Sugar Loaf Mountain (Alaska)


Sugar Loaf Mountain, also known as Sugar Mountain, is a summit located in the Alaska Range, near Denali National Park and Preserve, in Alaska, United States. It is situated northeast of park headquarters and southeast of Healy. The George Parks Highway and Alaska Railroad traverse the western base of this mountain as each passes through the Nenana River Gorge. Mount Healy, Sugar's nearest higher neighbor, is set to the west across the gorge. This peak's local descriptive name was published in 1950 by the United States Geological Survey.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Sugar Loaf Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing or viewing. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Nenana River, which in turn is part of the Tanana River drainage basin.