The Ultimate Guide to Alaska’s Three Mountain Ranges (and How to Visit Each One)

Wraparound

• Alaska has stunning natural beauty, clean air, and a unique Alaskan culture, making it a top choice for exciting vacations.
• The Alaska Range is the best mountain range in Alaska, known for its huge glaciers, towering peaks, and harsh weather.
• Known for its herds of reindeer, the Brooks Range offers strenuous climbing, hiking and rafting opportunities, and there are also signs of human habitation in Coldfoot.

Alaska has several natural wonders. From beaches full of bald eagles to miles of glaciers, visiting anywhere in this lovely state will be impressive. It’s impossible for a state of this size not to have something really remarkable happening around every corner. Natural wonders are Alaska’s area of expertise. Visitors never stop being in awe of the scenery of the “Last Frontier”!

If visitors are looking for an exciting, exciting vacation, then a trip to Alaska is definitely the way to go! It remains one of the most popular vacation destinations due to its stunning natural beauty, clean air, and unique Alaskan culture. There are plenty of places to visit and experience, especially in the state’s wilderness areas, so arranging an unforgettable vacation and day trip can be a little daunting. Visitors can begin their extraordinary journey by visiting Alaska’s three mountain ranges: the Alaska Mountains, the Brooks Mountains, and the Aleutian Mountains. Here’s what you need to know and how to visit each attraction.

Sightseeing the Alaska Mountains

The best and most wonderful mountain range in Alaska is the Alaska Range. North America’s highest peak, Denali Peak, is located within this range. The Alaska Range is part of the larger Pacific Mountains and, despite being shorter than the Rockies, Andes, or Himalayas, is the third highest mountain range in the world.

It is also one of the most notorious mountains in the country due to its huge glaciers, rugged and towering peaks, and notorious bad weather.

World-class mountaineers, adventurous climbers, climbers trying to climb the seven peaks, and recreational visitors who want to enjoy Alaska’s famous alpine landscapes are all drawn to the Alaska Mountains.

• Location: The Alaska Range extends primarily north and east: from the Aleutian Mountains, one of Alaska’s three major mountain ranges, to the edge of the Yukon. It spans central Alaska.

Explore the Alaskan Mountains on Foot to Explore the Magnificent Trails

Visitors can hike along unique trails to explore the Alaska Mountains, one of the state’s top three mountain ranges. Here are three of the best hikes.

Three Lakes Trail

An off-the-beaten-path trail on the park’s front suburbs, the Triple Lakes Trail is a leisurely, round-trip hike past three picturesque lakes and stunning views of the Alaska Mountains and the Nenana River.

The distance may seem intimidating, but if hikers don’t want to walk the entire distance, they can head to the trail start on the south side and cross the bridge to Denali Park Village, where they can take a shuttle back to the area’s visitor center. In fact, the fastest way to reach the three lakes is from the Southern Trail starting point.

• Distance: 9 miles (14.4 km)

Mount Healy Overlook Trail

To explore the Alaska Range further, hikers can climb along the Mount Healy Overlook Trail, partly up Mount Healy, one of the best but toughest hikes on McKinley Peak. Intrepid hikers cross the official trail to reach the true summit of Mount Healy.

After a slow ascent through the spruce forest, major mountain hikers will reach several scenic benches. After passing the bench, a series of abrupt zigzag turns will take them to even more breathtaking views of the Denali Wilderness area.

• Distance: 4.3 miles (2.7 km)

Kesugi Ridge Trail

Spending time in one of Alaska’s major mountain ranges is one of the best ways to explore the state. The 3- to 4-day Kesugi Ridge Trail offers unique views of McKinley Peak.

The trail passes through Alaska’s various landforms and vast tundra. To see Mount Fleck, Denali Peak and Eldridge Glacier in the distance, hikers must hike across the forest line and cross the Little Coal Creek.

• Distance: 47 km (29.2 miles)

Explorers are advised to be well prepared and have wilderness expertise beforehand, as the weather in the area is often erratic and unpredictable.

Explore the Brooks Mountains

The Brooks Mountains are famous for the huge herds of migrating reindeer that cross the Alaska Mountains region by hundreds of thousands of people.

With several magnificent peaks between 8,000 and 9,000 feet (2438.4 and 2743.2 meters) in height, these mountains in Alaska are perfect for camping and sightseeing.

Because of these characteristics, Brooks Mountains is a frequent tourist holiday destination for avid outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy intense climbing, hiking, and rafting. Although the Brooks Mountains cover some of Alaska’s coldest and most remote terrain, there are still clear signs of human habitation.

The last stop for most northern travelers before passing through the Brooks Mountains and reaching Pradhoe Bay and Dadehorse is the small village of Colfort, located north of the Arctic Circle. Here, they can usually find food and warm beds.

• Towns to visit in Brooks Mountains: Anaktuvuk Pass, Bettles, Coldfoot, Wiseman
• Passing parks: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Arctic Gate National Park and Reserve

Learn about the main areas of the mountains by hiking

Although Brooks Mountains isn’t the most accessible mountain in Alaska, it offers some excellent hiking options. Some of the top locations in the area are listed below:

Gates Of The Arctic National Park And Preserve

Arctic Gate National Park and Nature Reserve is the second largest national park in the United States. This is a vast area in the Brooks Range with stunning mountain views and arctic tundra.

However, the park lacks developed routes, so a strong command of wilderness navigation is essential. Despite the possibilities, reaching the Arctic Gate is a bit challenging.

Visitors can choose to fly to Anaktuvuk or the Bettles Pass, which is an excellent entrance to the park. The Coldfoot area is also accessible by car from Fairbanks, with campsites, shops, motels and a small airport. Alternatively, hikers can start the journey from the Dalton Highway and head straight into the mountains. The options are practically limitless!

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest wildlife refuge in the United States. It is located in the northeastern region of Alaska and is the center of Mount Chamberlain, the highest and most famous mountain there.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area for local species, forming a continuous international protected area with Canada’s Iwavic National Park and Ventute National Park. Despite threats from future oil drilling and development, the reserve remains home to a variety of animals.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the reserve, which is accessible year-round to hikers and backpackers in Alaska’s major mountain ranges. However, it doesn’t have any official paths, so maps and navigation capabilities are crucial, just like Arctic Gate.

Visit the Aleutian Islands

The Aleutian Mountains are part of the broader Aleutian Arc, stretching from Lake Chakahamna to Lake Unimak at the tip of the Alaska Peninsula. Although the mountains on the Alaska Peninsula are part of the Aleutian Mountains, they do not officially form the underwater part of the Aleutian Islands.

This major mountain range is mostly made up of isolated high-altitude peaks, desolate wilderness, and no roads. Great Sitkin, Makukhin, Korovon, Kanaga, and Okmok are just a few of the several extremely active volcanoes found in the Aleutian Mountains because it is part of the Aleutian Islands arc.

Aleutian volcanoes erupt frequently and are considered to be extremely volcanic. Fort Hill, the highest peak in the Aleutian Mountains and the top of the Chigmit Mountains in Clark Lake National Park and Reserve, is one of the range’s most famous active volcanoes.

In addition to rugged alpine peaks, the Aleutian Mountains are home to several glaciers and lakes. Two of the most popular lakes by residents are Lake Clark and Lake Iliamna, two of the largest lakes in Alaska.

It is important to remember that there is little traffic to the Aleutian Islands and alpine lakes. There are very few roads in the mountain range, and most of the points can only be reached by boat or plane.

In most cases, traveling to the Aleutian Islands from Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, or a nearby small community, requires a charter flight or boat trip. Spend some time in the wilderness of the Aleutian Islands for a true wild Alaskan experience.

Location: From the Aleutian Mountains in southwest Alaska

Head to the national park of the Aleutian Mountains

To admire the Aleutian Mountains, one of Alaska’s three largest mountain ranges, visitors are advised to visit the following national parks.

Katmai National Park

Accessible only by boat or plane, Katmai National Park is undoubtedly the most famous park in Alaska’s major mountain range. Katmai and the Alaska Peninsula are home to some of the most famous peaks of the Aleutian Mountains.

Visiting Katmai means entering the heart of Alaska’s wilderness. Most visitors arrive at Katmai via Brooks Camp, located near the mouth of the Brooks River. People from all over the world come to Camp Brooks to watch brown bears catch salmon from the river. Numerous field trips in the park can begin at Camp Brooks.

One of the most accessible options in the park is Brooks Camp. At Katmai, you have almost countless opportunities to hike, fish, canoe and kayak in the wilderness.

In the wilderness of Katmai, a license is not required, but professional survival and backpacking skills are recommended.

Clark Lake National Park

Clark Lake National Park and Preserve is a vast uninhabited area of Alaska that is home to multiple volcanoes, rocky peaks, animals, and alpine lakes. There are no roads in the park and you need to get there by boat or plane.

It’s important to remember that Clark Lake in Alaska’s Aleutian Mountains offers many long-haul wilderness options rather than trails. As a result, Clark Lake National Park and Preserve is a wilderness area without any trails.

The park is rich in wild camping, hiking, boating, and fishing, but visitors need to be familiar with Alaska’s geography to truly appreciate these activities.

There are several established and maintained trails in the Clark Lake National Area close to Port Alsworth, who can help visitors arrange safe routes or trips if they want to explore the area but don’t have much expertise. Clark Lake National Park does not offer amenities, facilities, or designated campgrounds.