Mt. Healy Overlook Trail

The Mt. Healy Overlook is located in the front country (as opposed to back country) of Denali National Park. It is rated moderate to strenuous because it is very steep and gains lots of elevation fast. The views you get of the front country are worth all your hard effort. This is one of the more popular trails in the area and you will see why as you get incredible landscape views of tall sharp mountains and beautiful tundra terrain. This is also one of the few trails that are maintained by the park service. For Guests staying at the Princess Lodge or McKinley Chalet: If you are a guest staying at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge or the McKinley Chalet Resort, there is a courtesy shuttle service to and from the park. The Denali Park Shuttle picks up at the Denali Princess Lodge (or McKinley Chalet Resort), makes a stop at the Wilderness Access Center, makes another stop at the Horseshoe Lake/Mt. Healy Overlook trailheads, stops at the Denali National Park Visitor Center, then heads back to the lodge. These shuttles run twice an hour for a good chunk of the day. Inquire at the Front/Tour Desks for exact shuttle times and schedules. I would highly recommend you use this complimentary shuttle and go on a hike in the park if you have extra time. Also, always remember that you are travelling in bear, moose and other large animal territory. You never know when a moose or bear will be around the corner so please always be prepared and stay alert for any animal signs. You can begin this trail at either the Horseshoe Lake Trailhead or at the Visitor Center. If you begin at the Horseshoe Lake Trailhead, you will need to take the Taiga Trail and follow the signs pointing you to the overlook trail. If you begin at the visitor center, the trailehead begins on the other side of the parking lot on the west side. If you hike this trail starting from the visitor center, simply start on Taiga trail, wind around the forest and follow the signs pointing you to Mt. Healy Overlook. If you start from the Horseshoe Lake trail, turn left on the Taiga Trail which winds around the forest a little bit until you come to the Mt. Healy Overlook trail start. I started from the Horseshoe Lake trail head. You will be hiking on the Taiga Trail for about 1/2 mile until you turn right onto the Mt. Healy Trail. The trail is maintained and is on a dirt/gravel path for the entire length of the hike. There is a bench you can rest on about 1/4 of a mile into the hike. This hike started out not too steep then it started to really climb in elevation just past the bench. At the beginning you will be engulfed in trees and bushes making it almost impossible to really gauge where you are located. But, as you gain elevation you will have several occasions where you can get amazing views of the area. Keep hiking up and soon you will be above the timberline where the views get even more incredible! You can just barely see the two glacial erratics that are on the other side of the valley. The hike to the erratics is also an incredible hike. Once you are nearly above the timberline you will come to many switchbacks until you are at the top. The Overlook offers views of the Mt. Healy ridgeline and Denali. You can see all of the hotels and shops (Glitter Gulch), the Parks Highway, and the train tracks and many of the national park buildings. You could continue the hike up to the summit of Mt. Healy but many people simply hike to this point then head back down. This is a popular hike and doesn't take that much time. If you are staying in the area and have 2-3 hours to spare then you should do this hike to the Mt. Healy Overlook.