Hiking Trips

Moraine Lake is a unique location within the heart of Denali National Park and Preserve.  Moraine Lake was created very recently, geologically speaking, as the Backside Glacier receded from the lateral moraine of the Ruth Glacier.  Because the vegetation and soil surrounding the lake is so young, this ecosystem is very fragile.

To minimize impact to the lakeshore, visitors are dropped off at Cook’s Creek at the west end of the lake.  From the drop-off point there is a cairn-marked route that will guide visitors up to the higher terraces on the south side of the lake.

Surrounding the lake is a loose mix of glacial till including boulders, small rocks, glacial flour and mud.  This soil, and the crucial pioneer species which inhabit this area, are highly susceptible to erosion and therefore must be traveled on with great care.  You will notice this biotic crust growing nearest to the lakeshore.  The biotic crust stabilizes the soil and fixes nitrogen, and prepares it to host other larger, more complex plant species.  Treading on this crust can cause serious damage to these small plants and organisms and negatively impact the overall ecosystem. 

While it may seem advisable to camp on the lakeshore, there is far better camping above the lake on the higher terraces.  Furthermore, the odds of seeing Mt. McKinley, and the many other larger peaks in the area, greatly increases as you hike higher up into the more durable tundra country.  The cairn-marked route from the drop-off point will guide you up along Cook’s Creek.  The camping here is excellent and the views are spectacular. 

While camping in Denali National Park, visitors are encouraged to follow the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.  This includes properly disposing of human waste.  If remaining in the Moraine Lake basin for the entirety of your stay, you are encouraged to pack out all human waste, hygiene products and toilet paper.   Additional Leave No Trace literature is available from the National Park Service.

Enjoy your visit to Moraine Lake.  With careful travel techniques and attention to environmental ethics, you and future visitors will be able to enjoy this unique and fragile ecosystem for years to come.