Length: Minimal
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Route Type: Overlook
Difficulty: Easy
The Stony Hill Scenic Overlook, in Denali National Park and Preserve, is at mile 62 on the main Park Road. It is the first point going into the park which provides an unobstructed view of Mt. Denali. It is an especially nice location for photo composition because the Park Road forms an interesting leading line towards the right side of the scene. Many an iconic photo has been shot at this location.
Accessing the Stony Hill Scenic Overlook in Denali National Park and Preserve
Starting Location: Stony Hill Scenic Overlook, Park Road, Healy, AK
GPS (DD): 63.45716, -150.22855
Currently at this writing on 9-19-24, there is no way to travel the Park Road in Denali National Park and Preserve due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide at Mile 45.4 that has blocked vehicle traffic for the last 50 miles of the 92 mile long Park Road. The road is closed at Mile 43 and is not expected to reopen until 2027.
The ultra adventurous might choose to backpack into the interior. You will be required to obtain a free Backcountry Permit. The Denali Transit Buses provide a “hop on/hop off” service to as far as East Fork at Mile 43. To reach Stony Hill you would have a 19 mi (30.58 km) hike (one way) with several significant elevation gains/losses.
Prior to the landslide, for the general public, the only way to access the interior of Denali National Park and Preserve was by Transit bus or Tour bus. These buses depart the main visitor’s center every 30 minutes during the summer season.
Unless you are camping in one of the interior campgrounds, cars and RV’s are only allowed on the first 15 miles of the Park Road, as far as the Savage River Campground. If you are a very experienced backcountry hiker it would be possible to hike to the end of Park Road which ends at 92 mi (148.06 km). This past summer I have seen photos posted online that appear to have been taken in 2024 so I am assuming there are people making this hike.
If you have a camping permit you can drive your vehicle as far as the Teklanika River Campground at mile 29. There is also the Sanctuary River Campground at mile 23. There are bus stops at both campgrounds. Consult the Denali National Park and Preserve website for information on camping reservations and permits.
For more adventurous tent campers there is Igloo Creek Campground at mile 35. Reservations are not accepted for this campground. You can register for a campsite upon arrival to the park on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Riley Creek Mercantile or Denali Bus Depot. It is accessible only by camper bus.
Navigating the Bus System at Denali National Park and Preserve
The transit (Green) buses start running at 6:30 am in the morning. I recommend you consult the Denali National Park and Preserve website for the bus schedules for the dates you will be visiting. Generally the first bus will arrive at East Fork Bridge around 9 am. This is well past the morning Golden Hour. The last bus departs East Fork Bridge at 8:30 pm long before evening Golden hour.
During June you will experience 23 hour days, so getting Golden Hour shoots aren’t really possible. We were there in the second week of August and sunrise was between 5:45 am and 5:55 am. Sunset was between 10:30 pm to 10:20 pm. Therefore, in order to be in the park during those optimum Golden Hour times, one just about has to plan on an overnight camping excursion.
Denali National Park and Preserve is generally open form mid-May through to mid-September. Bus schedules change each month to accommodate the long summer days.
Wildlife and Hiking Tips at the Stony Hill Scenic Overlook
May, June and July are known as the mosquito months in Denali National Park and Preserve. Our first visit in 2008 was the 3rd week of July and we didn’t experience very bad mosquitoes. Our second trip was the 2nd week of August in 2017 and, once again, we were blessed and hardly noticed the mosquitoes. That said, there were plenty of other bugs so having a good bug repellent is recommended
In addition to bug spray, you are required to have Bear Spray anytime you are outside of a vehicle in Denali. We saw very few hikers or hiking trails along the Park Road. At one point, while we were observing a bear, a guy came out of the bush. He said he had been camped in the backcountry for a couple of weeks. It is important to note that most of the popular hiking trails are near the main entrance of the park, far away from the popular iconic photo locations.
Weather and Elevation along Park Road in Denali National Park and Preserve
The elevation on Park Road in Denali National Park and Preserve ranges from 1,460 ft (445 m) at the visitor center to as high as 3,980 ft (1,213.1 m) at Highway Pass (the highest point on the Denali Park Road). Weather conditions vary hour by hour.
On our first visit in 2008, we had low clouds and drizzling rain. On our 2017 visit, we had 6 days of nearly clear skies with Mt. Denali’s peak visible, which was rare. As a general rule, Mt. Denali’s peak is only visible about 3 days per month during the summer months.
Photography Tips at the Stony Hill Scenic Overlook in Denali National Park and Preserve
Between the phenomenal landscapes to the wildlife, Denali National Park and Preserve provides some of the most amazing photography opportunities I have ever experienced. The first time we crested the hill at the Stony Hill Scenic Overlook, we pulled to the side of the road and just sat there in stunned silence. I had seen photos of that location but most fail to convey the sheer beauty of this location. Another location I loved was Reflection Lake.
Probably the most important photography tip I can offer is to watch out for the Denali dust. You have to be especially careful when changing lenses because this region has dust ground to the consistency of talcum powder by the glaciers in this region. The buses kick up clouds of this dust as they travel down the road. If possible, have two cameras – one with a telephoto and a second with a wide angle lens. This helps to avoid having to change lenses in the field and getting dust on your camera’s sensor.
Photograping the Moon Over Denali at Sunrise
Aug. 9, 2017, 5:36AM. My friend Bill and I had woke up at 2:30 am to drive the 30 miles (48.28 km) from Teklanika River Campground to Stony Pass Overlook. The evening before we had consulted GPS data and determined the just past full moon would be nearly over the top of Mt. Denali at sunrise. At the campground we had overcast skies but we decided to go anyway, trusting the Lord would give us clear skies at Stony Pass.
While the scene He painted for us when we arrived at Stony Pass wasn’t the perfectly clear skies I had envisioned in my head, what He gave us was beyond anything I could have imagined. As the sun neared the horizon, the Alpen Glow painted the clouds and mountains with hues of pinks to orange while the nearly full moon hung suspended above the peaks. The light of the Alpen Glow reflected into the valley below Stony Pass illuminating the tundra, that was just starting to show signs of fall colors, intensifying the colors of the tundra foliage.
The original, un-cropped version of this panorama, consists of 12 individual HDR 42 mega-pixel images. I shot it with a Sony a7Rii camera at f-11, bracketed at .4, 1/10th, & 1.6 seconds, and ISO 100. I used a 100mm lens. The final result yielded a 39″ x 70″ image. The cropped image as shown is: 219 Mega-pixels, 10456 x 20912 pixels, 34.8″ x 69.7″ 300 ppi original size.
Photograping the Lenticular Cloud on Denali at the Stony Hill Scenic Overlook
Aug. 8, 2017, 7:20 AM. God blessed us with a 4th day where Denali was fully visible. We arrived about 50 minutes after sunrise and long shadows of the peaks to the east crossed the valley below Stony Pass. A Lenticular cloud hovered over Mt. Denali like an alien UFO. Windswept snow is visible in plumes off of the higher peaks.
This panorama consists of 50 individual, 42 mega-pixel images shot with a Sony a7Rii camera at f/16, 1/30th second exposure time and ISO 50. I used a Canon 70-200 zoom lens & 2x converter at 400mm focal length. The original image is: 1.122 Gigapixels, 18,064 x62,119 pixels, 60″ x 207″ (5 ft. x 16 ft.) 300 ppi original image size. Visit my website, Abba’s Creations Photography, for more information and to order prints.
Find Your Favorite Location
Denali National Park and Preserve is unlike any other place I have ever been. I grew up on the plains of Wyoming, so I know the feeling of isolation. However, when in the interior of Denali, after the last bus disappears over the hill in a cloud of dust, and the silence settles in, the feeling of sheer aloneness and isolation sinks deep into your soul and you feel like it is just you and God in this vast wilderness.
The only sounds are an occasional tundra bird and the cry of a ground squirrel. I don’t think I have ever felt closer to God than I did those evenings we spent waiting for an 11 pm sunset. I long, so long, to go back.
Before making your trip, it is very important to check in on the official Denali National Park and Preserve website and contact the park’s visitor center to make your reservations for transit and/or tour buses, campground reservations and backcountry permits. I recommend monitoring the park website for the most up-to-date information on trail conditions, accessibility, and any recent changes. As with any visit to a national park, it’s important to follow park regulations, practice “Leave No Trace” principles, and prioritize safety while exploring this beautiful area. I hope you enjoy your time exploring the natural wonders of Denali!
Happy Travels!
John Freeman, Featured National Park Photographer
Want to learn more about Denali National Park and Preserve? Check out these maps, guides & books:
- Denali National Park and Preserve Map (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map)
- Denali National Park & Preserve Adventure Set: Trail Map & Wildlife Guide
- Denali National Park: The Complete Visitors Guide to the Mountain, Wildlife, and Year-Round Outdoor Activities
- Denali National Park and Preserve (Images of America)
- Historic Denali National Park and Preserve: The Stories Behind One of America’s Great Treasures
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