Route information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Maintained by Alaska DOT&PF | ||||
Length | 135 mi[1] (217 km) | |||
Existed | c. 1953[2]–present | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | AK-3 (George Parks Highway) in Cantwell | |||
Old Parks Highway in Cantwell | ||||
East end | AK-4 (Richardson Highway) in Paxson | |||
Location | ||||
Country | United States | |||
State | Alaska | |||
Boroughs | Denali, Matanuska-Susitna, Copper River | |||
Highway system | ||||
|
Denali Highway (Alaska Route 8) is a lightly traveled, mostly gravel highway in the U.S. state of Alaska. It leads from Paxson on the Richardson Highway to Cantwell on the Parks Highway. Opened in 1957, it was the first road access to Denali National Park. Since 1971, primary park access has been via the Parks Highway, which incorporated a section of the Denali Highway from Cantwell to the present-day park entrance. The Denali Highway is 135 miles (217 km) in length.