Alaska Trails
Paths to Adventure

Alaska Trails are available for many purposes—all of them are open to hiking, backpacking, bicycling, etc. and in winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing if there's enough snow.



Many are open to horseback riding and other animals such as mules, burros and llamas. Some are open to all-terrain or off-road vehicles. And most are open to snowmobiling, dog mushing (running dog-sleds) and other winter sports when the snow is deep enough. Motorcycles are NOT allowed on any Alaska trails that I know of.

When there are other exceptions, restrictions or special uses, I'll mention them with each trail's description.

Some people consider rivers and other waterways as part of the Alaska trails system. But if you want to look those up for water activities, you'll find them on the Alaskan Rivers page.

Many of these Alaska trails were developed by early prospectors, trappers and other adventurers. Now they have been turned into permanently marked and maintained trails. When I was a kid, we often followed paths through the woods that had moose or rabbit droppings along them. Sometimes they just ended in nowhere and we'd turn around and follow the path back. So I'm not sure if those were made by man or moose! But you'll also find odd paths at times that aren't part of any trail system.

Hiking on Alaskan trails can be quite an adventure. Even though they are maintained, you can still run into fallen trees or other obstructions, creeks or swamps that are difficult to cross, rock-slides, or in the winter, snow-slides. And it is quite common to see wildlife - including bears and moose. You do have to be alert! It's better to hike in groups and talk or be noisy while you are walking. This helps prevent an unexpected meeting with a bear. And then, there's always the mosquitoes to deal with.

So with those precautions, here are a few Alaska trails to explore:

Alaska trails In the Fairbanks Area - Mostly for Winter Use:

Quartz Creek Trail - This trail is in the White Mountains National Recreation Area north of Fairbanks and is a 16 mile trail. This popular trail starts at the east end of the Nome Creek Road and goes through black spruce forests with streams and across open hillsides. You'll see some very interesting standing rock formations, called 'tors'. You can hike, horseback ride or take an ATV on this trail. It is open to many uses so you have to watch for other traffic.

The Summit Trail: - This trail doesn't allow the use of motor vehicles, so if you want a quieter trail, this is the one to take. As the name suggests, it follows a ridge that goes from the Elliott Highway to Beaver Creek and is quite long. A shelter is available about 8 miles from the beginning of the trail that you can use, if it is not already occupied. There is a parking area at Mile 28 of the Elliott Highway, where you can start on this trail or several other trails. Summit Trail Shelter: +65 16.4, -147 58.0

Most trails in the White Mountains area are considered better suited to winter use, when the ground is frozen. You're able to reach the back-country areas and public-use cabins easier with snow machines, dog sleds or skiing.

Contact information for locations and maps of above trails, and public use cabin rentals: Eastern Interior Field Office, 1150 University Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99709, 907-474-2200 or 1-800-437-7021. To get recorded information on the condition of these northern trails, call: 907-474-2372.

Alaska trails in the Central Region: - Here are a few trails in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park:

There are a number of trails that start from the ghost town of McCarthy, going to the old abandoned copper mines in the area. You'll find trails to Bonanza Mine, Jumbo Mine and Erie Mine by following the trail heading to Root Glacier at the base of the mountains, then going up into the hills on the right side of the trail. You will cross two creeks along the way.

There are also routes to explore glacial areas themselves but you must be prepared for that type of travel! There are four or five bear-resistant food lockers along this trail that you can use also, so you don't have to carry a bear-resistant cannister with you.

You can get complete directions for these and a number other trails in the area from the Park Service stations in McCarthy, Kennicott, Chitina or the Park Headquarters off of the Richardson Highway.

Alaska trails in the Anchorage Area:

Eklutna Lake Trail - This trail is in the Chugach State Park. The Eklutna Lake Road exit is at Mile 26 of the Glenn Highway. It's a ten mile drive to the lake, where you can park. Canoeing and kayaking on the lake can be fun and you can also ride horseback around it. ATVs are also allowed here. The trail goes all the way around one side of the lake and has four other trails leading off of it: Twin Peaks Trail, Bold Ridge Trail, East Fork Trail and Eklutna Glacier Trail. The last one, of course, takes you to the Glacier, where you are likely to spot some Dall sheep or mountain goats on the sheer rock wall next to the glacier.

Contact Information for above trail: Alaska State Parks, Chugach District, HC 52 Box 8999, Indian, AK 99540 - 907-345-5014

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail - If you have children that want to rollerblade, this trail is paved and ready for them. Go into downtown Anchorage and go down toward the shipyards on 'E' Street and you'll find West 2nd Avenue. The trail starts near the railroad depot on West 2nd Avenue and it is 11 miles one way. This will provide plenty of exercise and it's an easy trail. You can't get lost either, as it is paved and runs along the coastline. You'll see Mt. Susitna, better known as the "Sleeping Lady" mountain across Cook Inlet and you'll go right by Earthquake Park, ending up in Kincade Park. Moose frequent this trail occasionally, so keep your eyes open and don't run into one!

Alaska trails on the Kenai Peninsula:

With these next four trails, you could actually start at the north end of the Kenai Peninsula (at the town of Hope) and go all the way to Seward. It would be a long trek, but if you are up to it, have fun!

North Resurrection Pass Trail - To get to this one, you'll go through a gold-mining area and the former ghost town of Hope. Take the Hope Highway, which turns north from the Seward Highway after you get on the Kenai Peninsula. This was one of my favorite places to go when I was a kid.

From Hope, turn south onto Wagon Road (Resurrection Creek Road) and drive four miles to the trail-head, from which you get a nice view of Cook Inlet. The trail, which is a little over 19 miles one way, continues on up into the nicely sloping mountains and is a fairly easy trail. Horseback riding and other pack animals are not allowed on the trail from April 1 to June 30. I suspect this is because it becomes rather muddy and slippery at that time. All winter sports are allowed when the snow is deep enough but snow-machines and other motor vehicles are NOT allowed from February 16 through November 30. You can fish in Resurrection Creek, which the trail follows, and hunt or just view the wildlife.

South Resurrection Pass Trail - You get on this Alaska trail from Mile 52 of the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing--or just continue south from the North Trail (above) and you'll end up on the Sterling Highway. The parking lot for the trail is on the north side of the Highway and this is another 19 mile trail—one way. It is also a fairly easy trail. Two other trails connect with this one and the North Trail—Devil's Creek or Devil's Pass Trail and Summit Creek Trail. If you take either one of these trails, you'll end up on the Seward Highway, north of where it connects with the Sterling Highway. The South Resurrection Trail allows the same traffic and has the same restrictions as the North Trail.

Russian Lakes Trail - Instead of parking on the north side of the Sterling Highway at Mile 52, turn onto the Russian River Campground Road on the south side of the Highway. Trail-head parking is one mile further. The trail is 21 miles one way and is a fairly easy trail.

You will be following the Russian River as it goes through the Lower Russian Lake, then to the Upper Russian Lake. After that it continues on past Cooper Lake and you end up at Kenai Lake. The good part is, the trail stays in the lowlands, so it's not a strenuous hike. Allows same traffic and has same restrictions as above two trails.

All these lakes should tell you there is a LOT of opportunity for fishing. It's also a great area for wildlife viewing and hunting. And you can take a mountain bike if you don't want to hike the distance. Also, winter sports are common here.

If you don't want to go back the way you came, you can go north along the edge of Kenai Lake until you hit Snug Harbor Road. It's about a 12 mile trip back to the Sterling Highway on that road. And sometimes Snug Harbor Road may not be drivable in winter.

Resurrection River Trail - If you start from the Russian Lake Trail (above), at upper Russian Lake, instead of continuing on that trail, take this one and you'll end up in the Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward. After awhile, you'll see that this trail follows Resurrection River. And eventually it connects with the old Exit Glacier Road. The road will take you to the Seward Highway, just a few miles north of Seward. Of course, if you are already in Seward, you can do this in reverse, ending up at Upper Russian Lake.

The length of this trail is 16 miles one way, but don't let that fool you—this is a difficult trail and is only open from Spring through Fall. Allows same traffic and has same restrictions as above three trails.

Contact Information for Chugach National Forest: 3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, Tel: 907-743-9500; Fax: 907-743-9476 OR USDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Seward Ranger District, P.O. Box 390, Seward, AK 99664

You'll find Alaska trails that have been established in National and State Parks, Wildlife Refuges and Preserves, Recreation Areas, National Forests and other public lands. You can pick up maps and descriptions of Alaska trails from the State and National Park Headquarters where you visit, Ranger Stations, Bureau of Land Management Offices, Alaska Parks and Recreation Offices and other public lands offices.

Also, you'll often find cabins available for public use, either along the trails or close to them. And the people at the local offices will be able to tell you if there is a fee for their use. They may also know about additional Alaska trails in their areas that have not yet been mapped.

Also try Alaska hiking trails for very experienced backpackers - and happy hiking on Alaska Trails!

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