Chugach State Park - Glen Alps

Anchorage

The feel

Glen Alps is the Anchorage Hillside gateway to Chugach State Park, a wilderness of about 495,000 acres at the city's back door. The trailhead sits at about 2,200 feet, right at tree line, at the end of Toilsome Road. A short paved trail leads about 250 yards north of the parking lot to a viewing deck, and from the lot the trails fan out to Flattop, Powerline Pass and berry-heavy tundra. It is a trailhead hub, with toilets, trails and a daily parking fee.

On a clear day the view takes in Denali, Foraker and Hunter, the Anchorage Bowl, Fire Island, and the volcanoes Spurr, Redoubt and Iliamna. Flattop is called the most climbed peak in Alaska. Moose are common below Powerline Pass and gather in numbers in fall, and bears are also seen regularly.

What to expect

What it is: The Anchorage Hillside trailhead hub and viewpoint for Chugach State Park, one of the four largest state parks in the United States. Flattop, Powerline Pass and the tundra are all a 20-minute drive uphill from town.
Time: The viewing deck is about 250 yards north of the parking lot. The Flattop climb takes about an hour.
Parking: At the end of the road. From the Seward Highway take O'Malley Road toward the mountains, turn right on Hillside Drive, left on Upper Huffman Road, then follow Toilsome Road. Toilsome Road has a switchback and steep grades.
Fees and passes: $5 day-use fee or a state parking pass.
Dogs: Pets must be leashed in the parking lot and under control on trails.
Kids: The paved trail to the viewing deck is suitable for people with disabilities.
Hazards: Flattop is 1.7 miles one way with 1,300 feet of gain, steep near the summit with some rock scrambling. The summit is often cold and windy, and the area is avalanche prone in winter. Moose and bears are regular visitors.
Bathrooms and water: Outhouses are open all year. There is no water source on the Flattop trail, so bring your own.
Season and access: Toilsome Road may need four-wheel-drive or winter tires in snow or ice.

Mingo says

Pick a clear day, because the Denali view depends on it. Head up in fall if you want to see moose gathered below Powerline Pass. In winter, check the road and the avalanche risk first.