I've hesitated to start this thread for a while for fear folks here might see it as some sort of sacrilege but I've decided to give it a go.
The Stampede Trail is a remarkable hike. It's challenging (length and river crossings) and it's rewarding (you get to SEE THE BUS.) It's also not the worst scenery in the place; to be honest I don't think there really is an ugly patch of Alaskan wilderness. That said, I think there are definitely some much MUCH more beautiful trails and hikes to do in Alaska. Now I'm not suggesting that you abandon your plans to go see the bus in favor of a different hike BUT if you have extra time, if you already live in Alaska, or if your bus trip gets cut short by a flooded Teklanika river, I'd like to suggest some other hikes you might be interested in that are absolutely spectacular.
For right now I've got two I'd like to talk about. I'll post more later, and I would LOVE for you guys with some experience up in AK to chime in and list off some of your favorite Alaskan hikes.
1) Reed Lakes / Bomber Glacier
photo credit: Jeremy Egger
photo credit: robertlroyall
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikhalfacre/galleries/72157627004697579/ (PHOTO GALLERY)
This hike is great. It's a hair under 5 miles one way and an elevation gain of about 4000 feet. You start out along a creek, pass an old mine shack, go up some switch backs and then across a boulder field. Next up is lower Reed Lake. It's deep turquoise water comes from the Upper Reed Lake, seperated by a short stream and a large waterfall cascading over bare rock. From upper reed lake it's a short climb up a scree slope to a ridge line and then out onto the glacier itself to the wreckage of a WWII era bomber, crashed there many decades ago. There are great spots to camp at upper reed lake. I myself have not actually made it to the bomber. I got turned around in a dense fog/rain and ended up having to put it off til 2012.
2) Crow Pass
photo credit: Jeremy Egger
photo credit: Jeremy Egger
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikhalfacre/galleries/72157627004629909/ (PHOTO GALLERY)
http://vimeo.com/15531767 (VIDEO)
This hike is 24 miles one way, and is best done as a thru hike. It goes from Girdwood to Eagle River (or vice versa) over Crow Pass on the historic Iditarod Trail. This trail I have no experience with, but it is at the top of my list of to dos for next year. The photos I have from friends' trips, and the photos in the flickr gallery I linked to, are STUNNING. Another thing that makes this hike great for folks coming from out of state, is it's proximity to Anchorage in the Chugach State Park. There's a parks cabin at the top of the pass that you can reserve/rent if you book it in advance, as well as views of Raven glacier (or you could make a side trip and walk right up to it.) Definitely worth checking into if you're going to have some free time in AK.
So everybody, what hikes have you done/really enjoyed in Alaska in addition to the Stampede Trail?
Other great hikes in Alaska
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Other great hikes in Alaska
Erik Halfacre - Moderator
info@pathfinderalaska.com
http://www.stampedetrail.info
info@pathfinderalaska.com
http://www.stampedetrail.info
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- Location: Palmer, AK
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GULL ROCK
Gull Rock
photo credit: Jenna Halfacre
photo credit: Jenna Halfacre
photo credit: Jenna Halfacre
To hike to Gull Rock, drive from Anchorage South towards Kenai, but take the turnoff to Hope. The trailhead is just past the actual town of hope at Porcupine Campground. From there it's a five mile walk in to the rock, along coastal trail overlooking Turnagain Arm. Eleveation gain is minimal, a few hundred feet tops, but you can see all the way out across the inlet and all the way up Girdwood. If you are looking for amazing scenery and a pretty easy hike, this is definitely the trip. It also gets less traffic than a lot of the other spots closer to Anchorage.
Once you get to the rock itself, there are several spots in grassy clears on the rock peninsula jutting out into the arm. The best spot (in my opinion) is the spot at the grass clearing farthest out on the peninsula. You are about a hundred feet off the water straight up the side of a cliff, but you have plenty of nice soft grass to pitch a tent in, or even trees to tie a hammock between. The nearest water source is about 1/4 mile back the trail where a stream comes down the mountainside into the ocean. From camp you can take a walk along the beach, where there is plenty of driftwood for a beach fire.
This trail also seems to melt off and dry out sooner than most of the other trails in the area, thanks to it's low elevation, high sun exposure, and ocean breeze. If you are going to Alaska in the early season (early May on) this is definitely a hike I'd look into. Absolutely beautiful.
photo credit: Jeremy Egger
photo credit: Jenna Halfacre
photo credit: Jenna Halfacre
photo credit: Jenna Halfacre
To hike to Gull Rock, drive from Anchorage South towards Kenai, but take the turnoff to Hope. The trailhead is just past the actual town of hope at Porcupine Campground. From there it's a five mile walk in to the rock, along coastal trail overlooking Turnagain Arm. Eleveation gain is minimal, a few hundred feet tops, but you can see all the way out across the inlet and all the way up Girdwood. If you are looking for amazing scenery and a pretty easy hike, this is definitely the trip. It also gets less traffic than a lot of the other spots closer to Anchorage.
Once you get to the rock itself, there are several spots in grassy clears on the rock peninsula jutting out into the arm. The best spot (in my opinion) is the spot at the grass clearing farthest out on the peninsula. You are about a hundred feet off the water straight up the side of a cliff, but you have plenty of nice soft grass to pitch a tent in, or even trees to tie a hammock between. The nearest water source is about 1/4 mile back the trail where a stream comes down the mountainside into the ocean. From camp you can take a walk along the beach, where there is plenty of driftwood for a beach fire.
This trail also seems to melt off and dry out sooner than most of the other trails in the area, thanks to it's low elevation, high sun exposure, and ocean breeze. If you are going to Alaska in the early season (early May on) this is definitely a hike I'd look into. Absolutely beautiful.
photo credit: Jeremy Egger
Erik Halfacre - Moderator
info@pathfinderalaska.com
http://www.stampedetrail.info
info@pathfinderalaska.com
http://www.stampedetrail.info
Re: Other great hikes in Alaska
when i was up there last month me and my pal went to white mtn. gorgeous hike!
Re: Other great hikes in Alaska
Great stuff Erik.
Re: Other great hikes in Alaska
ﺔAlways have a romantic idea about the beautiful Alaska I hope that someday I visit, I alway imagine I visit and have wolf there:-) I do not know why? I love to go farway and distance from the the cities and nuisaes I love the countryside as the U.S. and Canadiﺠ
-so uk too
-so uk too
محبة
رحمة
سلام
و جمال
هذا يعني انسانية
رحمة
سلام
و جمال
هذا يعني انسانية
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Re: Other great hikes in Alaska
Ditto admin! Wish I was there...your photos DO bring us right in! The best part...the kids getting 'full'! Keep up the great work!
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Other great hikes in Alaska
As posted above my ideas for SL's next Great Nation war, so sorry for the double topic as I should have done this when I first posted via using a poll.
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Other great hikes in Alaska
As posted above my ideas for SL's next Great Nation war, so sorry for the double topic as I should have done this when I first posted via using a poll.
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