Anchorage Trails & Wilderness Hikes
Step into the wild open space and open the door to adventure.
Flattop Mountain
Anchorage's most-popular day-hike, this 3,510-foot mountain with its characteristic plateau summit holds excitement for both the beginner and expert hiker. The round-trip hike is just over three miles, with an elevation gain of 1,252 feet. Strong hikers can complete the route in an hour.
Good boots are recommended on this trail that starts as a gravel path but ends with a steep rock scramble. Dress appropriately and pack extra clothing, water and some food. Access Flattop via the Glen Alps entrance to Chugach State Park, use caution along the cliffs and be aware of falling rocks kicked loose by other hikers.
Turnagain Trail
Once a telegraph line corridor and part of a mail route before Anchorage was a city, this trail is a pleasant amble along the moody Turnagain Arm. Accessed via Potter Creek (Mile 115.1 Seward Highway), McHugh Creek (Mile 111.9), Rainbow (Mile 108.3) or Windy Corner (Mile 106.7), the Turnagain Trail traverse is 9. 4 miles one way.
Set aside five to eight hours while hiking up mild hills and across a plateau peppered with leafy trees and gurgling streams. Dall sheep and the occasional bear can be spotted along this sheltered trail, which has a high point of 900 feet and is excellent for novice hikers.
Williwaw Valley
Efforts pay off handsomely with this lengthy but scenic 14-mile round-trip hike. With emerald lakes shimmering in the shadow of Mount Williwaw (5,445 feet elevation), Dall sheep traversing the ridgetops and wildflowers wearing nature's cologne liberally, the Williwaw Lakes hike best represents Southcentral wilderness.
Accessed via the Glen Alps or Prospect Heights entrances to Chugach State Park, the trail gains 1,585 feet while running parallel to Middle Fork Campbell Creek. Expect to spend eight to 12 hours in a good pair of hiking boots, watch for moose and ptarmigan in the valley and remain self-sufficient. Plenty of campsites dot the Williwaw valley, and the hike works well as an overnighter.
Download the Chugach State Park Trail Map (in PDF) to find more than 25 trailheads in the Chugach State Park.
When hiking in and around Anchorage, be sure to pack appropriately for each hike. Weather patterns swing hard, and all water should be packed in or filtered. Include snacks and file a hike plan with a friend. Stay on the established trail to protect delicate vegetation, pack out what you pack in and respect private property.
