Andrew Dennis, 7:48:52; 32. On average, it takes a hiker 4 hours to get above the treeline. State parks plans to reopen the campground after the hazardous trees have been removed. But doing so will result in a DNF. Weather on K’esugi Ridge can change fast. jct.) The trail is ADA compliant and is perfect for visitors of all ages and abilities. Organizers will help arrange a ride back to Byers Lake from the Ermine Hill Trailhead. The gain is made a bit easier through plenty of switchbacks. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Limited to 85 total entrants. Singletrack ... 5 in Trail Running; The K’esugi trail system traces the K’esugi Ridge and is the centerpiece of the park, with miles of rolling alpine terrain offering incredible views of Denali’s south face and the heart of the Alaska Range. Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks. It gently climbs 1100 feet up to the lower bench of Curry Ridge and provides access to the rolling tundra terrain of the Lake 1787 area. This trail also starts in the parking lot. Photo Notes: These photos are from a July 4th trip to Kesugi Ridge with Yvonne, Isabelle, Bryn, Louis and Aven.We camped for two nights and endured temperatures in the 80s. There is also the Curry Ridge Trail, which is two miles long and has several switchbacks, leading hikers to Lake 1787 (named for its elevation). Curry Ridge Trail. State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources - Denali State Park, Starting Point: Little Coal Creek trailhead: 62.89223, -149.74754, Ermine Hill - K'esugi Ridge Trail Junction: 62.79459, -149.86834, Ermine Hill trailhead: 62.82752, -149.90431, Ending Point - Byers Lake Campground: 62.74535, -150.11820, Troublesome Creek trailhead: 62.63013, -150.22572. Kala Maus, 6:12:34; 7. Hiking SAC Scale. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Kesugi Ridge Trail is around 28 miles long, perfect for a few days of backpacking. There will be no waitlist in 2020. The K’esugi Ridge Trail is located in Denali State Park, just a few hours north of Anchorage. Also, spectators are allowed to hand-off sustenance and drinks to racers. Alaska, United States, North America. Views of the Alaska Range and Denali are spectacular from many points along the trail. If you're lucky and get a clear day, you can see Mount McKinley (Denali) without the hassle of Denali National Park's bus sys If you need a shuttle from Talkeetna to complete the trip, it will increase the cost. There are no permits, flights, or fees associated with this trip. Jennifer Smith, 9:12:20. Photo Notes: These photos are from a July 4th trip to Kesugi Ridge with Yvonne, Isabelle, Bryn, Louis and Aven.We camped for two nights and endured temperatures in the 80s. On September 12, 2015, the race featured hypothermia-inducing conditions (rain and sub-40-degree temperatures). This trail is the northernmost trail that provides access to Kesugi Ridge. All racers are strongly advised to have scouted the course prior to race day. Past races have featured rain, snow, cold, and limited visibility. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Mike Schroeder, 6:26:29; 19. Little Coal Creek trailhead is located at milepost 163.9 on the Parks Highway/AK-3. The ridge trail is 27.5 miles from end to end from Coal Creek to Byers Lake and can be made in a multi-day backcountry camping trek or broken up into longer day hikes. Lupe passed a couple of scenic small tarns. Participants are responsible for their transportation to the Little Coal Creek start. The trip outlined here starts at the northernmost trailhead, Little Coal Creek, and ends at the Byers Lake Campground and trailhead. to Ermine Hill Tr. 29 miles (as described); options exist for trips of 15.3 to 37 miles. A fancier option is Mt. The full mitigation plan will be shared once it is created and approved. Look for Cascade Trail/Byers Lake on trail signage. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Lower Troublesome Creek (Mile 137.2) has some first-come, first-serve campsites. Considéré par beaucoup comme l’un des plus beaux sentiers d’Amérique. Nearly halfway, the Ermine Hill Trail comes in from the right (elevation 2,300 feet). Dave Johnston the Elder (of Minus 148 Degrees fame) helped build the original trail in the mid-1970s, along with Pete Robinson, George Menard and the Youth Conservation Corps. (Participants will then travel 3.5 miles at their own leisure to the Parks Highway via the Ermine Hill Trail). Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Kesugi Ridge is located directly across the Parks Highway from Denali National Park. Yes, please do because it helps our planning. Edit Blog Post. The course ends in the Byers Lake Campground (elevation 800 feet) with food, drinks and awards. ...more, One of four trails that lead to the high Kesugi Ridge. There are also many pullouts along the highway where camping is possible. There will be mandatory pre-race meetings shortly before each of the two wave starts. Rate Difficulty (optional) Easy. The beginning of the trail is steep but starting at Little Coal Creek Trailhead shaves off some of the elevation. Kimberly Riggs, 7:35:51; 15. When Patterson reached the Ermine Trail Checkpoint in 1:59:37 he had just a 30-second lead on Tracen Knopp, 21, of Wasilla. Brewpubs in downtown Anchorage and Denali Park. Placing third was Cody Priest of Anchorage (4:43:32), who edged Knopp for the win by 22 seconds a year earlier. Matias Saari became race director in 2016 and moved the date to August 21; that year the weather was inclement but not quite hypothermia-inducing (high 40s and rain). Some uneven terrain. Any racer arriving thereafter must take the Ermine Hill Trail down to the Parks Highway (even if they’re one minute past the cutoff and were slowed by taking a bunch of pictures). Kesugi Ridge, Alaska. Crow Pass Trail in Eagle River is an excellent hike just outside of Anchorage.