Photo of Backcountry Skiing Routes in Denali

The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Denali

Explore Backcountry Skiing Routes

At 20,310 feet Mount Denali is North America's tallest mountain. Its a very hard mountaineering challenge with average success rate due to extreme weather systems.

Denali, USA

Top 3 backcountry skiing routes in Denali

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Rescue Gully

0.87 mi
The most popular and easiest way to ski down from Denali, this handy route can be used as a means to descend from 17k Camp or as part of a complete ski descent from the summit....
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Messner Couloir

2.3 mi·
122 ft
The Messner Couloir is essentially a massive face funnelling into a couloir directly above 14k Camp. Most teams opt to climb the West Buttress and drop in onsight to the Messner rather than breaking trail up the Messner which would be more physically demanding....
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Orient Express Couloir

2.55 mi·
152 ft
Along with the Messner Couloir, the Orient Express is the best way to descend Denali on skis. A fantastic natural ski line, it is sustained at 40-45 degrees for more than 1,000 meters although it is slightly less steep and serious than the Messner....

A view of the area

Top regions for backcountry skiing routes on Strava