U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Glennallen Field Office 		 
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alaska trails activities

The Denali Highway runs west to east through the Alaska Range providing Spectacular views, hiking, OHV opportunities, and numerous other outdoor opportunities. There are many undeveloped trails and areas associated with the highway. The trails listed below are actively managed and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management, Glennallen Field Office.

Swede Lake Trail: The Swede Lake Trail System is now open as of August 3, 2007 for travel at your own risk.  The trail system was closed on July 20, 2007, after the discovery of a live landmine near the Hungry Hollow and Swede Lake Trail junction.  An army explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team conducted a sweep of the area July 28 & 29, 2007, finding two additional landmines in the vicinity of the first landmine.  No further evidence of military ordnance used for military exercises during the 1960s has been detected within the area.  If you are entering the Swede Lake Trail System you are traveling at your own risk and are to adhere to the following safety guidance:  Learn to RECOGNIZE unexploded ordnance (UXO), RETREAT from the area the same way you entered,  and REPORT your findings immediately to:  the Bureau of Land Management Glennallen Field Office, mile 186.5 Glenn Highway, Glennallen, Alaska or call 907-822-3217 (weekdays, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) or 907-822-3263 (evenings, weekends, and holidays).  Do not touch, kick, move or otherwise come into contact with any suspected military munition.  Do not approach an observed suspected military munition; some fuzes are sensitive to movement, metal (magnetic), and/or temperature changes.  Never spend more time near a suspect item than is absolutely necessary.  Never attempt to uncover or remove anything from the supsect item.  Do not transmit radio frequencies or use a cell phone within 100 feet of suspect item.  Never assume that the color code or wording on a suspect item is accurate.

This trail starts at an improved trailhead on the south side of the Denali Highway at milepost 16.2. The trail continues south for approximately 10 miles through the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District (TLAD), to the Middle Fork of the Gulkana River providing access to the Alphabet Hills and Dickey Lake. Please remember that the Middle Fork of the Gulkana is a National Wild River and users must stay on designated trails within the river corridor (1/2 mile either side of the riverbank). This trail is historically a motorized trail but offers some hiking opportunity. Major reconstruction has taken place on this trail in the last few years to protect important resources and cultural sites. Please stay on designated trail and respect all users. This trail will be muddy and wet during the runoff season and in wet summers.

Trail is 10 miles long

  • Stay on trail
  • Moderately Difficult
  • Motorized
  • Mountain bike

Dickey Lake Trail: Dickey Lake Trail runs westward about 6 miles, up the southern side of the Middle Fork of the Gulkana River, providing access to Dickey Lake. It is accessed by following Swede Lake Trail and then crossing the river. The majority of this trail lies within the Gulkana National Wild River corridor as well as the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District (TLAD) and users are required to stay on the designated trail. There is an undeveloped camp site at the trail end near Dickey Lake. The first sections of this trail are extremely wet and boggy. The trail begins to dry out at mile 2 and stays fairly dry until the end. Any spur trails off of the main route are not designated and are illegal routes. This trail is recommended for motorized use due to wet sections near the start of the trail.

Trail is 6 miles long.

  • Stay on Trail
  • Motorized
  • Most Difficult

Tangle Lakes Foot Trails: Around Tangle Lakes exists a vast network of foot and game trails. At present, none of these trails are maintained by the BLM. These trails are used by recreationists, subsistence berry pickers, and migrating caribou. Major access points include the Tangle River Bridge and Tangle Lakes Campground. Hikers will be rewarded with stunning views of the lakes and the Alaska Range. These are unimproved paths that are not marked and travel through steep, uneven terrain.

Accessed at Tangle Lake Campground

  • Foot only
  • Variable difficulty

South Landmark Gap Trail: This trail is located at milepost 24.7 on the south side of the Denali Highway. an improved trailhead for this trail can be found at mile 24.8 This trail lies within the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District (TLAD) and users are required to stay on designated trails. This trail is for 4 wheeler use only. The trail ends at an unnamed creek at mile 6.2. Motorized access is prohibited past this point. The first 2 miles of this trail are extremely wet and muddy.

6.2 miles long

  • Stay on Trail
  • Motorized
  • Most difficult
  • No access to Delta NWSR

Osar Lake Trail: Located at milepost 37 on the south side of the Denali Highway. Osar Lake trail provides access to Osar lake and sweeping views of the Maclaren River basin. This trail lies within the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District (TLAD) so users must stay on designated trails at all times. This trail is usually dry and is recommended for hiking, mountain bikes, and 4 wheelers. August and September brings heavy concentrations of hunters along this route.

7.2 miles long

  • Foot
  • Mountain bike
  • Horseback
  • Least difficult

Heavy motorized use during hunting season


Maclaren River Road: This unimproved road leads northward from the Denali Highway at mile 43.5. At mile 4 the road crosses the West Fork of the Maclaren River. This ford is deep and treacherous; proceed at your own risk. After the crossing, the trail continues approximately 8 miles. This trail lies within a State of Alaska Controlled Use Area, so hunting with motor vehicles is prohibited. Recommended for mountain biking and high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicles (to river crossing).

4 miles to West Fork Maclaren River.

  • Mountain bike
  • Motorized
  • Moderately difficult

Not maintained past river crossing


 
Last updated: 05-30-2008