Alaska Hiking
The trails in Alaska
offer superb opportunities for hiking, biking
and walking. From the rainforest beauty of Mt.
Jumbo, to the steep and stunning alpine terrain
of Mt. Juneau. The scenery and opportunity to
observe wildlife are unparalleled. Great
mountains for steep hikes and endless alpine
views, hidden coves and lakes for leisurely
strolls, to watch wildlife and spectacular
scenery.
Exploring the great outdoors and adventure
travel activities continue daily despite an
occasional showers. Mountains with misty clouds
draped about their shoulders are softened and
magically beautiful.
Alaska has trails for every level of hiking
experience. Some of the more popular areas
are:
Chugach Mountains
(Near Anchorage):
Chugach National Forest, the Kenai National
Wildlife Refuge, and the state of Alaska have
provided a network of trails in the Chugach and
Kenai Mountains for those of the backpacking
persuasion who prefer to tread the beaten path.
Trails from the fringes of Anchorage ascend
steeply into the high country of Chugach State
Park, sparing users the effort of bushwhacking
through the lower elevations on their way to
the alpine tundra.
On the Kenai Peninsula, an extensive network of
trails provides access to subalpine lakes and
moose-filled meadows at the foot of snow-clad
mountains. The Resurrection Trail, which runs
from the village of Hope to the city of Seward,
provides a great route for extended trips, with
forest service cabins (nominal charge, advance
reservations required) provided along the way.
During his early exploration of this area in
1899, Lieutenant John Herron noted that "the
mountains are high and their steep sides from
timberline down are covered with timber, brush,
fallen trees, rocks, and ravines, making travel
very annoying." Not much has changed in 100
years, and thus bushwhacking is not recommended
in this area.
Chena State Recreation
Area (Fairbanks):
This is a
pleasant spot in the foothills north of
Fairbanks. Developed trails are available for
day hikes (Angel Rock, the Granite Tors) or
extended backpacks (Ester Dome). This forested
country is known for its geological oddities,
the granite towers or tors that protrude from
ridgetops like silent sentinels. Rock climbers
like the solid granite that is found in this
neck of the woods, while canoeists can find
pleasant paddling on the waters of the Chena
River. This area is reached by traveling about
40 miles north of Fairbanks on the Chena Hot
Springs Road, a paved thoroughfare that departs
from the Steese Highway just outside Fairbanks.
The privately owned hot springs at the end of
the road have been developed into a resor
Kenai Fjords
(Seward):
Although
Kenai Fjords National Park is most easily
accessed by boat, there are some opportunities
for those of us who are limited to shoe leather
as a means of transportation. The Exit Glacier
area features day hikes of varying intensity,
most notably the Harding Icefield trail, which
runs beside Exit Glacier to the Harding
Icefield. The icefield itself is traversable on
foot or (preferably) cross-country skis for
adventurous souls who take the time to
familiarize themselves with the hazards of
glacier travel. Major crevasses are well marked
on topographic maps and can be avoided if some
care is taken. The park has its headquarters
just outside of Seward, which is a four hour
drive from Anchorage.
Seward has outlets for camping and fishing
gear, as well as full-service grocery stores.
Near Seward, primitive, unmaintained trails run
west up Mount Marathon, a strenuous day hike
that rewards the successful with a sweeping
view of Resurrection Bay. Another trail runs
southward along the bayshore, eventually
reaching the old World War II coastal defense
installation on Caines Head, a popular
destination for backpackers. Much of this route
is submerged during high tides; consult local
tide tables before setting out.
Kachemak Bay State
Park (Homer):
This
wilderness gem is set across Kachemak Bay from
Homer on the southern tip of the Kenai
Peninsula (a four hour drive from Anchorage).
All services are offered in Homer; there are
none in the park itself, which is accessible
only by boat or airplane. At the time of this
writing, a round trip to the park by water taxi
cost $50 and included a tour of the seabird
rookeries at Gull Island. In the park, there is
an extensive and well-maintained trail system
around Halibut Cove, featuring trails that
access spectacular glaciers, climb high onto
alpine ridges and mountaintops, and wind along
forested coves. Many of the trails along the
coast require some hiking below the high-tide
line; appropriate precautions should be taken.
The eastern corner of the park is a wilderness
without trails, and provides a challenge for
even the experienced backcountry traveler.
The Chilkoot Trail
(Skagway):
This historic gold rush route crosses one of
only three ice-free passages between the shores
of the Alaskan panhandle and the old goldfields
of the Klondike. The easiest access is via the
ferry, but a paved highway also connects
Skagway with the Alaska Highway near
Whitehorse, Yukon. A railway parallels the
route to offer a scenic and unusual way to get
back to your starting point. Because this route
crosses the border with Canada, all backpackers
must first clear customs. Due to the popularity
of this route, travelers should expect crowds
of fellow hikers.
The trek begins in the
coastal rainforest near Skagway, climbs through
the stark boulder fields and windswept tundra
of Chilkoot Pass, and then passes into the
boreal forest of the Canadian interior. Along
the way, travelers may encounter artifacts cast
aside by gold rush prospectors. The trail is 33
miles in length, and takes from three to five
days to complete. It is administered by the
National Park Service, with permits available
at the Skagway visitor center. Travelers
planning to traverse this rugged and often
muddy route should gather information well in
advance. The pass may be snowbound late into
summer, so be sure to check the prevailing
conditions before you go
Katmai National
Park:
This
sprawling expanse of snow-clad volcanoes and
coastal brushlands occupies the base of the
Alaska Peninsula. Katmai National Park can be
reached by scheduled airline service from
Anchorage to King Salmon, and by charter plane
from there. Expect to find limited provisions
and high prices in King Salmon, because most
items arrive by air freight. The area is noted
for its abundance of brown bears and caribou
and boasts the largest specimens of moose in
the world. Recent volcanism is evident in the
Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a barren and
broken land of fumaroles and volcanic ash. The
alpine country of the higher mountains is well
suited to backpacking, although the low country
is choked with thickets of willow.
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