It’s no trouble getting to the Chugach. The park blends into East Anchorage. The rolling foothills quickly give way to mountains iconic to the Anchorage skyline. The Chugach is mere minutes from downtown Anchorage. The largest state park in the nation, Wood-Tikchik State Park, is also in Alaska. But the massive Wood-Tikchik is much harder to get to. Just north of Dillingham, Wood-Tikchik is more than 300 miles away by air.
Chugach State Park is a recreational wonderland; the park holds some of Alaska’s most accessible camping, hiking, ATVing, boating, biking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, rafting and climbing.
Some of the most popular mountain ascents are minutes from downtown. Flattop Mountain rises to 3,500 feet, Bird Ridge to 3,505 feet, Rendezvous Peak to 4,101 feet, and Wolverine Peak to 4,455. The view from the top may be stunning, but that doesn't mean climbing experience is a requisite. Flattop Mountain, for example, draws casual hikers and families.
Eagles, moose, grizzly bears, wolves and lynx call the park home. High alpine wildflowers bloom in the rocky terrain, roaring glacier-fed rivers carve their way down from the slopes and mature spruce tower in the forest. Explorers will find more than 50 glaciers waiting inside the park.
With such a massive park, there are plenty of access points. Eklutna Lake, the Eagle River Nature Center, Glen Alps Trailhead, Bird Creek and the town of Girdwood all lead into the heart of the park. Whichever path you choose, breathtaking vistas and natural wonders await. Learn more about the park and the opportunities from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Ready to hit the trails? Download the Chugach State Park Trail Map.
