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. Groups are currently working to restore public access to this route. Its western flanks enfold several of South Anchorage’s hillside neighborhoods and don’t flatten out until they reach the New Seward Highway. ... Bear Valley. The Alaska Railroad is your transportation method. Those with experience at a rock gym might wonder what all the fuss is about, but caution would still be wise. Note the line of old fenceposts visible right below the rainbow–these are a good landmark for when you might consider crossing the valley and heading up McHugh. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Around this point the brush gives way to open tundra and cross-country walking becomes simple. 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. 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. My time: 6 hours. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. 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. I hope that this site helps you plan exciting and safe trips, but please always keep the information here in context. View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. Trail builders from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Seward, Soldnotna, Eagle River, Matsu Valley, and Girdwood have all been building flow trails through local forests and hills. 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. Great Hike with lots of blueberries to pick! The northeasatern bowls and ridges of McHugh Peak are wide and there are countless ways to move through them. that go far beyond anything I can cover here. This trailhead is the only designated public access for a vast swath of Chugach State Park … The weather was incredibly sunny – the second evening of sun after weeks of rain – and would have … 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. 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. For the most part the Rabbit Creek route is truly a route and not a trail, so it is most appropriate for those with basic routefinding skills and at least a mild sense of adventure. 7-10 days is the most common. Scooting up the mountain from Bear Valley trailhead. 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. It’s nowhere near the tallest or most difficult, but by land area it’s a sprawling giant. After about a mile, turn right on Whaley. 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. Hi! Which one is right for you? Great hike with a bit of rock scrambling at the end that provides great views at the highest point overlooking Anchorage at 5,184'. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. The North Ridge Route, starting at the Honey Bear Trailhead at the top of Honey Bear Lane in Bear Valley, is a fun Class 2 ridge walk with 2,300 feet of elevation gain and excellent views over Anchorage and across the inlet. This campground is along a scenic meadow near a babbling creek where hiking along the Bear Valley National Recreation Trail is a delightful side trip. Pine Valley is a community and census-designated place in the Cuyamaca Mountains of the Mountain Empire area, in southeastern San Diego County, California. Car, train, or group tour. But there it is at #4–at least, if you’re going by land area alone. The peak affords some fantastic views of the surrounding area. This less developed trail quickly gains elevation through alder thickets then emerges into the alpine which … 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. Follow the trail .7 miles straight uphill to the ridgeline. 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). This ridge is well-traveled and there is an informal trail running along it most of the way. At the signed intersection, cut right/northeast/uphill onto the McHugh Lake Trail. P roblems with public access have proliferated across Chugach State Park, from the South Fork Eagle River Trailhead to Mt. Difficulty: Class 2s4. 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. Travel on a set itinerary with lodging and tours booked in advance. 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. The routes marked on my map are really just suggestions, and it’s up to you to find your way through this collection of shallow ridges, rocky outcrops, and tundra slopes. The information I share here is based on my research and limited personal experience. If your car doesn’t have good clearance or if the road is in poor condition, park at the lower parking lot and walk the last few hundred feet to the gate. Bear Valley staff and community remain true to the tradition of providing a solid, well-rounded program that combines the wisdom from our nation's educational past with knowledge of world we know. 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. 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!). I grew up in Alaska and currently live in Anchorage. The summit is out of view to the left. It is a relatively short but steep hike. While they are fun to explore, unless you know the area well it would probably be fastest to stay on the main trail. Zillow has 30 homes for sale in Bear Valley Anchorage. Hotels near Bear Valley, Anchorage on Tripadvisor: Find 18,909 traveler reviews, 20,637 candid photos, and prices for 241 hotels near Bear Valley in Anchorage, AK. The Rabbit Lake Trail under Ptarmigan Peak. Holding your right hand out in front of you, palm facing away, Anchorage is … 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. Alaska Railroad: Adventure Class or Goldstar Dome Car Service? 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. 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. First part is pretty steep and tiring, but the ridge line is beautiful. In the winter, experienced outdoorspeople hike its wind-blown ridges and ski on its mellow north and west-facing bowls. 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. Black bear hunting in the rest of the Municipality allows only one black bear … The most intimate multi-day cruise option. At the last rocky point before the summit, the trail disperses onto a broad face that sweeps up toward McHugh’s craggy crown. This trailhead lacks the signage and trappings of most Chugach State Park trailheads (including the parking fee! My time: 5 hours, McHugh Creek route (West Ridge): 7.8 miles round trip, 4,300 ft. elevation gain. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Instantly search and view photos of all homes for sale in Bear Valley, Anchorage, AK now. Local favorites for half-day hikes include Bloods Ridge and Inspiration Point. Lane in Bear country camping area has 6 picnic tables with fire rings hand... 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