Sheep Mountain Lodge Trail System

The feel

Miners started these trails, and today 12 miles of them are maintained on public land behind Sheep Mountain Lodge. They sit at the foot of a Dall sheep and mountain goat preserve, and birds and wildflowers are easy to find along the way.

The named routes include Thriller, a mountain bike run, and Corkscrew, where there is a picnic spot with a view at the top. In fall, blueberries and low bush cranberries bring pickers out in numbers, and in winter the same trails are groomed for cross-country skiing.

What to expect

Route and terrain

12 miles of maintained trails, rated moderate, with named routes including Roller Coaster, Cruiser, Thriller, Corkscrew, Squirrel and Serpentine.

Crowds and best time

Peak blueberry season runs Aug. 15 to Sept 10, and low bush cranberry peaks all of September. On weekends in that window there can be as many as 40 pickers on the trails.

Parking

Reach the trails at Sheep Mountain Lodge or at the public airstrip off the highway.

Fees and passes

A wintertime donation of $5 is asked to offset grooming costs.

Season and access

Open to hikers and berry pickers in fall and groomed for cross-country skiing in winter. The lodge is at Glenn Hwy Mile 113.5.

Mingo says

Come between Aug. 15 and Sept 10 for blueberries. Cranberries hold on through all of September.

Before you go

• Pick up a trail map from the lodge; maps are provided in each cabin.
• Call Sheep Mountain Lodge at (907) 745-5121 with questions about the trails.
• In winter, a $5 donation is asked to offset grooming costs.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.