tent, and check State Parks' trail conditions before you go.

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