Prior to arriving at Denali National Park & Preserve, I picked out some trails that we would enjoy hiking. Savage Alpine Trail was near the top of that list. We were sad that the area was closed due to a bear issue at the time of our arrival. In short, a subadult grizzly was getting too close to people.
Savage River Area Trails
Several weeks prior, a group that the bear approached had thrown a backpack at the bear in an effort to chase it off. The bear got into the backpack and was rewarded with several candy bars and soda! Needless to say, this positive reinforcement was not good. Park service closed down the trail while trying to locate and train the bear to stay away from people. Shortly after they reopened the trail, the same bear returned to the area and approached another group of hikers. This time the group dropped to ground and “played dead” while the bear was still a good distance away. Being curious or possibly hoping to find more candy bars and soda, the bear approached the group to check them out and scratched and bit one of them in the process. They scared the bear away. This encounter was one too many strikes for this bear. The park service had to find and euthanize this bear before there were any other incidents. They did so. It is sad that this bear had to die. It is possible that if the hikers in both scenarios had followed proper bear safety guidelines, that the situation may have ended quite differently.
As the bear was no longer a threat, the Savage River area was reopened and we were able to hike this trail. I share the story about the bear as a reminder to all of us hikers that we are hiking in the home of the wildlife that we encounter. We should do our best to be aware of the animals and try to minimize our impact on them. Now onto the hike.
Savage River from the beginning of the trail
We opted to make a loop trail by hiking from the Savage River parking area at Park Road Mile 14.7 to the other end near the Mountain Vista Trail. We then walked back to our car via the Park Road. The Savage Alpine Trail is 4.0 miles one way with 1,500 feet elevation gain. The road return added about 2 miles for a loop of 6.0 miles. The trail is well maintained and considered strenuous by the park service. The park bus shuttle system can also be used for drop off/ pick up for this hike at either end. The Savage River parking area (ie next to the river) has limited parking and several vault toilets available.
The rain moved in while we were hiking
From the Savage River parking area, the trail heads immediately up, quickly using several series of stone steps and steep switchbacks to get to the top of the first ridge. From here you will be rewarded with views of the Savage River Valley and mountains. The trail then heads across the ridge before heading up again through alpine tundra toward the base of a cirque, which it then follows around the cirque while also climbing to exit at the far side at an even higher ridge. By this point, the elevation gain has been completed.
The trail heads steeply up with numerous sets of stairs
More steps
Switch backs on the route up with views of Savage River and the Park Road
The trail heading up into the cirque area
There was really heavy rain in the middle of our hike
The hike down the other side takes a less steep route, using more switchbacks. It winds back into tree level and along a creek back to the Park Road near Savage Cabin Trail and Mountain Vista Trail. The trail is starting to get crowded by vegetation in places.
The trail descends into the subalpine
Mountains and the subalpine viewed from the trail
Mountain Vista Trail is a fairly easy 0.6 mile loop with only 50 feet elevation change. This is a wide trail made from compacted gravel. The trail has numerous interpretive panels about the early days of the park, when a camp was set up here for tourists. This trail provides a look at the mountains and vegetation of the region. There is a small parking lot with several vault toilets at this trailhead.
The Mountain Vista Trail is wide and well maintained
Great views of the surrounding vegetation
Mountain Vista Trail scenery
The mountains from Mountain Vista Trail
There is one other trail, the Savage River Loop, which is located at the Savage River parking area at Parks Road mile 14.7. The Savage River Loop is a 2.0 mile round-trip hike with negligible elevation change. It travels along Savage River and crosses on a bridge before returning down the other side. This is good option for families or when the weather has socked-in the high country. We could have accessed this from our Riley Creek Campground or Denali RV Park.
