📷 Photo by Andrea De Santis on UnsplashMaclaren Summit
Paxson, AK
At about 4,086 feet, one of the highest road passes in Alaska, on the gravel Denali Highway. Tundra, kettle lakes and the Alaska Range spread out all around.
Maclaren Summit is a mountain pass on the Denali Highway in central Alaska, near Paxson. At 4,086 feet (1,245 m) it is the highest point on the route and is described as the second-highest highway pass in Alaska. Alaska.org places it at mile 37 of the Denali Highway, which links Paxson on the Richardson Highway with Cantwell on the George Parks Highway.
In clear weather the view takes in the Alaska Range and the Maclaren River valley, dominated by Mount Hayes (13,832 ft), with the Maclaren Glacier in the distance. With luck you may spot pikas, ground squirrels and ptarmigan, and in season there are crowberries and alpine blueberries. There are several roadside pullouts, plus parking at the Osar and MacLaren Summit trailheads.
The Denali Highway is 135 miles (217 km) long and mostly gravel; only the eastern 21.3 miles (34 km) and the westernmost 2.6 miles are paved. A speed of about 30 mph (48 km/h) is recommended. The road is closed from October to mid-May (as of October 2026: check ahead).
- Nearest town
- Paxson, AK
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 63.1400, -146.5400
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
Cold, short days in October–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
FAQs
Where is Maclaren Summit?
Maclaren Summit is in Paxson, AK, at GPS 63.1400, -146.5400. It is about 67 mi from Delta Junction.
Which road trips pass Maclaren Summit?
Maclaren Summit is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Alaska’s Richardson and Denali highways.
What is there to see near Maclaren Summit?
Places worth a stop nearby: Denali Visitor Center (84 mi), Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center (89 mi) and Matanuska Glacier (101 mi).
When is the best time to visit Maclaren Summit?
Cold, short days in October–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)