George Parks Highway Scenic Byway
George Parks Highway Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in Alaska. Within Alaska it covers roughly 230 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along George Parks Highway Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Parks Highway is the main road between Anchorage and Fairbanks and the gateway to Denali National Park, passing the entrance at about its midpoint. On clear days the road offers stunning views of Denali, the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet, rising far above the surrounding tundra and taiga. The town of Talkeetna, a climbing base for Denali, sits just off the route.
- Denali (20,310 ft) views
- Denali National Park entrance
- Talkeetna
- taiga & tundra
- Anchorage to Fairbanks
Designated for its natural qualities
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Places to stop along George Parks Highway Scenic Byway
Byers Lake
A quiet lake in Denali State Park with a campground, a loop trail, and the Alaska Veterans Memorial nearby.
Little Coal Creek Trail
A steep trail to the alpine tundra of Kesugi Ridge, with big views of Denali on a clear day.
Hurricane Gulch Bridge
A 1971 steel arch bridge about 250 feet above Hurricane Gulch, with a pullout for photos and late-summer berry picking.
Nenana River
A glacial river that runs beside the highway near Denali, famous for whitewater rafting through the canyon.
Healy
A small town just north of the Denali park entrance, home to Alaska's largest coal mine.
Where to Stay along George Parks Highway Scenic Byway
2 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of George Parks Highway Scenic Byway.
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Photos of George Parks Highway Scenic Byway
What is a National Scenic Byway?
National Scenic Byways are roads recognized at the federal level for at least one outstanding quality — scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational — that gives travelers a reason to seek them out rather than just pass through.