Fake Peak, Mountain summit in Denali National Park, Alaska, US

Fake Peak is a small outcrop on a ridge beside the Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, reaching 5,338 feet (1,627 m). It lies about 19 miles (31 km) southeast of Denali's summit and is nearly 15,000 feet (4,600 m) lower than the true summit.

Frederick Cook used this location in 1906 to stage a photograph falsely claiming he had reached Denali's summit. Researcher Robert Bryce later exposed this deception, revealing how Cook had fabricated his mountaineering achievement.

The name Fake Peak, meaning "false summit" in German, comes from the 1906 photograph Frederick Cook presented as proof of reaching Denali's summit; the shot was actually taken here, with expedition member Ed Barrill standing on the outcrop. Robert M. Bryce established this in 1997.

Reaching this summit demands solid mountaineering experience and specialized gear such as ice axes and crampons. Visitors should familiarize themselves with national park regulations and prepare for extreme weather conditions at elevation.

The outcrop stands at 5,338 feet (1,627 m), almost 15,000 feet (4,600 m) below Denali's true summit. Robert M. Bryce identified it in 1997 as the spot where Frederick Cook's 1906 summit photograph was taken, with expedition member Ed Barrill posing on the rock.