Alaska Hiking Trails Matched to Today's Weather
Every hike in range. Pick a difficulty, or take them all. Weather + a start-time tip on each, real AllTrails ratings where we have them.
Byron Glacier Trail
- Portage/Whittier
- 2.8 mi
- 100 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~58 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
36 ft/mi
- glacier
- kid-friendly
- icebergs
Flat stroll to a glacier snowfield. Snowball fight in July? Absolutely.
Williwaw Nature Trail
- Portage/Whittier
- 1 mi
- 30 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~58 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
High, salmon stream
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
30 ft/mi
- salmon viewing
- boardwalk
- kid-friendly
Boardwalk over spawning salmon streams. Bring the kids and a bear-aware attitude.
Trail of Blue Ice
- Portage/Whittier
- 5 mi
- 150 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~58 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Point-to-point
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
30 ft/mi
- paved/gravel
- glacier views
- bike
Wheelchair/stroller/bike-friendly path threading Portage Valley's glaciers.
Virgin Creek Falls
- Girdwood
- 0.5 mi
- 170 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~37 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
340 ft/mi
- waterfall
- quick
Two-minute walk, big waterfall payoff. The definition of high ROI.
Winner Creek Trail
- Girdwood
- 5.5 mi
- 570 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~37 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
104 ft/mi
- rainforest
- hand tram
- boardwalk
Mossy boardwalk through the rainforest to a hand-cranked gorge tram. Pure Girdwood.
Thunderbird Falls
- Chugiak/Eklutna
- 2 mi
- 200 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
100 ft/mi
- waterfall
- kid-friendly
Short forest walk to a roaring falls overlook, 25 min north of town.
Eklutna Lakeside Trail
- Chugiak/Eklutna
- 25 mi
- 600 ft
- ~10.5 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back (bike)
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
24 ft/mi
- lake
- bike
- glacier
Flat, turquoise-lake cruise, best on a bike. Go as far as your legs vote for.
Albert Loop
Albert Loop
Easy- Eagle River
- 3 mi
- 100 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~18 min
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
33 ft/mi
- river
- wildlife
- nature center
Braided-river loop from the Eagle River Nature Center. Prime moose real estate.
Russian River Falls
- Cooper Landing
- 4.6 mi
- 300 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
High, salmon stream
Parking/fee
$11 day-use parking (USFS)
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
65 ft/mi
- salmon
- bears
- waterfall
Watch sockeye rocket up the falls. Also where bears go grocery shopping, stay sharp.
Lower Russian Lake
- Cooper Landing
- 6 mi
- 400 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
$11 day-use parking (USFS)
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
67 ft/mi
- lake
- cabin
- forest
Gentle forest grade to a glassy lake with a rentable cabin. Extend to Russian Lakes if keen.
Grayling Lake
Grayling Lake
Easy- Seward Hwy
- 3.5 mi
- 300 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
86 ft/mi
- lake
- fishing
- wildflowers
Easy woodsy walk to a fish-y lake. Underrated and rarely crowded.
Tonsina Point
Tonsina Point
Easy- Seward
- 3 mi
- 300 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
$5 day use (paid at Lowell Point SRS trailhead lot; Caines Head itself has no road access, boat or foot only)·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
High, salmon stream
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
100 ft/mi
- beach
- forest
- salmon
Rainforest down to a wild black-sand beach on Resurrection Bay.
Two Lakes Trail
Two Lakes Trail
Easy- Seward
- 1 mi
- 100 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
100 ft/mi
- in-town
- lake
- kid-friendly
Quick leg-stretcher right in Seward under Mt. Marathon. Coffee-walk energy.
Exit Glacier - Glacier View Loop
- Seward
- 2 mi
- 200 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~2h05
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
Free (Kenai Fjords NPS)
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
100 ft/mi
- glacier
- kid-friendly
Get right up near Exit Glacier's toe. The 'how far it's retreated' signs hit hard.
Bear Mountain (Skilak)
- Skilak/Sterling
- 1.6 mi
- 500 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
313 ft/mi
- quick summit
- lake views
Short but punchy climb to a big Skilak Lake payoff. Best effort-to-view ratio around.
Hidden Creek Trail
- Skilak/Sterling
- 3 mi
- 250 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
83 ft/mi
- lakeshore
- beach
Downhill amble to a Skilak Lake beach. Remember: what goes down must climb back.
Vista Trail (Skilak)
- Skilak/Sterling
- 3 mi
- 200 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
67 ft/mi
- lake
- kid-friendly
Little lake overlook loop off Skilak Loop Road. Blueberries in season.
Tsalteshi Trails
Tsalteshi Trails
Easy- Soldotna
- 5 mi
- 250 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~2h38
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Network
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
50 ft/mi
- multi-use
- bike
- dog
25+ km of rolling forest loops behind the high school. Run it, bike it, walk the dog.
Homer Spit Trail
Homer Spit Trail
Easy- Homer
- 8 mi
- 20 ft
- ~3 hr
- Full day, 4h35
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
Free (city/HTA)
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
3 ft/mi
- paved
- birding
- bike
Flat paved cruise past boats, eagles, and the Salty Dawg. Fried halibut optional (mandatory).
Bishop's Beach
Bishop's Beach
Easy- Homer
- 2 mi
- 10 ft
- ~1 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Free (no entrance or day-use parking fee)
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
5 ft/mi
- beach
- tidepools
- kid-friendly
Low-tide beach ramble with Kachemak Bay and volcano views. Watch the tide clock.
Beluga Slough Trail
- Homer
- 1.2 mi
- 20 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Free (no entrance or day-use parking fee)
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
17 ft/mi
- boardwalk
- birding
- kid-friendly
Tiny boardwalk loop by the Islands & Ocean Center. Binoculars, not boots.
Carl Wynn Nature Center
- Homer
- 1.5 mi
- 200 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loops
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
Free (city/HTA)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
133 ft/mi
- wildflowers
- kid-friendly
- forest
Gentle interpretive loops on the bluff above town. Peak wildflower show in July.
Rodak Nature Trail
- Eagle River
- 0.75 mi
- 128 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
High, salmon stream
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
171 ft/mi
- boardwalk
- salmon viewing
- kid-friendly
Wheelchair-friendly boardwalk loop to decks over Eagle River's braids, salmon and beavers on tap.
Beaver Pond Trail
- Girdwood
- 2.5 mi
- 150 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~37 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
60 ft/mi
- beaver ponds
- forest
- kid-friendly
Flat, easygoing meander past beaver ponds at the base of Penguin Ridge. Links to Abe's and California Creek.
Beach Lake Trails
- Chugiak/Eklutna
- 3.5 mi
- 150 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
43 ft/mi
- lake
- forest loop
- dog-friendly
Easy Chugiak forest loops around a moose-and-loon lake near the coast. Paddle-, ski-, and dog-friendly.
Lake Lucille Loop
- Wasilla
- 1.6 mi
- 80 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~48 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
50 ft/mi
- lakeside
- boardwalk
- birding
Flat, boardwalk-laced lakeside stroll made for birds, strollers, and sunsets. Wasilla's after-work loop.
Bodenburg Butte
Bodenburg Butte
Easy- Palmer
- 1.5 mi
- 650 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
433 ft/mi
- stairs
- panoramic views
- quick
A quick stair-climbing pop-up over the farm valley, half a mile of huffing buys a 360° Mat-Su panorama.
Gold Cord Lake
Gold Cord Lake
Easy- Hatcher Pass
- 2 mi
- 450 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
225 ft/mi
- alpine tarn
- mining history
- wildflowers
Short, sweet climb above historic Independence Mine to an alpine tarn under the peaks. Big payoff, tiny effort.
Byers Lake Loop
Byers Lake Loop
Easy- Talkeetna
- 4.8 mi
- 200 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~2h11
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
42 ft/mi
- lakeside
- footbridges
- kid-friendly
Easy family lap around a clear forest lake with footbridges, loons, and mirror-still Denali reflections.
Crevasse Moraine Trails
- Wasilla
- 3 mi
- 400 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~48 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
133 ft/mi
- forest loops
- kettle ponds
- trail running
Rolling forested kettle-and-knob loops through glacial leftovers. Easy, dog-friendly, a trail-run favorite.
Deception Creek Trail
- Talkeetna
- 3 mi
- 120 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~2h11
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
40 ft/mi
- flat
- creek
- forest
Flat, mellow forest-and-creek amble on an old mushing trail, the road-tripper's leg-stretch in sleepy Willow.
Reber Trail
Reber Trail
Easy- Homer
- 0.8 mi
- 155 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
Free (city/HTA)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
194 ft/mi
- bay views
- quick
- overlook
Short, punchy switchbacks to a Kachemak Bay overlook. Big view, tiny time budget.
Crooked Creek Riverside Walk
- Kasilof
- 1 mi
- 30 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~2h58
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
30 ft/mi
- riverside
- fishing
- flat
Easy amble along Crooked Creek and the Kasilof where the kings run. Anglers everywhere in summer.
Johnson Lake State Rec Walk
- Kasilof
- 1 mi
- 40 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~2h58
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
40 ft/mi
- lakeside
- kid-friendly
- fishing
Mellow lakeside wander through spruce around a stocked lake. Bring a rod, or just the dog.
Soldotna Creek Park Boardwalk
- Soldotna
- 1 mi
- 20 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~2h38
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
20 ft/mi
- riverfront
- boardwalk
- kid-friendly
Flat riverside boardwalk through prime Kenai king water. Peak combat-fishing people-watching.
Erik Hansen Park & Kenai Bluff
- Kenai
- 1 mi
- 50 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~2h53
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
50 ft/mi
- bluff view
- beach access
- wildlife
Bluff-top perch over the Kenai River mouth and Cook Inlet. Belugas make summer cameos.
Ninilchik Village & Beach
- Ninilchik
- 1.2 mi
- 120 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~3h33
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
100 ft/mi
- historic
- beach
- bluff view
Hilltop Russian Orthodox church and historic village, then down to the beach. History with a view.
Burney's Trail
Burney's Trail
Easy- Skilak/Sterling
- 1.2 mi
- 300 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
250 ft/mi
- lake view
- forest
- quick
Quick forest climb to a Skilak Lake and Kenai Mountains panorama. Little effort, big payoff.
Keen Eye Nature Trail
- Kenai NWR
- 1.5 mi
- 100 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~2h38
- dogs
Free (no entrance or day-use parking fee)
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
67 ft/mi
- interpretive
- wildlife
- kid-friendly
Wood-chip nature trail to Headquarters Lake from the refuge visitor center. Moose and loons likely.
Calvin & Coyle Nature Trail
- Homer
- 1.5 mi
- 60 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
Free (city/HTA)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
40 ft/mi
- wetland
- birding
- boardwalk
Boardwalk-and-forest stroll through a Homer wetland. Birds, spruce, and blissfully mellow miles.
Homer Demonstration Forest Loop
- Homer
- 1.6 mi
- 200 ft
- ~1 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
Free (city/HTA)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
125 ft/mi
- forest
- interpretive
- quiet
Interpretive loop through a working forest above town. Learn your spruce, dodge the crowds.
Seward Waterfront (Sea Otter Trail)
- Seward
- 1.9 mi
- 30 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
16 ft/mi
- bayfront
- paved
- wildlife
Paved saunter along Resurrection Bay. Otters, sea lions, and shameless cruise-ship gawking.
Eveline State Rec Site
- Homer
- 2 mi
- 170 ft
- ~1 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
Free (city/HTA)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
85 ft/mi
- wildflowers
- bay views
- meadow
Wildflower meadows and Kachemak Bay views off East End Road. A Nordic-ski haunt come winter.
Anchor River Beach
- Anchor Point
- 2 mi
- 30 ft
- ~1 hr
- Full day, 4h03
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
15 ft/mi
- beach
- fishing
- wildlife
Stroll the westernmost beach on the US road system. Eagles, surf, and combat-fishing chaos.
Deep Creek Beach
Deep Creek Beach
Easy- Ninilchik
- 2 mi
- 20 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~3h33
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
10 ft/mi
- beach
- volcano views
- fishing
Wide-open Cook Inlet beach with volcano views across the water. Wander as far as your legs allow.
Captain Cook SRA Nature Trail
- Nikiski
- 2 mi
- 100 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~3h13
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
50 ft/mi
- beach
- forest
- quiet
Quiet forest loop and endless Cook Inlet beach at the road's very end north of Kenai.
Centennial Trail (Refuge HQ)
- Kenai NWR
- 2.2 mi
- 200 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~2h38
- dogs
Free (no entrance or day-use parking fee)
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
91 ft/mi
- forest
- birding
- loop
Rolling forest loop from the refuge HQ. Solid birding, easy miles, mind your moose manners.
Vagt Lake Trail
Vagt Lake Trail
Easy- Moose Pass
- 3.2 mi
- 194 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
61 ft/mi
- lake
- kid-friendly
- forest
Gentle stroll to a quiet, forest-rimmed lake. About the easiest lake payoff on the Seward Highway.
Seven Lakes Trail
- Skilak/Sterling
- 5.5 mi
- 150 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Point-to-point
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
27 ft/mi
- lakes
- flat
- wildlife
Flat forest ramble past a string of moosey lakes. One-way, so stash a car or just backtrack.
Iditarod Trail: Nash Rd to Bear Lake
- Seward
- 8 mi
- 450 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
OK for game kids
Grade
56 ft/mi
- historic
- lake
- mostly flat
Follow the historic Iditarod route to Bear Lake. Mostly flat, long on miles and on history.
Independence Mine Mill Loop
- Hatcher Pass
- 1.2 mi
- 209 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
174 ft/mi
- historic mine
- interpretive
- family-friendly
A gentle stroll through the bones of Independence Mine, history without the burn.
Matanuska Glacier Trail
- Glacier View
- 1.6 mi
- 173 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~1h59
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
108 ft/mi
- glacier walk
- guided
- ice
Actually walk onto the ice: a guided route onto the glacier terminus via Glacier Park's private toll road. Crampons and a guide required.
Matanuska River Loop (Edge Nature Trail)
- Glacier View
- 1 mi
- 196 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~1h59
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
196 ft/mi
- kid-friendly
- glacier views
- interpretive
The easy, free option at the state rec site, a short interpretive loop to platforms overlooking the glacier. Viewing only, no ice access.
X Lake Loop Trail
- Talkeetna
- 3.1 mi
- 143 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~2h11
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
46 ft/mi
- lake
- wetland boardwalk sections
- fee trailhead
The most popular loop in Talkeetna Lakes Park, circling X Lake through spruce forest and wetland a mile and a half from downtown Talkeetna. A five dollar Mat-Su Borough day-use fee applies at the trailhead.
Otterbahn Trail
Otterbahn Trail
Easy- Seldovia
- 1.2 mi
- 36 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
30 ft/mi
- noDrive
A forest boardwalk trail from behind the Susan B English School to Outside Beach on Kachemak Bay. Seldovia has no road connection to the rest of Southcentral Alaska; getting there means a ferry, a water taxi, or a flight from Homer.
Moose Flats Loop Trail
- Talkeetna
- 0.5 mi
- 20 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~2h11
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
40 ft/mi
- Denali views
- ADA accessible
- interpretive signage
Short, fully accessible interpretive loop around two ponds at Kesugi Ken Campground with a clear-day view of Denali, an easy add-on to a longer ridge hike or a stop on its own.
Blueberry Lake Trail
- Thompson Pass
- 2.7 mi
- 223 ft
- ~1 hr
- Full day, 5h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
83 ft/mi
- alpine tundra
- berry picking
- Thompson Pass views
An easy loop through alpine tundra at Blueberry Lake State Recreation Site in Thompson Pass, 24 miles north of Valdez, known for wild blueberries in season and wide mountain views. Weather anchor is Glennallen, roughly 90 road miles from Thompson Pass over the pass itself, closer than most of this batch but still a real mismatch for a high alpine site prone to its own microclimate.
Worthington Glacier Lookout Trail
- Thompson Pass
- 0.3 mi
- 40 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- Full day, 5h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
133 ft/mi
- glacier
- paved and accessible
- interpretive signs
A short paved path from the pullout to a viewing station overlooking Worthington Glacier, which descends almost to the highway. Alaska DNR's own page flags that the longer Worthington Glacier Ridge Trail and Worthington Glacier Loop are officially closed due to rockslide danger, so this lookout segment is the only trail here to ship. Weather anchor is Glennallen, roughly 90 road miles away over Thompson Pass.
Boreal Forest Trail
- Copper Center
- 0.5 mi
- 0 ft
- ~0.5 hr
- ~3h33
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Great for kids
Grade
0 ft/mi
- visitor center
- wheelchair-accessible
- river bluff
Flat half mile loop right at the Wrangell St Elias Visitor Center, partly paved, connecting to a short stretch of the historic Valdez Trail.
Flattop Mountain
Flattop Mountain
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 3.3 mi
- 1,350 ft
- ~2 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
409 ft/mi
- summit
- city views
- scramble
Anchorage's most-climbed peak. A little hand-on-rock scramble up top, huge views the whole way.
Rendezvous Peak
Rendezvous Peak
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 3.5 mi
- 1,400 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
400 ft/mi
- ridge
- easy summit
- wildflowers
Gentle tundra climb to a 360° summit over Arctic Valley. Big reward, forgiving grade.
Near Point
Near Point
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 6.8 mi
- 2,250 ft
- ~4 hr
- in town
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
331 ft/mi
- forest to alpine
- views
Forest switchbacks pop you onto open tundra with an inlet-to-mountains panorama.
Rabbit Lake
Rabbit Lake
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 9 mi
- 1,100 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
122 ft/mi
- alpine lake
- valley
Rolling valley walk to an alpine lake beneath the jagged Suicide Peaks. Mellow miles.
Powerline Pass
Powerline Pass
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 11 mi
- 1,300 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
118 ft/mi
- wildlife
- pass
- bike
Wide valley to a windy pass, moose, marmots, and often Dall sheep on the slopes.
Williwaw Lakes
Williwaw Lakes
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 13 mi
- 1,400 ft
- ~6 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
108 ft/mi
- chain of lakes
- valley
A string of alpine tarns tucked under the Chugach. Long but never brutal.
Turnagain Arm Trail
Turnagain Arm Trail
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 9.4 mi
- 900 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Point-to-point
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
96 ft/mi
- coastal
- beluga
- shoulder-season
Bluff trail above the Arm, do a section, spot belugas, and skip the crowds.
Portage Pass
Portage Pass
Moderate- Portage/Whittier
- 4.2 mi
- 1,400 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~58 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
333 ft/mi
- glacier
- lake
- pass
Short steep climb over the pass to a jaw-dropping glacier-and-lake view. Whittier weather gambles apply.
Gull Rock Trail
Gull Rock Trail
Moderate- Hope
- 10 mi
- 2,450 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- ~1h18
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
245 ft/mi
- coastal
- forest
- easy grade
Long but gentle coastal cruise along Turnagain Arm from historic Hope.
Crescent Creek to Lake
Crescent Creek to Lake
Moderate- Cooper Landing
- 12.4 mi
- 900 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
73 ft/mi
- creek
- alpine lake
- grayling
Streamside climb to a big alpine lake ringed by peaks. Grayling on the fly if you pack a rod.
Fuller Lakes
Fuller Lakes
Moderate- Skilak/Sterling
- 7 mi
- 1,400 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
200 ft/mi
- two lakes
- ridge
- berries
Climb past Lower to Upper Fuller Lake with a ridge option up top. A local favorite.
Carter Lake
Carter Lake
Moderate- Seward Hwy
- 3.4 mi
- 500 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
147 ft/mi
- alpine lake fast
- gateway to Crescent
Quick old-road grind to a pretty alpine lake, the fast door to Crescent Lake country.
Ptarmigan Lake
Ptarmigan Lake
Moderate- Seward Hwy
- 7 mi
- 1,050 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
150 ft/mi
- turquoise lake
- valley
Easy-graded miles to a stunning glacial-blue lake between 6,000-ft ridges.
Victor Creek
Victor Creek
Moderate- Moose Pass
- 5 mi
- 1,300 ft
- ~3 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
260 ft/mi
- creek
- forest
- quiet
Steady forested climb along a rushing creek. You'll likely have it to yourself.
Primrose Trail
Primrose Trail
Moderate- Seward Hwy
- 8 mi
- 1,500 ft
- ~4 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
188 ft/mi
- waterfall
- to Lost Lake
Climb past a hidden falls toward the Lost Lake high country from the north end.
Caines Head - North Beach
Caines Head - North Beach
Moderate- Seward
- 9 mi
- 400 ft
- ~4 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
$5 day use (paid at Lowell Point SRS trailhead lot; Caines Head itself has no road access, boat or foot only)·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back (tidal)
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
44 ft/mi
- WWII fort
- coastal
- tide-timed
Beach-walk to an abandoned WWII fort, but you MUST time the low tide or you're swimming.
Homestead Trail
Homestead Trail
Moderate- Homer
- 6.7 mi
- 700 ft
- ~3 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Point-to-point
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
Free (city/HTA)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
104 ft/mi
- meadows
- bay views
- wildflowers
Rolling wildflower meadows high above Kachemak Bay. Postcard Homer without the water taxi.
Diamond Creek Trail
Diamond Creek Trail
Moderate- Homer
- 3 mi
- 300 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- Full day, 4h23
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
Free (city/HTA)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
100 ft/mi
- forest to beach
- tidepools
Forest descent to a quiet beach, steep-ish coming back up, mind the mud.
Twin Peaks (Eklutna)
Twin Peaks (Eklutna)
Moderate- Chugiak/Eklutna
- 5.5 mi
- 1,700 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
309 ft/mi
- alpine bowl
- goats
- berries
Switchback grind to an alpine bowl above Eklutna Lake. Mountain goats on the crags.
Horsetail Falls Trail
Horsetail Falls Trail
Moderate- Whittier
- 2 mi
- 700 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~1h17
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
350 ft/mi
- waterfall view
- boardwalk
- berries
Boardwalks and switchbacks climb 700 ft to a platform facing a waterfall off Blackstone Ridge near Whittier.
Dew Mound Trail
Dew Mound Trail
Moderate- Eagle River
- 6 mi
- 300 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
50 ft/mi
- forest
- beaver ponds
- glacial erratics
Rolling forest loop past beaver ponds and glacial boulders, with cutoffs for when your legs tap out early.
Little O'Malley Peak
Little O'Malley Peak
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 4 mi
- 1,550 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
388 ft/mi
- tundra summit
- Glen Alps
- city views
Glen Alps' friendliest summit: a short, steep tundra romp to a false-peak throne with big Anchorage-bowl views.
Middle Fork Loop
Middle Fork Loop
Moderate- Anchorage/Chugach
- 8.9 mi
- 1,485 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
167 ft/mi
- rolling tundra
- Campbell Creek
- peak views
The Hillside's connector all-star: a rolling tundra loop through South Fork Campbell Creek with peak views throughout.
Eagle & Symphony Lakes
Eagle & Symphony Lakes
Moderate- Eagle River
- 9.6 mi
- 850 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
89 ft/mi
- alpine lakes
- valley walk
- wildflowers
Two lakes, one milky glacial green, one deep blue, kiss across a skinny isthmus at the end of a gentle valley walk.
Mt. Baldy (Eagle River)
Mt. Baldy (Eagle River)
Moderate- Eagle River
- 2 mi
- 500 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
250 ft/mi
- ridge views
- steep
- quick summit
Short, lung-busting climb to a ridgetop with outsized Eagle River Valley views. The town's favorite quick burn.
Ptarmigan Valley Trail
Ptarmigan Valley Trail
Moderate- Eagle River
- 8.2 mi
- 1,500 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
183 ft/mi
- alpine tundra
- wildlife
- mountain views
Forested climb into open tundra with Knik Arm and Alaska Range views, and, fittingly, the odd actual ptarmigan.
Peters Creek Valley
Peters Creek Valley
Moderate- Chugiak/Eklutna
- 8 mi
- 1,000 ft
- ~4 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
125 ft/mi
- river valley
- berries
- remote
Old muddy roadbed up a wild Chugiak valley, gateway to Bear Point, loaded with late-summer berries.
Mount Eklutna Loop
Mount Eklutna Loop
Moderate- Chugiak/Eklutna
- 8 mi
- 1,100 ft
- ~4 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
138 ft/mi
- summit
- tundra
- ridge loop
Tundra-and-ridge loop over Bear Point to a 4,271-ft summit, wind in your chest, whole valleys underfoot.
Rendezvous Ridge (Muktuk Marston)
- Anchorage/Chugach
- 8 mi
- 2,500 ft
- ~5 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
313 ft/mi
- Arctic Valley
- tundra ridge
- 360 views
Arctic Valley loop onto a breezy tundra ridge with 360° views, minus the Rendezvous Peak crowds.
Palmer Creek Lakes
Palmer Creek Lakes
Moderate- Hope
- 3 mi
- 850 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~1h18
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
283 ft/mi
- alpine lakes
- mining history
- icebergs
A rough mining road leads to twin alpine lakes in a glacier bowl; the upper one keeps icebergs floating all summer.
California Creek Trail
California Creek Trail
Moderate- Girdwood
- 3.3 mi
- 1,056 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~37 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
320 ft/mi
- old-growth spruce
- creekside
- switchbacks
A steep switchbacking climb through mossy old-growth Sitka spruce off Crow Creek Road: quiet, wooded, steadily up.
Abe's Trail
Abe's Trail
Moderate- Girdwood
- 2 mi
- 800 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~37 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
400 ft/mi
- Cook Inlet views
- steep
- ridge
Short but leg-burning climb off the Beaver Pond trail to views over the Girdwood valley and Cook Inlet.
Gold Mint Trail
Gold Mint Trail
Moderate- Hatcher Pass
- 16 mi
- 2,900 ft
- ~8.5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
181 ft/mi
- river valley
- wildflowers
- gentle grade
A gentle old mining road up a wildflower river valley. Walk as far as your legs allow toward the Mint cirque.
Craigie Creek Trail
Craigie Creek Trail
Moderate- Hatcher Pass
- 4.5 mi
- 1,000 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
222 ft/mi
- mining ruins
- wildflowers
- low crowds
Follow an old gold-mining road past rusting relics to Dogsled Pass, history, wildflowers, and blissfully few crowds.
April Bowl & Hatch Peak
April Bowl & Hatch Peak
Moderate- Hatcher Pass
- 3.5 mi
- 1,250 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
357 ft/mi
- alpine tarn
- ridge summit
- panoramic views
Climb past a turquoise tarn to a breezy ridge and Hatch Peak, with all of Hatcher Pass sprawling beneath your boots.
Curry Ridge Trail
Curry Ridge Trail
Moderate- Talkeetna
- 7 mi
- 1,100 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~2h11
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
157 ft/mi
- Denali views
- tundra tarns
- boardwalk
Boardwalks and switchbacks climb to tundra tarns and a jaw-dropping Denali view. Kesugi Ken's crown-jewel day hike.
Little Coal Creek Trail
Little Coal Creek Trail
Moderate- Talkeetna
- 6.2 mi
- 1,906 ft
- ~4 hr
- ~2h11
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
307 ft/mi
- alpine ridge
- Alaska Range views
- tundra
The quickest ticket onto Kesugi Ridge: a steady climb to open tundra and Alaska Range views, no overnight pack required.
Hideout Trail
Hideout Trail
Moderate- Skilak/Sterling
- 1.5 mi
- 850 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
567 ft/mi
- overlook
- steep
- quick
Short but brutal grunt to a big Kenai River and Skilak Lake overlook. Your calves will complain.
Clam Gulch Beach Access
Clam Gulch Beach Access
Moderate- Kasilof
- 2 mi
- 150 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~2h58
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
75 ft/mi
- beach
- volcano views
- steep return
Steep bluff drop to a clam-famous beach (digging's often closed). The climb back is the workout.
Skilak Lookout Trail
Skilak Lookout Trail
Moderate- Skilak/Sterling
- 4 mi
- 700 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
High, salmon stream
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
175 ft/mi
- overlook
- berries
- bears
Steady climb to a knockout Skilak Lake overlook. Blueberries in August, and bears agree, stay loud.
Kenai River Trail (Lower)
Kenai River Trail (Lower)
Moderate- Skilak/Sterling
- 4.6 mi
- 250 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
54 ft/mi
- river views
- forest
- quiet
Forest-and-bluff walk to turquoise Kenai River views. Fewer people than the upper trailhead.
Kenai River Trail (Canyon Overlook)
- Skilak/Sterling
- 5.6 mi
- 260 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
46 ft/mi
- canyon
- river views
- photo op
Quick spur to a stunning Kenai River canyon overlook, then wander the bluff. Bring the camera.
Res Pass South to Juneau Creek Falls
- Cooper Landing
- 5.8 mi
- 800 ft
- ~3 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
High, salmon stream
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
138 ft/mi
- waterfall
- historic trail
- bears
Cruise the famous Resurrection Pass trail to a thundering creek falls. Bikes and bears share the tread.
Crescent Lake via Carter Lake
Crescent Lake via Carter Lake
Moderate- Moose Pass
- 6.9 mi
- 1,142 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
166 ft/mi
- alpine lake
- fall color
- fishing
Climb past Carter Lake to grayling-filled Crescent Lake. Golden fall color and honest bear country.
Skyscraper Mountain
Skyscraper Mountain
Moderate- Hatcher Pass
- 2 mi
- 1,017 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
509 ft/mi
- ridge views
- big payoff
- wildlife
Big-mountain payoff for a modest effort, right from the top of the pass.
Lane Basin Loop
Lane Basin Loop
Moderate- Hatcher Pass
- 3.1 mi
- 688 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
222 ft/mi
- hidden basin
- waterfall
- wildflowers
A quiet basin loop with a waterfall the crowds at Reed Lakes never see.
Caribou Creek Trail
Caribou Creek Trail
Moderate- Glacier View
- 3.1 mi
- 725 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~1h59
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
234 ft/mi
- gold panning
- river
- wildflowers
A creekside route into the state recreational mining area, bring a gold pan, and watch for Dall sheep on the surrounding slopes.
Mile-High Saddle Trail
Mile-High Saddle Trail
Moderate- Eagle River
- 1.4 mi
- 816 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
583 ft/mi
- short & steep
- Cook Inlet views
- saddle
A short steep push to the saddle below Mt. Magnificent, big Cook Inlet views for not much mileage.
Rippy Trail
Rippy Trail
Moderate- Palmer
- 5.7 mi
- 967 ft
- ~3 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
170 ft/mi
- Jim Creek bridge
- Pioneer Peak views
- multi-use
A newer Knik River trail with a 55-ft bridge over Jim Creek and framed views of Pioneer Peak, the Knik Arm and the glacier.
Knik Glacier via Jim Creek
Knik Glacier via Jim Creek
Moderate- Palmer
- 24 mi
- 2,874 ft
- ~11.5 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
120 ft/mi
- glacier
- river flats
- very long
A long, flat trek across braided river flats to the face of the Knik Glacier, mellow grade, serious mileage, huge payoff.
Bee Tree Loop
Bee Tree Loop
Moderate- Palmer
- 1.6 mi
- 754 ft
- ~1 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
471 ft/mi
- forested
- valley views
- quick
A short forested loop near the Lazy Mountain Rec Area, a quick leg-stretcher with valley views and a modest climb.
Angel Rocks Trail
Angel Rocks Trail
Moderate- Chena River SRA
- 3.5 mi
- 1,750 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- Full day, 7h56
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
500 ft/mi
- alpine
- granite tors
- ridge
- wildflowers
- kid-friendly
A short, popular climb through spruce forest to a cluster of granite tors with wide views over the Chena River valley. The most hiked trail in the recreation area and a common turnaround point for the longer traverse to Chena Hot Springs.
Stiles Creek Trail
Stiles Creek Trail
Moderate- Chena River SRA
- 15 mi
- 1,900 ft
- ~7.5 hr
- Full day, 7h56
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
127 ft/mi
- alpine
- river
- wildflowers
A quieter, less-visited alternative to the recreation area's better-known climbs, following Stiles Creek up toward alpine terrain. DNR rates it moderate to strenuous; treated here as mod given its lower gain-per-mile than Granite Tors or Chena Dome.
Summit Trail to Wickersham Dome
Summit Trail to Wickersham Dome
Moderate- White Mountains NRA
- 6.9 mi
- 1,568 ft
- ~4 hr
- Full day, 6h51
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
227 ft/mi
- alpine
- ridge
- aurora
The main summer access into White Mountains NRA, climbing over a small dome, through trees, and up onto Wickersham Dome itself with views of the Alaska Range on clear days. The Summit Trail keeps going well past the dome toward a shelter cabin and the Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River for backpackers; this record covers the day-hike segment to the dome.
Twelvemile Summit Trail
Twelvemile Summit Trail
Moderate- Steese Highway
- 3 mi
- 1,013 ft
- ~2 hr
- Full day, 6h51
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
338 ft/mi
A short alpine tundra summit walk at the Steese Highway's Twelvemile Summit wayside, the southern trailhead of the 24 mile Pinnell Mountain National Recreation Trail.
Quartz Lake Long Loop
Quartz Lake Long Loop
Moderate- Delta Junction / Richardson Hwy
- 4.3 mi
- 500 ft
- ~2 hr
- Full day, 6h18
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
116 ft/mi
The longer loop option at Quartz Lake State Recreation Area, adding elevation and distance to the well known Quartz Lake Loop Trail with wider views over the Tanana Valley.
Castner Glacier Ice Cave Trail
Castner Glacier Ice Cave Trail
Moderate- Delta Junction / Richardson Hwy
- 2.6 mi
- 50 ft
- ~1 hr
- Full day, 6h18
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
19 ft/mi
A popular walk up the braided Castner Creek valley to an ice cave carved by glacial meltwater beneath Castner Glacier, best known as a winter destination when the cave is stable.
Ermine Hill Trail
Ermine Hill Trail
Moderate- Talkeetna
- 7.4 mi
- 1,300 ft
- ~4 hr
- ~2h11
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
176 ft/mi
- alpine ridge
- Alaska Range views
- Denali views
Steady climb from the Parks Highway through forest to treeline and the Ermine Hill junction on Kesugi Ridge, the middle of the ridge's three main day access trails.
Mineral Creek Trail
Mineral Creek Trail
Moderate- Valdez
- 12.2 mi
- 800 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- Full day, 5h38
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
66 ft/mi
- gold rush ruins
- gorge
- waterfalls
- gravel road plus trail
An old mining road up Mineral Creek Valley, gravel and driveable for the first stretch before narrowing to trail past a washout at Horsetail Creek Falls, ending near an abandoned stamp mill. The City of Valdez calls the whole route easy despite the distance, which reads as generous for a 12 mile day; that discrepancy is the city's own label, not this record's. Weather anchor is Glennallen, 115 road miles away over Thompson Pass.
Liberty Falls Trail
Liberty Falls Trail
Moderate- Chitina
- 2.4 mi
- 561 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- Full day, 4h54
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Older kids only
Grade
234 ft/mi
- waterfall
- campground
Short falls hike at Liberty Falls State Recreation Site on the Edgerton Highway just outside Chitina, about 65 miles from Glennallen.
Harding Icefield Trail
- Seward
- 8.2 mi
- 3,500 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- ~2h05
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
Free (Kenai Fjords NPS)
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
427 ft/mi
- icefield
- glacier
- bucket-list
Climb 3,500 ft to stare across a 700-sq-mi icefield that swallows the horizon. The peninsula's crown-jewel day hike.
Mount Marathon
Mount Marathon
Hard- Seward
- 4 mi
- 3,000 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
750 ft/mi
- race mountain
- scree
- views
The absurd July 4th race route. Straight up, screaming scree back down, Resurrection Bay at your feet.
Lost Lake
Lost Lake
Hard- Seward
- 14 mi
- 2,000 ft
- ~7 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Point-to-point
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
143 ft/mi
- alpine lakes
- ridge
- epic
Long ridge traverse to a chain of high alpine lakes. Do it as a shuttle and thank yourself.
Mt. Alice
Mt. Alice
Hard- Seward
- 6 mi
- 3,500 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
583 ft/mi
- big peak
- glacier view
Steep maintained trail to a Godwin Glacier viewpoint (~3,500 ft). The full summit beyond is a mountaineering route, turn around at the overlook.
Bird Ridge
Bird Ridge
Hard- Anchorage/Chugach
- 4 mi
- 3,400 ft
- ~4 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
850 ft/mi
- very steep
- early-season
- Arm views
One of the steepest trails around, and the first to melt out each spring. Calves will file complaints.
Wolverine Peak
Wolverine Peak
Hard- Anchorage/Chugach
- 10.5 mi
- 3,400 ft
- ~6.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
324 ft/mi
- big summit
- panorama
Long tundra ascent to a commanding summit over the whole Anchorage bowl.
The Ramp
The Ramp
Hard- Anchorage/Chugach
- 11 mi
- 2,600 ft
- ~6 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
236 ft/mi
- alpine valley
- peak
Gorgeous alpine valley approach, then a steep scree finish to the saddle. Big-day feel close to town.
Flattop Peaks 2 & 3
- Anchorage/Chugach
- 6 mi
- 2,500 ft
- ~4 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
417 ft/mi
- ridge scramble
- exposure
Push past Flattop along an airy ridge. Real scrambling and exposure, not for the wobbly.
Bold Ridge (Eklutna)
- Chugiak/Eklutna
- 8 mi
- 3,300 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
413 ft/mi
- alpine ridge
- lake views
Steep ridge climb high above Eklutna Lake with knockout valley views.
Crow Pass to Raven Glacier
- Girdwood
- 8 mi
- 2,100 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- ~37 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
263 ft/mi
- gold mine ruins
- glacier
- alpine
Old mine, a waterfall, a turquoise tarn, and a glacier at the pass. Front half of the famous traverse.
Alyeska North Face
- Girdwood
- 4.4 mi
- 2,000 ft
- ~3 hr
- ~37 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
455 ft/mi
- ski resort
- tram-down option
Brutal climb up the ski hill, earn a beer at the top, then ride the tram down like a genius.
Hope Point
Hope Point
Hard- Hope
- 5 mi
- 3,600 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- ~1h18
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
720 ft/mi
- very steep ridge
- Arm views
Relentless ridge straight up from Hope with nonstop Turnagain Arm views. Bring water and grit.
Slaughter Ridge (Gulch)
- Cooper Landing
- 5 mi
- 3,000 ft
- ~4 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
600 ft/mi
- huge river views
- ridge
Steep climb to a ridge hanging over the turquoise Kenai River and Cooper Landing. Worth every gasp.
Cecil Rhode Mountain
- Cooper Landing
- 6 mi
- 3,000 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
500 ft/mi
- ridge
- Kenai Lake views
Big-view ridgeline above Kenai Lake and the Russian River confluence.
Skyline Trail
Skyline Trail
Hard- Skilak/Sterling
- 3.4 mi
- 2,000 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~2h08
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Iconic, expect company
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
588 ft/mi
- relentless climb
- ridge
The 'stairmaster from hell', nearly straight up to a glorious ridge. Short mileage, huge burn.
Crow Pass Traverse
- Girdwood
- 21 mi
- 2,100 ft
- ~10 hr
- ~37 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Point-to-point
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
100 ft/mi
- backpacking
- glacier
- river ford
The iconic Girdwood-to-Eagle-River traverse. A cold, real river ford in the middle, plan it well.
O'Malley Peak
O'Malley Peak
Hard- Anchorage/Chugach
- 10 mi
- 3,300 ft
- ~6 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
330 ft/mi
- scree scramble
- iconic peak
- Glen Alps
The full O'Malley: scree, switchbacks and 3,300 lung-busting feet to one of the Hillside's iconic pointy peaks.
Williwaw Peak
Williwaw Peak
Hard- Anchorage/Chugach
- 16 mi
- 5,800 ft
- ~10.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
363 ft/mi
- all-day epic
- past Williwaw Lakes
- big summit
A 16-mile epic past Williwaw Lakes to a 5,000-ft-plus summit, the Chugach front range's serious ridge prize.
McHugh Peak
McHugh Peak
Hard- Anchorage/Chugach
- 7.8 mi
- 4,300 ft
- ~6 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
551 ft/mi
- Turnagain Arm climb
- tundra summit
- big vertical
Straight up from Turnagain Arm: 4,300 brutal feet of ridge to a broad tundra summit high above the tide flats.
McHugh & Rabbit Lakes (via McHugh)
- Anchorage/Chugach
- 12.5 mi
- 3,000 ft
- ~7 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
240 ft/mi
- two alpine lakes
- Suicide Peaks
- Seward Hwy start
A long climb from the Seward Highway over a tundra shoulder to two alpine lakes below the Suicide Peaks. No crowds.
Ptarmigan Peak
Ptarmigan Peak
Hard- Anchorage/Chugach
- 10 mi
- 3,200 ft
- ~6 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
320 ft/mi
- scree scramble
- near-5,000-ft summit
- Glen Alps
Beyond Flattop's shadow: a loose-rock scramble to a near-5,000-ft summit with front-row Powerline Valley views.
Falls Creek Trail
- Anchorage/Chugach
- 4 mi
- 2,400 ft
- ~3 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
600 ft/mi
- alpine bowl
- steep grind
- Dall sheep
A relentless grind from a Seward Highway pullout to an alpine lake in a glacier-carved bowl below the Suicide Peaks.
The Wedge
The Wedge
Hard- Anchorage/Chugach
- 12 mi
- 3,200 ft
- ~7 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
267 ft/mi
- Powerline approach
- pointy scramble
- valley views
Bike the Powerline flats, then scramble the pointy peak wedged between the Ship and Campbell creek valleys.
Indian Valley Trail
- Anchorage/Chugach
- 13 mi
- 2,000 ft
- ~6.5 hr
- in town
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
154 ft/mi
- old-growth forest
- Indian Creek Pass
- quiet valley
A long, gradual forest-to-tundra march up to Indian Creek Pass, the classic quiet backdoor into the Chugach interior.
Black Tail Rocks (via Baldy)
- Eagle River
- 4 mi
- 2,750 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
688 ft/mi
- summit
- scrambling
- alpine ridge
Tag Baldy first, then ridge-walk and scree-scramble to 4,446-ft Black Tail Rocks, high above Meadow Creek.
Harp Mountain
Harp Mountain
Hard- Eagle River
- 3 mi
- 2,500 ft
- ~3 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
833 ft/mi
- peak bagging
- steep
- panoramic views
Reputedly the easiest 5,000-footer in the Chugach, 2,500 ft of relentless up in barely a mile and a half.
Reed Lakes Trail
Reed Lakes Trail
Hard- Hatcher Pass
- 8.6 mi
- 2,200 ft
- ~5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
256 ft/mi
- alpine lakes
- waterfalls
- boulder scramble
Boulder-hop past waterfalls to twin turquoise alpine lakes ringed by granite spires. Hatcher Pass at its best.
Lazy Mountain
Lazy Mountain
Hard- Palmer
- 5 mi
- 3,000 ft
- ~4 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
600 ft/mi
- steep climb
- summit views
- valley overlook
Anything but lazy: a straight-up, near-switchback-free thigh-burner rewarded with sweeping Matanuska Valley views.
Matanuska Peak Trail
- Palmer
- 11 mi
- 5,670 ft
- ~8 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
515 ft/mi
- big summit
- boulder field
- endurance
A brutal all-day 5,600-foot grind to a rooftop-of-the-valley summit. Bring stamina, snacks, and no shame in turning back.
Pioneer Ridge (Austin Helmers)
- Palmer
- 12 mi
- 5,200 ft
- ~8.5 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
433 ft/mi
- alpine ridge
- river views
- relentless climb
A relentless forest-to-alpine climb above the Knik River toward Pioneer Peak. Massive views, matching burn in the calves.
Resurrection Pass North to Caribou Creek
- Hope
- 14 mi
- 900 ft
- ~6 hr
- ~1h18
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
64 ft/mi
- creekside
- backcountry cabin
- long day
Gentle creekside grades from Hope make a big-but-mellow 14-mile day out to Caribou Creek cabin in the Kenai backcountry.
Res Pass South to Trout Lake
- Cooper Landing
- 14 mi
- 1,100 ft
- ~6.5 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
79 ft/mi
- lake
- historic trail
- long day
Deep into Resurrection Pass to a trout-stocked lake. Gentle grade, but pack for a full-day push.
South Beach (Caines Head)
- Seward
- 13 mi
- 1,500 ft
- ~6 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
May-Oct
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
$5 (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
115 ft/mi
- beach
- WWII ruins
- tide-timed
Tide-timed beach march past WWII ruins to a wild bay beach. Miss the low tide, miss the trip.
Fort McGilvray (Caines Head)
- Seward
- 13.5 mi
- 2,000 ft
- ~6.5 hr
- ~2h05
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
Parking/fee
$5 (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
148 ft/mi
- WWII fort
- ocean views
- tide-timed
Time the tides to a WWII fort guarding Resurrection Bay. Bunkers, gun mounts, and big ocean views.
Res Pass South to Juneau Lake
- Cooper Landing
- 18 mi
- 1,200 ft
- ~8 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
67 ft/mi
- lake
- historic trail
- long day
Long, gentle push up Resurrection Pass to a cabin-dotted lake. Grayling, loons, and full-day legs.
Upper Russian Lake (Cooper Lake TH)
- Cooper Landing
- 18 mi
- 900 ft
- ~8 hr
- ~1h43
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
High, salmon stream
Parking/fee
$11 day-use parking (USFS)
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
50 ft/mi
- lake
- bears
- long day
Long, mellow valley walk to a glassy backcountry lake. Heavy bear country, make noise, stay sharp.
Johnson Pass to Bench Lake
- Moose Pass
- 18 mi
- 1,100 ft
- ~8 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
61 ft/mi
- alpine lake
- wildflowers
- bike-friendly
Long, low-grade haul to an alpine lake below the pass. Wildflowers up top; wheels welcome too.
Devil's Creek to Devil's Pass
- Moose Pass
- 20 mi
- 1,470 ft
- ~9 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
High, salmon stream
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
74 ft/mi
- alpine pass
- big views
- bears
Ten miles of gentle valley to a wide-open alpine pass. Big day, bigger views, real bear turf.
Johnson Pass Trail (Full Traverse)
- Moose Pass
- 23 mi
- 2,700 ft
- ~11 hr
- ~1h40
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Point-to-point
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
117 ft/mi
- alpine pass
- shuttle
- epic
The whole Johnson Pass trail, trailhead to trailhead. Set a shuttle; better on bikes or fast feet.
Mint Hut via Gold Mint Trail
- Hatcher Pass
- 16.8 mi
- 3,540 ft
- ~9 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
211 ft/mi
- river valley
- wildflowers
- backcountry hut
Follow the Little Susitna for miles until a tiny hut and a glacier reward your questionable life choices.
Snowbird Mine & Glacier Pass
- Hatcher Pass
- 4.8 mi
- 1,696 ft
- ~3 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
353 ft/mi
- historic mine
- glacier views
- wildlife
Grind up Archangel Valley to a ghost mine perched where no sane person would build one.
Marmot Mountain
Marmot Mountain
Hard- Hatcher Pass
- 2.8 mi
- 1,948 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
696 ft/mi
- steep climb
- panoramic views
- marmots
Nearly 2,000 feet in under three miles, because who needs switchbacks anyway.
Government Peak Loop
- Hatcher Pass
- 6.4 mi
- 3,740 ft
- ~5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
584 ft/mi
- big summit
- river
- wildflowers
A leg-melting loop to a proper summit that lords over the whole valley.
Microdot Peak
Microdot Peak
Hard- Hatcher Pass
- 2.9 mi
- 1,748 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
603 ft/mi
- steep ridge
- wildflowers
- valley views
Small name, big climb, and a ridgeline that earns every one of its 1,700 feet.
Bomber Glacier via Reed Lakes
- Hatcher Pass
- 10.7 mi
- 3,526 ft
- ~6.5 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
330 ft/mi
- glacier
- WWII wreck
- alpine lakes
Hike past the lakes to a glacier littered with a crashed 1950s bomber. Morbidly, gloriously cool.
Blueberry Knoll
Blueberry Knoll
Hard- Hatcher Pass
- 3.1 mi
- 1,512 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~1h30
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
High (Jun-Jul)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
488 ft/mi
- berry picking
- forest
- views
Climb through the trees to a knoll that lives up to its delicious name in late summer.
Lion's Head Trail
- Glacier View
- 2.1 mi
- 997 ft
- ~1.5 hr
- ~1h59
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
475 ft/mi
- glacier views
- scramble
- cliff-top
A short, steep scramble up a rock outcrop with a jaw-dropping look straight down onto the Matanuska Glacier. Crosses a private easement, check in at the posted number.
Gunsight Mountain
- Sheep Mountain
- 7.7 mi
- 3,858 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- ~2h13
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
501 ft/mi
- alpine
- raptor migration
- summit views
A long tundra climb to a dramatic notched summit above Tahneta Pass, with huge Wrangell and Chugach views, and hawks overhead in spring.
Old Man Creek Trail
- Chickaloon
- 18.6 mi
- 3,038 ft
- ~9.5 hr
- ~1h31
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
163 ft/mi
- backpacking
- lake
- wildlife
A big backcountry loop out of Chickaloon through forest and alpine lakes, a serious day or an overnight for strong hikers and horse packers.
Purinton Creek Trail
- Chickaloon
- 12.9 mi
- 2,486 ft
- ~7 hr
- ~1h31
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Point-to-point
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
193 ft/mi
- historic route
- Dall sheep
- river
Part of the historic Chickaloon-Knik-Nelchina trail system, a long, multi-use route with early-summer Dall sheep and moose.
Belanger Pass & Crooked Creek Loop
- Eureka
- 21 mi
- 4,812 ft
- ~11.5 hr
- ~2h31
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Quieter, earn it
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
229 ft/mi
- alpine
- ATV route
- caribou
A rugged high-country loop on old mining and ATV roads above treeline near Eureka, caribou and Dall sheep country, best late summer.
Twin Peaks Trail
Twin Peaks Trail
Hard- Eklutna
- 2.5 mi
- 1,800 ft
- ~2 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
720 ft/mi
- alpine overlook
- Dall sheep
- switchbacks
Switchbacks climb fast from Eklutna Lake to a big alpine overlook, Dall sheep are almost a given on the slopes above.
East Twin Peak Trail
- Eklutna
- 8.2 mi
- 4,812 ft
- ~6.5 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
587 ft/mi
- summit
- scree
- big views
A lung-buster past the Twin Peaks overlook up steep scree to a ~5,600-ft summit with the whole Eklutna valley underfoot.
Peak 2 Trail
Peak 2 Trail
Hard- Eklutna
- 3.3 mi
- 1,702 ft
- ~2.5 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
516 ft/mi
- steep
- panoramas
- alpine
A short, unrelentingly steep direct ascent above Eklutna Lake, quick payoff of lake-and-mountain panoramas.
Bold Ridge Trail
Bold Ridge Trail
Hard- Eklutna
- 16.9 mi
- 4,140 ft
- ~9.5 hr
- ~30 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
245 ft/mi
- ridge
- glacier views
- long
Bike or walk the lakeside, then climb a spur to the shoulder of Bold Peak for glacier and lake views, a full, rewarding day.
Crow Pass Trail (Eagle River end)
- Eagle River
- 11 mi
- 1,420 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
$5 day use·Alaska State Parks pass covers it
Details & conditions
Best window
Jun-Sep
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Moderate
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
129 ft/mi
- historic Iditarod
- Heritage Falls
- river
The north end of the historic Iditarod route from the Nature Center, Echo Bend, Heritage Falls and, for through-hikers, the famous Eagle River ford.
Hanging Valley Lake Trail
- Eagle River
- 10.1 mi
- 2,001 ft
- ~5.5 hr
- ~18 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
Parking/fee
$5 parking (AK State Parks)
👣 Traffic
Popular (near Anchorage)
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
198 ft/mi
- hanging valley
- alpine lake
- waterfalls
Branches off South Fork into a glacial hanging valley below Hurdygurdy Mountain, alpine lake, tarns and waterfalls. Starts across a bit of private property.
Lazy Moose & Morgan Horse Trail
- Palmer
- 5.5 mi
- 1,801 ft
- ~3.5 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
327 ft/mi
- Lazy Mountain
- valley views
- forest
A gentler way up the Lazy Mountain massif linking the Lazy Moose and Morgan Horse trails, forest to open valley views without the brutal front-side grind.
McRoberts Creek Trail
- Palmer
- 6.4 mi
- 3,261 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- ~50 min
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
510 ft/mi
- alpine
- Matanuska Peak access
- strenuous
A steep alpine approach on the Lazy Mountain/Matanuska Peak massif, a strenuous loop option for strong legs and clear days.
Granite Tors Trail
- Chena River SRA
- 15 mi
- 3,300 ft
- ~8 hr
- Full day, 7h56
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
220 ft/mi
- tors
- alpine
- ridge
- berries
A full-day loop up to the Plain of Monuments, a broad alpine tundra shelf studded with granite tor pinnacles up to 100 feet tall. Five to eight hours per the agency; carry water, there is little on the ridge.
Chena Dome Trail
Chena Dome Trail
Hard- Chena River SRA
- 30 mi
- 4,421 ft
- ~15 hr
- Full day, 7h56
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Loop
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
147 ft/mi
- alpine
- ridge
- wildflowers
- multi-day
The longest trail in the recreation area, a full loop around the Angel Creek drainage above timberline almost the entire way. The agency's own page lists this at 30 miles round trip and calls it a three-day trip for most parties; day hikers use either trailhead for a partial climb to the ridge.
Compeau Trail
Compeau Trail
Hard- Chena River SRA
- 18 mi
- 2,150 ft
- ~8.5 hr
- Full day, 7h56
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Common, make noise
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
119 ft/mi
- alpine
- river
- berries
A long backcountry route to the Colorado Creek Canyon and a public use cabin, mostly used by overnight parties rather than day hikers. Included for completeness of the recreation area's trail system; day hikers should expect to turn around well short of the cabin.
Wickersham Creek Trail to Lee's Cabin
- White Mountains NRA
- 12.9 mi
- 1,833 ft
- ~6.5 hr
- Full day, 6h51
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
142 ft/mi
- alpine
- river
- cabin
Follows Wickersham Creek from the Summit Trail junction out to a public use cabin, a long day or an overnight. BLM confirms the trail is open to hikers year-round with only a spring vehicle restriction that does not affect foot travel.
Donnelly Dome
Donnelly Dome
Hard- Delta Junction / Richardson Hwy
- 2.3 mi
- 1,338 ft
- ~2 hr
- Full day, 6h18
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
582 ft/mi
- alpine
- ridge
- wildlife
A short, steep climb to a landmark dome south of Delta Junction with sweeping views of the Alaska Range and the Tanana Valley. The dome sits inside the Donnelly Training Area used by the U.S. Army; a Sikes Act recreational access permit from the USARTRAK iSportsman site is required before hiking here, and hikers must check in to area TA 531 on the same site.
McManus Mountain Hike
- Steese Highway
- 7.5 mi
- 2,215 ft
- ~4.5 hr
- Full day, 6h51
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
295 ft/mi
An off trail alpine summit hike from the Twelvemile Summit trailhead, following the Pinnell Mountain Trail briefly before climbing tundra slopes to McManus Mountain.
Mastodon Dome Hike
- Steese Highway
- 11.65 mi
- 3,068 ft
- ~6.5 hr
- Full day, 6h51
- 🚫 no dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
263 ft/mi
A largely off trail alpine ridge walk above treeline from the Eagle Summit wayside to Mastodon Dome, through some of the Steese Highway's best wildflower tundra with Dall sheep and caribou country along the way.
Cascade Trail
Cascade Trail
Hard- Talkeetna
- 4 mi
- 1,800 ft
- ~3 hr
- ~2h11
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
450 ft/mi
- steep climb
- alpine ridge
- Alaska Range views
The steepest, shortest way onto Kesugi Ridge: 1800 feet of climbing in 2 miles straight up from Byers Lake Campground to the alpine.
Upper Troublesome Creek Trail
- Talkeetna
- 23.4 mi
- 2,300 ft
- ~11 hr
- ~2h11
- dogs
Details & conditions
Best window
Jul-Sep (snow lingers high)
Route
Out & back
🦟 Bugs
Low (breezy/high)
Bears
Present, stay aware
👣 Traffic
Steady traffic
👶 Kids
Leave the littles home
Grade
98 ft/mi
- alpine ridge
- remote
- bear country
The southernmost, longest way onto Kesugi Ridge, 2300 feet of climbing over almost 12 miles one way. Most day hikers turn around at timberline well short of the ridge; the full trail is really a backpacking approach, and the DNR itself notes seasonal closures here for bear activity and flooding.
No trails in range, widen the range up top.