Bear Valley: Golden View Trailhead has great access to McHugh Peak, and view from ridge is one of the best view of Anchorage and Chugach mountains. The Anchorage Park Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity, to support local parks and trails in partnership with the Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department. Just follow the ridge west to the summit of McHugh. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. A black bear explores the roof of a home in Anchorage’s Bear Valley/Facebook The SARS-CoV-2 virus might have upended the world, but in Alaska’s largest city, some things haven’t changed. After a third of a mile from the parking lot, the trail enters open tundra. Anchorage local Matias Saari and his trusty husky, Rainy, run a ridge above Bear Valley in the Chugach Mountains. Car, train, or group tour. The Snow Bear retreat boast the best views in Anchorage. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a fantastic opportunity to get excellent photographs of your favorite Alaska wild critters ... Girdwood is known for excellent restaurants … Black bear hunting in the rest of the Municipality allows only one black bear … For more about how the information on this site should be used, please click here. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Bear Valley Road Runner. Please check your email to verify your subscription. My time: 2.5 hours, Rabbit Creek routes (East Ridge): ~10 miles round trip, ~2,900 ft. elevation gain. Bear Mountain towers over Mirror Lake in the Peter's Creek area. More Information. Because it is south-facing in a high-wind area next to the ocean, this route is often fully snow-free as soon as early May. After about a mile, turn right on Whaley. Bear Valley route (North Ridge): 5.4 miles round trip, 2,300 ft. elevation gain. My time: 5 hours, McHugh Creek route (West Ridge): 7.8 miles round trip, 4,300 ft. elevation gain. The creek is generally low and easy to cross. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. ... Bear Valley. Difficulty: Class 2s4. At the last rocky point before the summit, the trail disperses onto a broad face that sweeps up toward McHugh’s craggy crown. A brown bear killed a 44-year-old hiker deep in the South Fork Eagle River Valley and mauled a member of a search party looking for him on Wednesday, Anchorage police said. From the trailhead, the clearly-signed trail begins at the parking lot and switchbacks through dense alder toward the broad shoulder of McHugh’s north ridge. Where Alaskans may perceive Anchorage’s narrow, steep, and sometimes rocky trails to be just another day in paradise, newcomers to the state, especially those with little or no hiking experience, may find the trail … The north ridge of McHugh Peak. Travel on a set itinerary with lodging and tours booked in advance. Some 50 miles north of Anchorage, this 1.5-mile trail makes for a fine family outing. Those who park on nearby streets risk tickets from APD, though enforcement is uneven and the legality of the “No Parking” signs and tickets has been questioned. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, Guides to the best locations around the state to view wildlife. To access the Rabbit Creek route, park at the Rabbit Creek Trailhead at the end of Canyon (Upper Hiland) Road. Brett Woelber on the summit of Ptarmigan Peak, with the west ridge of McHugh Peak rising out of the clouds in the background. Song: n u a g e s - … Follow the large-well-maintained trail about 400 feet until it intersects with the Turnagain Arm Trail. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. … There are many unofficial trails, game trails, and old inholding trails in this area. Zillow has 30 homes for sale in Bear Valley Anchorage. My notes on the summit pinnacle itself are in the Bear Valley route description above. Take Clark’s Road off of Rabbit Lakes, then follow the Bear Valley switchbacks up to the trailhead. This expansiveness and proximity to Anchorage make McHugh an excellent choice for easy day trips, afternoon berry-picking jaunts, long ridge walks, and rocky scrambles. May the Forest Be With You. Starting in the late 1950s McHugh was typically accessed from the Stewart Homestead Road (also called the Stewart Trail), which leads to the peak’s northwest ridge. If successful, the signs could be replicated for roads around the Upper South Fork Eagle River Trailhead. Luckily, Betsy (a fellow Carolinian who has made Alaska her home) is a great hiking buddy and she took me to a trail I never climbed in Bear Valley – only a 30 minute drive out of Anchorage during rush hour traffic. McHugh/Bear Valley: A relatively new trailhead in Bear Valley provides access to McHugh Peak’s long ridgelines without driving down to Turnagain Arm, and without climbing from sea level. Until access issues there are resolved, use the signed public trailheads to avoid problems. The information I share here is based on my research and limited personal experience. Photo by Eddie Gianelloni. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights, Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse!). On the other side, strike out across the open tundra and climb any of the slopes arcing upward toward McHugh Peak. Instantly search and view photos of all homes for sale in Bear Valley, Anchorage, AK now. Though McHugh peak is mostly an alpine walkup, negotiating the bundle of rocks on its summit can be tricky and feels more like rock climbing than hiking. My time: 6 hours. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Unfortunately, the most difficult thing about this route is parking: due to questionable city planning the cul-de-sac trailhead only has spots for five cars, parked tightly between two signs. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. More…. The northeasatern bowls and ridges of McHugh Peak are wide and there are countless ways to move through them. This is an amazing hike near Anchorage, that provides incredible views of the mountains and lakes without extreme effort. Ultimately you're responsible for yourself and your group. The weather was incredibly sunny – the second evening of sun after weeks of rain – and would have … The brush on the south side of McHugh is not at all bad by Chugach standards, though the tundra and grasses can be steep and slippery. Matt Bergt chilling on the small summit crown of McHugh Peak. At roughly the 2.5 mile mark, the Rabbit Lake trail reaches a high point below Ptarmigan Peak and then begins to descend slightly into the upper valley. Stops include Seward (Kenai Fjords), Girdwood, Whittier & Spencer Glacier, Stops include Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park & Fairbanks. Direction to the Golden View Trailhead The trailhead parking lot can hold only 5-6 cars. It is a relatively short but steep hike. Penguin Peak Trail: Access: 0.5 mile from Bird Valley Trailhead Allowable Uses: Hiking Length: 2 miles Difficulty: Difficult Elevation Gain: 3200 feet Description: Short but steep. This is the only part of the hike that can feel tedious, though the slogging is tempered by fantastic views up the Rabbit Creek drainage toward Ptarmigan and the Suicides. Drive the Seward Highway to the McHugh Creek parking area. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Following the Glenn Highway north from Eagle River, take the Peters Creek exit, turning right onto Ski Road. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Free personal GPS–driven travel guide to Alaska. Hike the Twin Peaks Trail. Summer is … It’s nowhere near the tallest or most difficult, but by land area it’s a sprawling giant. Please try again. I hope that this site helps you plan exciting and safe trips, but please always keep the information here in context. 26: Bear Valley: Meet at Ray E Stork Park 30: Ruth Arcand Park. After about a mile and a half, the McHugh Lake Trail passes the base of a prominent rock and tundra gully with a small trail leading up it. Back to top The Anchorage Park Foundation is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. This trail is not marked on official maps, but it is nearly as well-defined as the rest of the McHugh Lake Trail itself. Looking down the east ridge of McHugh Peak toward Rabbit Lake and the Suicide Peaks. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. Its southeast ridge steps steeply into Turnagain Arm, its north ridge reaches toward the south face of Flattop, and its eastern ridge winds all the way to Rabbit Lake below the Suicide Peaks. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Hikers determined to follow the crest of the ridge may find some adventurous Class 3 scrambling, but steeper sections are generally easily avoided by moving onto the north side of the ridgeline. Well worth it to keep going to the very top so you can see turnagain arm. Follow the trail or strike out and find your own way up to Point 3,200. ... Anchorage. From the top of Point 3,200, follow the crest of the ridge 1.9 miles to the summit of McHugh. This ridge is well-traveled and there is an informal trail running along it most of the way. McHugh is often climbed from one of three public trailheads: the McHugh Creek trailhead off the Seward Highway, the Rabbit Lake trailhead at the top of Canyon Road, or the Bear Valley trailhead at the top of Honey Bear Dr. Map of McHugh Peak, with the three most well-known routes marked. A sign hangs at the Bird Valley trailhead along Alaska’s Turnagain Arm on July 7, 2014, warning people of a recent bear mauling in the area. A little over 2 hours to get to the peak from the honey bear lane trailhead. Anchorage Hiking Trails Denali Hiking Trails Seward Hiking Trails Homer Hiking Trails ... Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. You are under no obligation to speak with anyone on a public easement, and use of a public easement is not trespass. There is ample parking here year round for $5 (or an annual State Parks Pass), and the trailhead is located at the end of the uppermost parking lot. It requires only a bit more elevation gain than the north ridge route (2550 ft. vs. 2320) and far less than the McHugh Creek route (4,300 ft). Alaska Railroad: Adventure Class or Goldstar Dome Car Service? The neighborhood is a popular access point for Chugach State Park. Though it is possible to bushwack across the valley toward McHugh at any point, the brush thins substantially in the upper valley and the Rabbit Creek ravine becomes shallower. For more about me and winterbear.com, click here. The vast majority of McHugh is long, fairly relaxed Class 2 (hiking, light scrambling) ridgelines, but attaining the true summit requires a very short Class 4 climb up a cluster of large rocks. The wind-swept tundra and rocky ridgeline is easy to follow and runs at a relatively shallow angle, though there are two prominent notches during which you’ll lose (and regain) about 150 feet of elevation each time. The Rabbit Lake Trail is about as exciting as hiking on a road, which is exactly what it used to be. 2: Upper O’Malley Trailhead 6: Chuck Albrecht Park 9: Basher Trailhead 13: Russian Jack Park 16: Glen Alps Trailhead 20: Bicentennial Park Smoke Jumper 23: Kincaid Park Chalet 27: Hilltop Ski Area 30: Bear Valley: Meet at Ray E Stork Park May The Rabbit Lake Trail under Ptarmigan Peak. In 2016, a large wildfire tore throughportions of the McHugh Creek drainage, leaving a striking landscape of brilliantly-colored orange and green mosses between the charred, fire-sculpted trunks of burned trees. Great Hike with lots of blueberries to pick! Black bear hunting was eliminated in the Eagle River valley, in the Anchorage Bowl (south of Tudor Road), and in adjacent portions of Chugach State Park in 1987. But if you’re hoping to score a prime parking spot, this trailhead is best tackled on weekdays or in the off-season. From the picnic table at the uppermost end of the trail, you’ll find a satisfying panoramic view of the Matanuska River and Knik River valleys. Whichever route you take, you’ll end up on McHugh’s east ridge. The summit of McHugh Peak in mid-February, with North and South Suicide Peak in the background. My name is Paxson. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Carpooling to the trailhead is highly recommended. Getting there: The driving route to the trailhead on the mountain above Peters Creek involves a lot of twists and turns, but it’s quite intuitive once you get started. The City of Anchorage considers the Stewart Trail a public right-of-way and has repeatedly demanded that the Pughs remove the gate, without success. At the ridgeline, views open up north toward downtown Anchorage. In fact, it is arguably the most reliable early-season hike in the Chugach, and is often snow-free long before traditional early-season hikes like Bird Ridge or Wolverine. But there it is at #4–at least, if you’re going by land area alone. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Bear Valley Mountain 2280 State Route 207 PO BOX 5038 Bear Valley, CA 95223 Phone: 1-209-753-2301 fun@bearvalley.com Eklutna, then follow the trail … Please pack out your trash since garbage collection services are not … Follow the trail .7 miles straight uphill to the ridgeline. P roblems with public access have proliferated across Chugach State Park, from the South Fork Eagle River Trailhead to Mt. The McHugh Creek Route up the west ridge starts nearly at sea level and requires just over 4,300 feet of elevation gain to reach the summit–far more than any other route. The summit is out of view to the left. See Alaska's highlights by railroad or motorcoach in a group of up to 50, Travel in small groups, stay at exclusive wilderness lodges, and spend more time outdoors, All-inclusive multi-day vacation packages at a remote wilderness lodge, Travel with a professional photographer to the best photo locations around the state, Trips range from backpacking, rafting, to upscale remote lodge retreats, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. This trailhead lacks the signage and trappings of most Chugach State Park trailheads (including the parking fee! By the same token, nobody would ever claim that McHugh Peak, which borders south Anchorage at the southwest corner of Chugach State Park, is the “largest” peak in the Chugach. This smaller trail switchbacks uphill until it gets above the V-shaped cut bank of McHugh Creek and then parallels the creek all the way back to McHugh and Rabbit Lakes, beneath the Suicide Peaks. Turn left (northwest) onto the Turnagain Arm Trail and follow it about a third of a mile to the signed cutoff for the McHugh Lake Trail. At the signed intersection, cut right/northeast/uphill onto the McHugh Lake Trail. But while this route adds some thigh-burning it also features more variety than the other routes: it starts in groves of huge cottonwood trees, winds through the brilliantly-colored site of the 2016 McHugh Creek wildfire, and traces the wind-blasted crest of McHugh’s west ridge to the summit of McHugh Peak. Follow the ridgeline 1.5 miles over the top of Ruby (the west summit of McHugh Peak) and then on to the summit of McHugh Peak itself. Those with experience at a rock gym might wonder what all the fuss is about, but caution would still be wise. It's free to go this far by car, and you'll get a picture-perfect shot of Portage Glacier. Here is a little video I put together during my hike of Bear Valley. ), but it is an official parking area. 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