Near Mom's Polychrome Picnic Loop
Tundra and mountains in Denali National Park. with permission from David Broome
Near Mom's Polychrome Picnic Loop
Fall Vista, Denali National Park. with permission from David Broome
Near Mom's Polychrome Picnic Loop
A cloudy Denali day.

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Hike Route

Mom's Polychrome Picnic Loop

3.7 (3 Ratings)
A great loop traversing a river bed with fantastic views of Denali and the Alaskan tundra
2.6
mi
Distance
284
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
BirdingRiver/CreekViewsWildlife
Access Issues
As an off-trail route, there is no single path to travel. Please remember <a href="https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/travel-camp-on-durable-surfaces/">LNT Travel principles</a> and disperse impact by avoiding social trails or pre-existing paths.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
2.64mi
Distance
284ft
Elevation Gain
284ft
Elevation Loss
10%
Max Grade
3,779ft
High Point
3,481ft
Low Point
Path Type
Loop
Description
Starting from the Park Road, take a minute to visually scout the area for grizzly bears before following the nearby stream bed south through classic Alaskan tundra. Upon reaching a spot where the streambed broadens into a wide delta, look to your right (west) for a small stream leaving the area. Head toward the stream and continue to follow it for a little over a mile until it crosses back onto Park Road. At this point, simply break out a snack and some water and wait for the bus to return. Busses generally pass every half-hour, with some exceptions. For an in-depth guide to the Denali bus schedules, click here.This content was contributed by author Ike Waits. For a comprehensive hiking guide to Denali National Park and to see more by Ike, click here.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
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